Date of Conferral

7-7-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Diane Whitehead

Abstract

Trauma-informed care is a critical component of supporting students' overall wellness, and school nurses are central to this work. They are often the first professionals to recognize when a student is exhibiting a trauma response or experiencing a mental health concern during the school day. Although evidence-based school health organizations have advanced efforts to ensure that academic environments are prepared to support students’ mental health needs, school nurses are too often left out of these strategic planning processes. Their exclusion not only overlooks their clinical expertise but also weakens the school’s ability to respond effectively and holistically to student needs. The practice-focused question examined whether educating school nurses in trauma-informed care would increase their knowledge and strengthen their clinical practice. Twenty school nurses participated in training based on the School Nurse’s Mental Health Toolkit: Practical Strategies for Helping Students. As part of the training, participants completed a pre- and post-survey designed to assess their existing knowledge and identify any increase in understanding following the session. Participants responded to ten of the 16 questions correctly on both the pre- and post-surveys. Results revealed that the participants demonstrated a strong baseline knowledge of trauma-informed care before the training. School nurses play an integral part in promoting the physical and mental health of students. Knowledge of trauma-informed care is a critical component of supporting student health and promoting positive social change in the community.

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