Promoting student self care and independence

[NurseK12]

Hello! I am a school nurse, K-12. How do I promote self care and independence in students who are poverty level and are so used to people providing resources that they struggle doing for themselves? Is there any EBP that you know of in regards to the culture of poverty and how to remediate the mindset that things will always be handed to you? I just want to try and prepare these students for post graduation so they have the proper skills to make it. They absolutely need the resources that are being provided and I am happy to continue providing them but I also want to know that they can care for themselves when the school is no longer there to help. 

[nikkulele77, BSN]

 I was a school nurse for a brief time and any big ideas I had with wanting to promote change I felt I needed the backing of admin and teachers. Have you asked the staff what their take is? They might provide really good information and maybe already have something in the works. Or maybe there's nothing, but it seems a teacher or two would be interested in helping you out. As far as EBP, I know there are resources. I also worked as a community nurse serving those below the poverty line. A lot of our focus was helping families get their basic needs met, but the ultimate goal was for them to be self reliant. It was pretty hard. Only the most motivated people seemed to really be consistent in trying to improve. A couple of things I remember (but can't remember if they were evidence-based or not):

• Give opportunity to see or experience a richer life - like going to a museum or concert - something they couldn't normally afford. 
• Teach critical thinking skills
• encourage education 
• Help them find their "why"
• Motivational interviewing
• Improve mental health - it's hard to get out of a cycle if your thinking is always negative
• Find support / people who believe in you

Also, I remember at a school nurse conference they told us that any ideas we had for the health of the students needed to be related back to outcomes of attendance and graduation rates. If we could prove that those would be bolstered, admin would be willing to give resource and support.

That's all I got. Good Luck!

 

[NurseK12]

Wow, thank you so much for the info! I appreciate you ❤️