BACKGROUND: School nurses play a vital role in safeguarding the health and safety of children by serving as frontline providers within the school setting. Timely recognition and appropriate management of acute medical conditions can reduce morbidity, prevent unnecessary emergency department utilization, and improve long-term outcomes. Needs assessment surveys identified knowledge and confidence gaps among school nurses related to pediatric seizure management and pediatric cardiology.
METHODS: This prospective educational quality improvement initiative was conducted across the Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) region during the 2025-2026 academic year. Over 25 residents served as curriculum developers and educators, creating and delivering evidence- and case-based education focused on seizures and pediatric cardiology across Medical City Healthcare facilities. A pre-intervention learning needs assessment survey identified and prioritized essential topics. The target audience included school health professionals from approximately 30 school districts. Educational modalities included online modules, in-person lectures, and simulation-based cases tailored to school settings, delivered across 26 sessions. Program evaluation followed Kirkpatrick’s four levels (Reaction, Learning, Behavior, Results) using post-session surveys incorporating Likert-style items, Net Promoter Score, and open-ended responses completed by participants receiving Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credit.
RESULTS: Interim program evaluation demonstrated that 870 participants attended the sessions in 2025, with 11 remaining sessions scheduled in 2026. Attendees included Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Medical Assistants, Clinic Aides, and allied school health personnel. At the conclusion of the sessions, 89% (n=774) of participants reported they would implement changes in their clinical practice or apply the knowledge gained. 97% of respondents reported gaining new knowledge or reinforcement of existing knowledge. Nurses rated the presentations highly, with an average score of 4.8 out of 5, and the program achieved a Net Promoter Score of 80%, equating to a "World Class" designation. These findings demonstrate high engagement and meaningful educational impact among participating school health professionals.
CONCLUSION: This resident-led educational initiative improved school nurse knowledge, confidence, and preparedness in managing pediatric seizures and pediatric cardiology conditions across DFW public schools. The program highlights the dual impact of resident leadership in community education: enhancing school-based pediatric readiness while advancing resident ACGME core competencies in medical knowledge, systems-based practice, leadership, and interprofessional communication. This scalable model demonstrates how empowering residents as educators and leaders can simultaneously strengthen population health outcomes and graduate medical education.

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