School-based youth health nurses work with students, school staff and parents to:
- address concerns or problems about health and wellbeing
- create a more supportive, healthy school environment (a health promoting school)
- connect people to other support services inside and outside the school.
The
Youth Health Nurse can see young people in private to talk about anything that
affects health and wellbeing.
The
Youth Health Nurse works with the school but is employed by Queensland Health.
The
Nurse is required to keep information confidential unless the young person
agrees the nurse can do otherwise. However, if the young person is at risk of
being hurt or hurting someone else, the nurse may need to discuss this
information with another service or agency. If the nurse thinks it's best to
talk to someone else about the problem, they will usually explain the reasons
why and talk with the young person about this. At times it may be best for the
young person to see another professional for further assistance, for example
the Guidance Officer, Doctor, Chaplain or Psychologist.
As
a general rule, the School-based Youth Health Nurse does not provide:
- treatment, for example; medications, injections, first-aid
- physical examinations
- ongoing counselling for psychological or educational problems.
The
School-based Youth Health Nurse also works with the school community to
identify and act on issues that may affect the health of students and the
school community as a whole. This includes helping with curriculum, teaching
and learning activities, supporting the development of an environment and
school culture that supports health and wellbeing, and working with community
and other services.