A school nurse is trying to determine health trends when making plans

A school nurse is trying to determine health trends when making plans for health programming in the school for the upcoming school year. Which of the following would be the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?

a. Conduct a survey in the community
b. Do an online search of groups that might collect and analyze such data
c. Examine records in the school health office to determine trends
d. Interview local health officials regarding problems beginning to occur

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: B
The federal, state, and local governments and many national organizations collect and analyze data to track the well-being of children and adolescents. For example, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) generates a yearly report, Child Health USA, on more than 50 indicators of the well-being of America’s children and youth. Such data are readily accessible online. A number of key indicators are tracked on a regular basis by the federal statistical system so that trends are revealed. State and local data also are used to track the well-being of children. The most efficient use of the nurse’s time would be to use data that already exists rather than trying to create new data. This could be done by performing an online search for existing data. Once the existing data is collected, the nurse may then need to look specifically at the data at the school or create new data to examine new or existing problems.