OLD ORCHARD BEACH – The Maine Association of School Nurses, a professional organization representing health services and health education provided to Maine’s 200,000 students, will celebrate National School Nurses Day today.

The primary role of the school nurse is to support student learning. The nurse accomplishes this by implementing strategies that promote student and staff health and safety.

The school nurses are involved in a school’s health program in a variety of ways. The school nurse:

. serves as the coordinator of health services program and provides nursing care;

. provides health education to students, staff and parents;

. identifies health and safety concerns in the school environment and promotes a nurturing school environment;

. supports healthy food services programs;

. promotes healthy physical education, sports policies and practices;

. promotes community involvement in assuring a healthy school, serves as school liaison to a health advisory committee; and

. provides health education and counseling and promotes healthy activities and environment for school staff.