How School Nurses Can Support the Transition to Adulthood for Students with Complex Health Needs
Speaker: Audrey Vernick, Megan Carlson
Session: Virtual Anytime Sessions (Viewable between July 7, 2025 and October 11th, 2025
The transition to adulthood for students with complex health needs, such as epilepsy, requires targeted support from school nurses, who play a vital role in this process. This session will equip school nurses with practical strategies to promote health literacy, medical self-advocacy, and care coordination, all essential for helping students achieve health independence. Using epilepsy as a case study, the session will guide participants on incorporating health-related goals into Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and developing comprehensive medical self-care plans, including emergency protocols.
Attendees will learn how to assess students’ health literacy, collaborate effectively with IEP teams, and design tailored health goals that address students’ specific medical needs. The session will also cover critical legal and medical considerations, such as medical power of attorney and end-of-life decisions, necessary for a smooth transition to adulthood.
An interactive case-study approach will allow participants to apply transition strategies to various student scenarios, ensuring hands-on learning and take-home tools that can be implemented in their schools.
The session will also emphasize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in transition planning, focusing on equitable healthcare access and culturally competent care. School nurses will explore how social determinants, language barriers, and cultural values shape transition planning to ensure all students, regardless of background, successfully transition to adulthood.
Aligned with NASN’s Framework™, this session supports the pillars of Care Coordination, Standards of Practice, and Leadership, empowering school nurses to advocate for equitable, individualized care and improved student outcomes.
