The Utilization of a Community Nursing Internship to Support School Nurses in Rural School Districts: A Qualitative Thematic Exploration of Interns’ Experiences

School nurses play a crucial role in promoting health and well-being within school communities. Their responsibilities include direct patient care, care management, health teaching, disease prevention, and mental health treatment. As the point of entry into the health-care system for children and families, school nurses address the full spectrum of health needs, and their roles are critical to student success. To increase exposure to school nursing and provide hands-on experience for nursing students, a deliberate internship was instituted for the 2021-2022 academic year. A qualitative evaluation of the intern's narratives examined the impact of the program, and the findings illustrated the power of experiential learning to foster interns' knowledge of school nursing. The 2024 School Nursing Practice Framework led interns in direct care, chronic disease management, and health promotion. These experiences reinforced the role of school nurses in facilitating public health and student well-being. This project underscores the importance of integrating school nursing internships into nursing education to expand the nursing workforce and prepare graduates for comprehensive health care. Policymakers must invest in school nurse workforce development, fund school health programs, and offer incentives for careers in school nursing. Strengthening these efforts establishes health equity and enhances student success, demonstrating the value of community-based, practice-informed nursing education.