School Nursing’s Impact on Student Outcomes: A Path Forward for Historically Segregated Communities—A Transcultural GIS Approach

Introduction: Segregation was a 20th-century practice that was used to separate people based on race and other factors. Schools continue to be the central battleground for these issues. The purpose of this study was to explore relationships between school nurse (SN) staffing levels and student outcomes in the state of Georgia. Methodology: Descriptive statistics were used to understand SN staffing practices across the state of Georgia. Linear regression was used to understand relationships between variables. Choropleth geomapping and Getis-Ord Gi* hot spot analysis were used. Results: Descriptive statistics revealed disparities in SN staffing across the state of Georgia. Linear regression showed a relationship between SN staffing and academic outcomes. Mapping revealed patterns that indicated educational inequities in counties where the majority of residents are Black. Discussion: Disproportionate school nurse staffing levels may be related to disproportionate funding, with roots from the 20th-century practices.