Thesis
School nurse concussion management: influence of rural employment setting
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2017
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/106320
Abstract
School nurses are common healthcare providers onsite for school injuries. Ongoing assessment of their knowledge related to concussions is important in order to ensure appropriate management of head injuries in youth. While previous studies have described concussion knowledge in school nurses, rurality of practice as it relates to concussion knowledge and practices have yet to be examined. The purpose of this study is to compare concussion knowledge and confidence in management across levels of school nurse education, and by rurality of school where the nurses work. A mixed methods analysis was utilized to determine knowledge as well as school nurse confidence. An online survey was developed to examine concussion knowledge among school nurses, while interviews were used to assess confidence in their role in concussion management. Among the 945 nurses to whom the survey was administered, 317 responded with usable responses, resulting a 33.3% response rate. Respondents were predominately from urban areas (N=286, 90.8%) and 89.6% (N=284) held an Registered Nurse license. Most respondents (75.8%, N=238) held a Bachelor's or Master's degree. The survey indicated that school nurses exhibited accurate concussion knowledge, regardless of employment setting. Appropriate knowledge levels may correspond to proper management of concussions within the school setting. Interviews were conducted with six school nurses; common themes from the interview of school nurses include: communication with parents, suggesting referral to healthcare providers, communication with school personnel, development of accommodations for the student, assist in the return to play/return to learning progression, initial concussion assessment and monitoring ongoing symptoms. The findings of this study suggest that both urban and rural school nurses have similar concussion knowledge as well as high levels of confidence in their abilities to manage both the return to learning and return to activity progression following a concussion. Some concerns among rural school nurses include the lack of available concussion related medical resources as well as distance to medical services. These findings suggest school nurses have the knowledge and confidence to properly manage and care for a concussion.
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Details
- Title
- School nurse concussion management
- Creators
- Katharine Marie Pietz
- Contributors
- Janessa M. Graves (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Human Development, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525386301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis