Joumal of Advanced Nurstng, 1993,18,1202-1211 School nursing: history, present practice and possibilities reviewed Alison E While BSc MSc PhD RGN RHV Cert Ed Professor of Commumty Nurstng and K Louise Bamball BA RGN Research Assistant, Department of Nursing Studies, Kite's College, University of London, London, England Accepted for pubbcahon 30 November 1992 WHILE A E & BARRIBALL K L (1993) Joumal of Advanced Nursmg 18, I202-12I1 Sdhool nursing: history, present practice and possibilities reviewed A review of tbe literature revealed tbat tbe early scbool nurses were engaged in predonunantly screening work and as assistants to tbe scbool medical ofificer Tbe relatively limited empincal work suggests tbat tbey have tbe potential to make a major contnbution to tbe bealtb of scbool children, bowever, tbeir current role appears to vary enormously nationwide and tbe issues of competency for tbe role and integration into the school team need addressing The consumer/outsider view literature indicated a mismatch between expectations and service provision HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Tbe scbool bealtb service m tbe United Kmgdom was establisbed m 1908 m tbe wake of tbe realizahon tbat 60% of potential army recruits were pbysically unfit for military service owing to poor vision, canous teetb, beart disease and malnutntion (Interdepartmental Committee on Pbysical Detenoration 1904) Tbe Committee recommended tbe estabbsbment of a nahonal scbool bealtb service staffed by full-time professionals rather than an ad-hoc service, which was exemplified by tbe appointment in 1890 of the first scbool medical officer by tbe London Scbool Board (Vme 1991) Tbe Educahon (Administrahve Provisions) Act of 1907 provided for tbe appomtment of medical officers and school nurses Section 13 (l) (b) stated tbat it was the duty of scbool boards to provide for the medical inspection of children unmedi- ately before, or at the time of, or as soon as possible after, their Corrtspondence Professor A E WhU, Department of Nurstng Studies, Kings Collie Umtxrstty of London Cornwall House Amwx, Waterloo Raid, London SEl 8TK Btgknd admission to a public elementary school, and on such other occasions as the Board of Educahon direct and also gave the power to make such arrangements as may be sanchoned by the Board of Education for attending to the health and physical condition of the children educated m public elementary schools The work of an early school nurse, as descnbed in detail by Baly (1987), consisted of screening for infectious and contagious diseases as well as treahng mmor bealtb prob- lems and assistmg tbe scbool medical ofificer m bis work However, like many cbanges brougbt about by legislation, limited resourang meant that the ambitions of the service were not fully realized altbougb Henderson (1976) bas noted tbat tbe young potential anny recruits for World War II bad relahvely good bealtb as compared witb tbe older potenhal recruits wbo bad been subject to cbild bealtb services earlier in tbe century Impetus for legislation World War II provided tbe impetus for tbe introduction of mucb soaal welfare legislation and included among tbe 1202