The Nurse's Role in Planning for Inclusion of Medically Fragile and Technology-Dependent Children in Public School Settings

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Abstract
With the increasing number of medically fragile and technology-dependent children in schools, greater collaboration is required between health care professionals and public school personnel to ensure that safe and effective services are provided. This article describes a comprehensive process involving two different, though interrelated, teams on which the pediatric nurse plays a critical role. The process involves collaborative multidisciplinary medical-health team activities, referral to the educational system before discharge from the hospital setting, collaborative multidisciplinary medical-health-educational team activities, and development of a health care plan, training, and follow-up that facilitates a safe, successful transition from the medical-rehabilitation setting into the community educational environment. Implications for states are provided, with special emphasis on rural communities.