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HCPSS and Johns Hopkins Partner to Provide Nursing Students with School Experience

August 9th, 2016

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) has established a student nursing partnership with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) to provide resident nurses an opportunity to gain experience meeting the needs of children and adults in HCPSS schools.

Nursing residents will partner with HCPSS school nurses as part of the JHU nursing preparation program and will participate in the community health rotation included in the JHU nursing curriculum.

“This initiative will give new nurses clinical education and experience, as well as an accurate perception of nursing in a school setting,” said HCPSS Superintendent Renee A. Foose. “Critical thinking skills, intuitive assessment skills and adaptability have become more critical to the nursing profession, and school nursing is a great place to sharpen these skills.”

The program will start early in the 2016–2017 school year with eight nursing students, who will work at schools 1-2 days per week during the 12-week semester-long program. Each student will be assigned to one school nurse, who will serve as a mentor throughout the program. A Johns Hopkins University instructor will observe the student nurses periodically during the 12-week session. Students will work together on a project and will bring back observations and expertise as part of their college coursework.

“School nursing has expanded over the last decade as health needs have changed,” said Kerrie Wagaman, HCPSS Health Services Coordinator. “Schools are now able to accommodate many more chronic health needs, thanks to increasing school nursing staff expertise.”