Body art education: the earlier, the better.

Using the major format identified for successful prevention and intervention work, five "W" questions: what, why, whom, where, and who, plus one: how, this article first summarizes the current body art literature. Then, educational strategies specifically regarding the topic of tattoos and body piercing are presented for school nurses. These strategies can be used to create applicable, realistic information for young students before they are faced with decisions related to body art.

Professional development and appraisal system for school nurses.

Dissatisfied with current school nurse evaluation instruments, school nurse administrators sought to develop an appraisal system that would emphasize the professional role of the school nurse and provide a means to enhance individual practice. The newly revised Standards of Professional School Nursing Practice and the creation of a state teacher evaluation model presented the opportunity to produce an instrument that could be adapted within the educational setting for school nursing practice. The appraisal system included not only the methods to evaluate practice, but the means to involve the individual school nurse through goal setting.