Information Needs and Barriers to Access for School Nurses: A Narrative Review

Abstract Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine what the literature shows about the daily information needs of public-school nurses, as well as about their information preferences, behaviors, and barriers to searching and accessing this information. Methods: CINAHL, LISTA, PubMed, and ERIC were searched for literature on the information needs of school nurses within the US and barriers to their professional development. Statistics were collected concerning the school-age population within the author’s state of residence. Results: Our findings indicate that school nurses are an underserved population. They rarely have access to paid resources and are expected to seek out professional development on their own time with their own resources. The research suggests they want to learn but lack the time and resources to do so. Statistics indicate an increase in school-age children with complex healthcare needs. Conclusion: Librarians need to determine how best to support the complex information needs of public-school nurses. Next steps include conducting a needs assessment and developing an accessible intervention.