An Exploration of the Role of Secondary Girls School Nurses in Bahrain: A Qualitative Study

By :Faten Ali AbdulRahim Hassani

Supervisor:Dr. Catherine S. O’Neill

Outcomes• Aims

• Objectives

• Research Question

• Introduction to School

Program

• School Nurses Roles

• Background

• The Significance of the

Research study

• Methodology

• Findings

• Discussion

• Recommendations

• Discussion of the

significance of the

findings

• Final Concluding Remarks

Aim• This study explored the role of Bahraini secondary school nurses to identify the barriers (if any) that Bahraini secondary school nurses face when performing their roles in public schools in Bahrain.

Objectives

• Describe Bahraini public secondary school nurses’ roles.

• Identify the barriers (if any) that Bahraini public secondary school nurses face in the execution of their duties.

Research Question• What are the barriers, if any, to the implementation of the role of secondary school nurses in the public schools in Bahrain?

• School Health Program is collaboration and joint

committee between the two ministries, Ministry of

Health and Ministry of education and others ,

including:

• The Gulf Cooperation Council School Health

Committee

• The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office.

To validate the school health promotion program. (Al Hajeri et al. 2009)

Introduction to School Health Program

School Nurses Roles

• Nurse’s role serves as a type of bridge between the public health information and the school population in the event of any health care emergency, in addition to providing all kinds of health care services .

(Al Hajeri et al. 2009)

School Nurses Roles

(McDaniel et al 2012).

Background• School nurses make a significant impact on the school population life.

• School nurses are expected to develop school health profiles referring to specific health problems relevant to the school population as well as to provide primary care for all types of injuries and all kind of health challenges. (Al Hajeri et al. 2009)

The Significance of the Research study

• The findings can help create educational programs as well as guide future directions and planning that can be used to streamline services between the Ministries of Health and Education and help nurses in Bahrain perform their duties smoothly .

Methodology• This study used the general qualitative research process.

• A sample group of ten nurses were purposefully selected.

• Data was generated through semi structured interviews, an initial pilot study was undertaken.

• Data analysis was obtained using a general inductive approach by using Bernard’s method to identify codes and themes.

Findings

• The finding showed that overworking, lack of professional autonomy and collaboration, role conflict of Bahraini secondary school nurses, and the need for nursing professional programs to give better outcomes to all school nurses in Bahrain.

Discussion• The findings showed that some barriers exist in the role of school nurses in public schools in Bahrain.

• There is a need for the school administration to be made aware about the specific role of the school nurse in the school setting.

Cont,• The school nurses also need support in order to carry out professional roles in frequent community situations that are stressful especially when they are work in isolation from other professionals.

Recommendations

• The implementation of a collaborative organizational structure between the two ministries (Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education). regarding school nurses’ roles, polices and guidelines .

• To facilitate and greatly enhance the current service

• Provide a professional educational programs for the nurses who are working in these school settings.

Discussion of the significance of the findings• There is a need to introduce and train school nurses within the structured approach of a school setting before introducing them to school

setting environment.

• Equal importance to the relationship between the school administration and school nurses with mutual relationship, which involves the development of trust, understanding, and honesty, assists school nurses in establishing a comfortable environment to give their best service to the school community.

Cont,

Cont, • The need of school administrations to understand the role and the job description of school nurses to make the school nurse’s job manageable by not adding responsibilities or removing authority from the school nurse by providing specific policy manual for school nurses that guides the school administration about the school nurse’s role in their daily tasks.

Cont, • Imposing communication between the two ministries (Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education) by multi-disciplinary team working (including support and communication) should be strengthened throughout all school setting services.

Final Concluding Remarks 

• The Final Concluding Remarks to increase the competencies of school nurses by:

• A framework of nursing school instructors

• An orientation plan for new school nurses

• An evaluation tool for school nurses

• A goal-setting and planning tool program for school nurses

• Professional development programs should be periodically organized to further assist and support school nurses

Cont,

References:• AlHajeri, M.A.A., Thukair, L.A.A. and Sarhan, N.

(2009) .Case Studies in Global School Health Promotion.

(Online).

http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-0-387-92

269-0_18

.(Access on 13/3/2013)

• McDaniel, K. H. Overman, M . Guttu, M. and

Engelke,M.K .( 2012). School Nurse Evaluations Making

the Process Meaningful and Motivational .The Journal of

School Nursing .Vol.29, pp. 19-30