A Model for Developing Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for School Nursing

Abstract

School nurses need evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to provide quality care for students with special health-care needs. However, a gap analysis revealed a paucity of rigorous school nursing CPGs. To fill this gap, a Model for Developing Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines for School Nursing (School Nursing CPG Model) was designed under the auspices of the National Association of School Nurses to offer school nurse scholars, school health leaders, and pediatric clinical experts a standardized structure and systematic process to create rigorous evidence-based CPGs. The aim is to employ the School Nursing CPG Model to build a repository of CPGs that are projected to improve the quality of school nursing practice, thereby improving health and educational outcomes for students with special health-care needs. The School Nursing CPG Model is anticipated to apply to CPG development for other nursing specialties.