Redefining the school nurse role: an organizational perspective

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to identify organizational readiness for change towards adoption of a redefined role of the school nurse as a strategic option in the context of a health promoting school approach. This new role is consistent with planned change directed at life habits and life conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire based on a modified version of the organizational readiness for change (ORC) framework was e‐mailed to 122 top and middle managers (response rate of 74 percent) in 42 local health organizations in the Province of Quebec, Canada, during the fall of 2009.

Findings

In total, 90 percent of participants perceived the proposed role as a solution to fulfil their school health program needs, especially to plan and integrate health promotion projects. The lack of resources and nursing support emerged as factors hampering the capacity of school nurses to play such a role.

Research limitations/implications

Additional implications of the ORC framework are needed in order to better address organizational readiness for complex changes in specific health‐related settings.

Practical implications

Access to information technology and the development of computer skills would help enhance this encompassing role in health promotion.

Originality/value

Findings have the potential to better inform health authorities regarding the new role of the school nurse as a strategic option in health promotion. This study also provides an application of the theoretical framework showing the need for additional empirical tests.

Citation

Chabot, G., Gagnon, M. and Godin, G. (2012), "Redefining the school nurse role: an organizational perspective", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 444-466. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777261211251526