Long COVID-The New "Invisible" Illness: How School Nurses Can Support the Nursing and Educational Teams for Student Success

NASN Sch Nurse. 2022 Mar;37(2):90-95. doi: 10.1177/1942602X211059427. Epub 2021 Dec 10.

Abstract

School-age children are not immune to COVID-19 or the pronounced and persistent symptoms associated with a long-COVID diagnosis. Students may present with a variety of symptoms affecting their physical, cognitive, and mental health. The school community should be educated on the school-based interventions and recommendations for creating an individualized safe and successful return to school plan. As we await approval for vaccinations in school-age children younger than 12 years and continue to reposition ourselves to the waves of this pandemic and new variants of the virus, understanding the medical and educational long-term effects on our students may be a long-term need.

Keywords: Section 504; care coordination; collaborative communication; education; individualized health care plan; return to school; role of the school nurse; special care.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
  • Return to School*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • School Nursing*
  • Students