Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify elementary school nurses' perceptions about their districts' responses to juvenile obesity. The study identified: (1) the degree to which elementary school nurses agreed that juvenile obesity is a problem; (2) the actions school nurses perceived taking place within their districts regarding juvenile obesity in the areas of classroom instruction, staff development, parental information, exercise and physical fitness, and nutrition; (3) what changes have been made in school lunch programs to address juvenile obesity; (4) to what degree changes that were made were perceived by nurses as being effective or ineffective; (5) what changes school nurses would like to see in their districts with respect to addressing the issue of juvenile obesity; and (6) what impact the increase in obese children has had on their duties. Methodology. This study used a descriptive research design. Forty elementary school nurses were selected using a probability sampling technique. The two criteria used to define the sample population included (1) school nurses employed in districts in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties; and (2) a minimum of one year as a school district nurse serving one or more elementary schools. This study chose a semi-structured interview instrument to guide the personal interviews. Findings and conclusions. The seven conclusions were: (1) school nurses were underrepresented in their school districts; (2) monies awarded to school districts to develop health programs for obesity were on a need only basis; (3) schools in poorer districts received governmental assistance with little or no support from the local community, while more affluent districts received local community support but little or no governmental assistance; (4) being assigned to multiple schools gave nurses a peripheral perception of their association with their schools; (5) to effectively combat obesity, a coordinated infrastructure must be in place involving all influential participants (i.e., nurses, teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, physicians, etc.); (6) the expertise and knowledge nurses have to offer was not being utilized to their fullest potential by the school districts; and (7) nurses were deeply concerned with juvenile obesity and would do more if possible. The nurses felt the district's concern of academic performance had overshadowed virtually all other issues within their districts. Recommendations. The following recommendations are made: (1) School districts should acknowledge the correlation between obesity and academic performance; (2) in order to combat juvenile obesity, a coordinated infrastructure involving nurses, teachers, parents, counselors and administrators must be in place; (3) districts should take a more proactive approach to combating obesity; (4) less emphasis should be placed on competition when pertaining to physical activity.