School Health Services in the United States: A View from the United Kingdom

Despite sharing both a common heritage and a common language, differences exist between life in the United States and the United Kingdom. During spring 1988, the author, who formerly served as editor for the Health Visitor, published by the Health Visitor's Association, completed a six-week study tour of school health services in the United States. In this article, she gives her impressions from the experience, including observations regarding salary, working conditions, professional preparation, and professional recognition. She concludes by identifying several poignant questions to clarify the school nurse's role and to set priorities for the optimal use of time and expertise.