Abstract
Background: There is currently no national nursing framework and a lack of relevant research outlining the role of the school nurse in New Zealand. The Ministry of Health New Zealand's school-based health services service specifications are currently being used by employers to outline the role of the school nurse. This is expected to inform school nurses' position descriptions which are used when employing them and should reflect the tasks, skills and knowledge needed specifically for the job.
Research Design/Method: A qualitative content analysis research design was used to analyse the national service specifications and create meaning units relating to the role and functions expected of a school nurse These were then compared with the content of the position descriptions for school nurses in New Zealand. This content analysis methodology identified content from the service specifications that was included or was absent in position descriptions.
Results: There were inconsistencies and variability identified across the content of the position descriptions on how closely they matched the role of the school nurse expected in the service specifications.
Conclusion: There is the potential and need for future research into school nursing in New Zealand as the role appears to be poorly defined and understood around the country, based on the findings of this analysis. The addition of a national nursing framework to the service specifications in the future could allow the role to be more appropriate and consistent across New Zealand.