Jordan University of Science and Technology
Looking at school nurses? roles in tackling overweight and obesity
Authors:
Mohammed ALBashtawy, associate professor, Community and Mental Health
Department, Princess Salma Faculty of Nursing, AL al-Bayt University, Jordan
Mohammed Alshloul, assistant professor, Alghad International Colleges for
Health Sciences-Abha, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Alkawaldeh, assistant professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of
Jarash, Jordan
Mazen Freij, assistant professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Jordan
Omar AL-Rawajfah, assistant professor, Princess Salma Faculty of Nursing,
Al al-Bayt University
Huda Gharaibeh, associate professor, dean of Princess Salma Faculty of
Nursing, Al al-Bayt University
Shaheerha Almansi, teacher assistant, Princess Salma Faculty
Abstract:
School nurses work closely with schoolaged
children and young people,
parents, and teachers, providing
support and advice on many health
issues. They play a vital role in children?s
growth and development (International
Council of Nurses, 2006). School nurses
are particularly well placed to take action
to promote healthy behaviours, and to
help school-aged children gain appropriate
access to services to maintain or improve
their health (International Council of
Nurses, 2006; Miller et al, 2008). The roles
and responsibilities of professional school
nurses are increasingly shifting toward the
area of health promotion, with particular
emphasis on maintaining a healthy
weight, due to the global obesity epidemic
(Whitehead, 2009). School nurses have
an ideal opportunity to enhance healthpromoting
activities in order to reduce
the risks of being overweight or obese
(Whitehead, 2009; National Association of
School Nurses, 2010).
This review identifies the multi-faceted
roles that can be practiced by the school
nurse to prevent overweight and obesity
among school-aged children. These roles
include that of assessor, health educator,
counsellor, referer, leader and researcher.