Nursing Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Nursing, including details on health care, hospital staff, professional care.

School of nursing sponsorship of a school-based health center: challenges and barriers.

Scully J, Hackbarth D

Loyola University Chicago, Niehoff School of Nursing, 6526 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA.

School-based health centers (SBHCs) are a growing phenomenon in the United States and appear to be an ideal fit for school of nursing (SON) sponsorship. However, nationally only about 6% of existing SBHCs are sponsored by either an SON or a school of medicine. Sponsorship of health care in schools is consistent with the mission of university-based SONs, but also presents many challenges. Despite these challenges, the authors believe that the benefit to nursing students, faculty, and the profession far outweigh constraints. This article describes the many benefits that can occur when SONs create and maintain a SBHC in their own community. Extensive practical suggestions for how to overcome the barriers that constrain university faculty from developing service-oriented programs in the community are also emphasized.

Published 5 December 2005 in Nurs Clin North Am, 40(4): 607-17, vii.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Nursing Research Today. All Rights Reserved.