Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here to sign up for SAGE Journal Email Alerts today!

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
The Journal of School Nursing
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Simmons, D. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Simmons, D. R.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

Research Article

Autonomy In Practice: A Qualitative Study of School Nurses’ Perceptions

Darlene R. Simmons, RN, MS

Darlene Simmons, RN, MS, is employed by the Stanislaus County Office of Education and as a school nurse for the Hughson, CA Unified School District. She has developed a Web site (www.schoolnursesupport.net) that has continuing education courses and free resources for school nurses.

Many who enter the specialty of school nursing find themselves faced with the challenge of practicing as the sole professional responsible for the health care of large numbers of students and school employees. In addition, the transition from the more familiar medical or nursing setting into the unknown territory of the educational environment can be daunting. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of 6 new and 6 experienced school nurses regarding the autonomy of their practices. Results identified sharp contrasts in the areas of role perception, comfort, and confidence between the two groups. It is imperative that the specialty initiate changes to nurture and support the novice during this transitional period.

Key Words: autonomy • novice • role acquisition • school nursing • school nursing education

The Journal of School Nursing, Vol. 18, No. 2, 87-94 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/10598405020180020501
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?