School Nurse Communication Effectiveness With Physicians and Satisfaction With School Health Services

Abstract

This study examined school nurses’ communication with community physicians and its relationship to school nurse satisfaction with school health services. A stratified random sample of school nurses in Pennsylvania ( N = 615) were surveyed about communication effectiveness with community physicians, satisfaction with school health services for students, perception of leadership, and students’ health care needs. Additional information from national/state education data on student poverty, nurse-to-student ratio, and rural/urban location was included. Findings indicate that having a leadership role in influencing school health policy is related to school nurses’ communication with community physicians and satisfaction with school health services. Effective communication with physicians was found to be a salient issue influencing satisfaction with school health services, suggesting the importance of stressing communication as well as leadership skills in school nurse education.