Week 11 Post 2

 21st Century Nurses play an important role in combatting the spread of chronic illness. Des Moines Public Schools complies with the CDC's Whole School Whole Child, Whole Community Model, which carries some implications for the role of nurses. Theres are ten tenants of the WSCC and each holds guidelines and recommendations for different sectors of the school and community. School nurses have reported successful outcomes in areas of student and employee wellness, health advocacy, professional learning communities, and community support; however, health data may not support these conclusions. Especially, not in our own Iowa community. The tenants which nurses must attempt to comply with have to do with healths services, health education, employee wellness, counseling, psychological and social services, the nutrition environment and services, physical education and physical activity, the physical environment, the social and emotional climate, family engagement, and community involvement. What is perhaps most interesting about some of the guidelines within these tenants is that, for most, the CDC offers no help and there is no assurance that nurses can complete them. It is more like what a nurse could do. And it involves a lot of advocating, leading a person to believe that nurses deserve a raise. The nurse should look over and approve school menus and conduct small meetings to converse about topics of health. The nurse should provide education about nutritious foods and encourage healthy options. In many ways, the nurse is also a teacher. Not only does the CDC tell them to teach independently, but encourages them to collaborate with the teachers to help make curriculum based on evidence that they observe. It seems unlikely to a student in Iowa that this is happening, but also difficult to assess whether any of these goals are reasonable given the responsibilities already placed on a school nurse. Perhaps, we should add a professional who can complete these tasks within a school building. It seems that to be a nurse means to be a health care professional, a teacher, a statistician, and an advocate. 

The nurses main goal is to ensure a Childs health to guarantee positive academic outcomes. So, it is important to observe the difference in health behaviors between a high achieving student and a student with mostly D's and F's. The most important findings in research done by the USDA conclude that students with higher grades report eating more healthy foods and not remaining sedentary. Some of the largest statistical differences are amount of breakfasts consumed in a week, involvement in one or more sports team, time spent on a computer or television. But the most concerning finding was that participation in PE played absolutely no role in student health. Students derive no benefit from their physical education classes. To be active, one must join a sport's team which requires extra time and often extra money, making health again more accessible to affluent students  and families. To address this issue, it is essential that we discover a way to make PE a center of healthy living education and optimal physical activity. 

America has the resources to maintain a healthy population and yet chooses to perpetuate the financial benefits of poor health. Even in Des Moines Public Schools. There are important, inexpensive, and quite obvious changes that the school district could make to allow most communities to benefit from healthy living. For example, collaborating with nurses and community professionals to create k-12 physical education curricula that places emphasis on student health. Or, creating programs to teach children how to behave in a healthy manner and allowing time for school nurses to meet in small groups. When a child can ask questions, they can better understand. There are some barriers in DMPS, lack of funds and large class sizes may make these goals lofty and difficult. However, they will be absolutely necessary for the youth to have optimal health and longevity. To be 'Leaders of Urban Education', the district must remain proactive about making health accessible.