How can I find a school nurse to let me shadow her for an article?

November 4, 2009 8:21 AM

How can I find a school nurse to let me shadow her for an article?

For my final paper this semester in my health writing class I'd like to write a "day in the life of a school nurse" piece that focuses on the new/emerging responsibilities taken on by school nurses with the growing diagnoses of ADD/ADHD (and the subsequent medication) and the like. The trouble is that I do not know any school nurses personally. What's the best way for me to go about finding that resource?

I've made contact with several of the "community relations" personnel at surrounding school districts, and I see via google that there is a School Nurse Association and have emailed their main contact information. Is there more I should be doing, or a tactic that might be more direct to help produce results? Are there concerns that school districts and nurses will have that I'm not considering and should be prepared for?

Alternately, do you know a school nurse in the Philly area who might be interested?

I'm hoping this is an OK use of ask.me and I apologize if it's misplaced.

Thanks in advance for any help you could give!

posted by rinosaur to health & fitness (8 comments total)

You could speak with someone at your local school district's administration building. You'll most likely need the okay of someone high on the chain anyway, so you might as well start at the top.

The district and the nurse will likely be mostly concerned with the privacy of their students. You might run into the PTA or specific parents objecting to your presence. I can tell you that at my kids' school, a letter would be sent home with each child stating what was going to happen and stating that if anyone had objections, they could go to the principal with them.

But really, I'd start at the top. Call the district administration. Not the school board, the administration staff.
posted by cooker girl at 8:38 AM on November 4

Call your school district's Public Information Office. Let them handle the rest. That's what they're there for.
posted by notjustfoxybrown at 8:53 AM on November 4

Call some school nurses and tell them that you're working on a story exploring if increased ADHD is affecting their jobs.

You can confirm if the nurses actually agree, or it is just "experts" running their mouths. You'll get a lot of background info that you can use when shaping your story. You'll also get an idea of who is agreeable and interesting to talk to. It also means they have some sort of trust and familiarity with you before you ask for the shadow.

Make sure to get their contact information and leave yours if they have anything to add.

Figure out who would probably make the most interesting story. Call back and explain you're interested in telling the story through a day in the life. Ask if he or she person would be interested in participating.

They may say no at first, saying something about privacy. Keep trying to convince them. Say you understand and will respect patient privacy. Say that you and the nurse can work out privacy issues ahead of time.

The nurse will probably have to get permission from the administration. Say you understand and tell him or her to feel free to give them your contact info if they have any questions. Also set a specific time that you will call back to check.
posted by chris p at 9:04 AM on November 4

Agreeing with the above and will add in that going in person if you have the time may make things move a little faster.

IMHO this is exactly the kind of question AskMe is for.
posted by variella at 9:09 AM on November 4

The Philadelphia School District is notoriously tight about letting reporters into the schools, you definitely have to contact the administration and get permission and then possibly even be shadowed while you're shadowing by some district official who will attempt to steer you away from anything the administration doesn't want you taking notes on. Every Philly public school I've ever worked in as a social worker has security that is going to stop you and either demand credentials or direct you to an the main office to be processed as a visitor, so you can't just stroll into a school and talk to a nurse on your own. You could run it up the pole with the district but you really might be better off approaching either a suburban or a private school.
posted by The Straightener at 9:31 AM on November 4

You might be able to find a school nurse who could talk to you for an article, but I don't think you'll be able to obtain permission to actually shadow a nurse and watch him/her interact with students. Individually identifiable student health information is protected under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), and depending on the school district, may be protected under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) as well.
posted by timeo danaos at 10:06 AM on November 4

I would very much view this as, "I would like to interview a school nurse" for right now. You can broach the topic of shadowing her once you've gotten more comfortable with each other. I would also try guidance counselors as well, as they likely have a lot to say on the topic and can put you in touch with the nurse too.

Your best bet, I think, is going to be to find a nurse through your own personal connections and then get any necessary approvals for the interview from the school/district. I would bet there's a school nurse somewhere in your weak-ties social network.
posted by zachlipton at 10:14 AM on November 4

timeo danaos has it.

If you're seriously planning to do this, you'll need to explain how your going to be present for patient interaction but not violate HIPAA and FERPA. How would sharing individual student health information with you not be a violation of these two federal laws?
posted by 26.2 at 11:03 AM on November 7