Scope of Nursing Work and Models of Service Delivery in Australian Primary and Secondary Schools: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Aim: To map the scope of nursing work and models of service delivery in Australian primary and secondary schools for children aged 3-18 years.

Design: Scoping Review.

Data sources: A search of CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, ERIC, Informit and Google was conducted in August 2024 for peer reviewed, non-peer reviewed and grey literature giving insight into nursing work in primary and secondary Australian schools in urban, regional and remote areas of all Australian states and territories.

Methods: The review employed Johanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and reported the findings in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist.

Results: One hundred and forty-two sources were included. Findings indicate that nurses working in Australian schools conduct a wide range of activities which vary by jurisdiction, education sector, employer and school type. Models of nursing service delivery are similarly varied and range from full-time school-based nurses to nurses who visit schools on an occasional basis.

Conclusion: The varied scope of nursing work and models of service delivery provide evidence that the nursing workforce in schools is adaptable and flexible, but unequal access to nursing services raises important questions about equity. There is an urgent need for a national approach to nursing work in Australian schools.

Impact: This is the first review to map the scope of nursing work and models of service delivery in Australian primary and secondary schools.

Keywords: Australia; children; school nursing; schools; scoping review; students.