IMPORTANCE OF THE SCHOOL NURSE IN THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Nursing in the school environment is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on the well-being of children and adolescents within the educational context. These professionals are trained to provide primary health care, monitor students' development, and respond to medical emergencies in schools. With specific skills in pediatric and school health, school nurses play a key role in health promotion and disease prevention, acting as an important link between education and health to support the educational environment. The aim of the present study is to identify in the national literature the benefits of having a nurse in schools. The research methodology used was Literature Review. Therefore, for the elaboration of the work, books, articles, monographs, scientific journals, and some electronic databases such as Scielo, Pubmed, and Lilacs, Virtual Health Library (BVS) were searched. The results showed that the benefits of nursing in the school environment are wide-ranging and varied, covering the prevention, promotion, and resolution of health problems among students. School nurses are essential in the identification and treatment of conditions such as overweight and obesity, through monitoring, physical exercises, and nutritional guidance. Studies indicate that school interventions can significantly improve students' eating habits, physical activities, and sleep patterns. It is concluded that the constant and accessible presence of nurses allows not only for treatments and monitoring, but also for ongoing education of students on health topics. This reinforces the idea that schools are ideal spaces for health promotion, not only due to easy access to health professionals, but also due to the conducive environment for education and the formation of healthy habits.