Status of Nursing Personnel in Public Educational Centers of the Dominican Republic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70208/3007.8245.v6.n1.349Keywords:
Dominican Republic, educational centers, need, school nursing, studentsAbstract
The objective of this study was to determine the need for school nursing in public educational centers in the Dominican Republic during the period June 2024–2025. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 408 educational centers, with the participation of 715 individuals linked to the school environment, using a questionnaire administered through Google Forms. The results showed that 90% of schools lack nursing staff. Forty-four percent of respondents reported frequently observing situations in which the absence of a nurse negatively affected students’ health, while 21% observed this occasionally. In health emergencies, teachers assume primary responsibility (65%), followed by administrative staff (25%); only 10% of schools have nursing services. Regarding perceptions of school nursing, 98% indicated that it provides reassurance to parents and benefits the educational community; 97% highlighted its essential role in first aid, health promotion, vaccination, and early detection of health problems; and 96% stated that nurses possess the necessary competencies to intervene in school health situations. These findings underscore the need to incorporate nursing personnel
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