臺灣學校護理專業發展之挑戰與契機

Challenges and Opportunities for the Professional Development of Taiwanese School Nurses

因各國的醫療體系及健康保險給付制度之不同，各國學校護理制度差異性極大，部份國家與臺灣相同採一校一校護，有些國家則是校護需視學生人數至1到數個學校服務，照護人數及角色功能也有差異，目前臺灣學校護理專業發展之挑戰包括重新框定校護的價值、確立不可取代之角色、學校衛生法的保障與修法危機、照護人數議題、照護議題集中在兒童及青少年之照護及研究發表有限，另一方面，學校護理專業發展之契機包括塑立專業形象與價值、新進學校護理人員經驗豐富、高學歷且年輕化、推動學校專科護理師認證及積極與國際接軌。專業的發展有賴於學術與實務的結合，增進滿足服務對象之需要、提供高品質之服務，唯有校護自覺學校護理專業才能有發展空間。

The various medical systems and health insurance payment systems adopted worldwide engendered substantial variations among school nurse systems in differing countries. Similar to that in Taiwan, several countries have adopted a system of having one school nurse per school, whereas schools in various countries determine the number of school nurses they hire based on the size of the student body. In addition, the number of people school nurses care for and the roles and functions these nurses fulfill differ in each country. Currently, the challenges entailed in the professional development of Taiwanese school nurses include (a) the need to redefine the value of school nurses, (b) establish the indispensability of the school nurse role, (c) ensure the content of the School Health Act, (d) mitigate the crisis associated with amended laws, (e) issues concerning the number of people nurses care for, and (f) the limited number of research regarding the care provided to children and adolescents. Furthermore, the opportunities for the professional development of school nurses include shaping their professional image and value, recruiting experienced, highly educated, and young school nurses, promoting the certification of registered nurses, and actively establishing relationships with international nursing societies. The professional development of school nurses depends on the integration of academic and practical experiences to enhance and satisfy the needs of patients and to provide excellent service. Ultimately, school nurses can further develop only when they realize the value of their profession.