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. 2017 Oct-Dec;36(4):236-242.
doi: 10.1080/10550887.2017.1361725. Epub 2017 Aug 8.

School nurse experiences with prescription opioids in urban and rural schools: A cross-sectional survey

Ella Pattison-Sharp  1 , Robin Dawson Estrada  2 , Alice Elio  3 , Melissa Prendergast  4 , Delesha M Carpenter  5
Affiliations

School nurse experiences with prescription opioids in urban and rural schools: A cross-sectional survey

Ella Pattison-Sharp et al. J Addict Dis. 2017 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Few studies have examined the use of prescription opioids in schools. The current study aimed to: (1) describe the context within which school nurses encounter student opioid prescriptions; (2) assess school nurses' preferences for training and student education; and (3) explore urban-rural differences in school nurses' experiences and training preferences. A convenience sample of school nurses (n = 633) from North Carolina and South Carolina participated in a brief, anonymous, online survey. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically and statistical tests (t-tests and Chi-square tests) were performed to investigate urban-rural differences. Many school nurses (40.3%) had encountered a student with an opioid prescription, but only 3.6% had naloxone available in case of an overdose. Most school nurses (69.9%), especially rural school nurses, believed students would benefit from opioid education (74.9 versus 66.6%, p = 0.03). The majority of school nurses (83.9%) were interested in opioid-related training. Many school nurses encounter students with prescription opioids and would like additional opioid-related training. The potential benefits of providing naloxone access to prevent opioid-related deaths at schools should be explored.

Keywords: Opioids; naloxone; school education; school nurses.

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