Adolescent Use of Electronic Cigarettes: An Emergent Health Concern for Pediatric Nurses.

Recent statistics show an increasing trend of electronic cigarette usage among adolescents. Despite common misconceptions, electronic cigarette use does not reduce cigarette use among adolescents and can potentially increase cigarette dependence via nicotine addiction and modeling of smoking behaviors. Pediatric nurses and health care providers should be aware of the popularity and safety concerns of electronic cigarettes so that they can properly provide education regarding the possible negative health effects of adolescent electronic cigarette use, raise awareness of this public health concern, and impact policies in their communities.

Energy drinks: a new health hazard for adolescents.

A new hazard for adolescents is the negative health effects of energy drink consumption. Adolescents are consuming these types of drinks at an alarming amount and rate. Specific effects that have been reported by adolescents include jitteriness, nervousness, dizziness, the inability to focus, difficulty concentrating, gastrointestinal upset, and insomnia.

Head injuries in children.

School nurses play a crucial role in injury prevention and initial treatment when injuries occur at school. The role of school nurses includes being knowledgeable about the management of head injuries, including assessment and initial treatment. The school nurse must be familiar with the outcomes of a head injury and know when further evaluation is indicated.

The number of students sent home by school nurses compared to unlicensed personnel.

Many schools across the United States do not have a full-time school nurse, resulting in care being provided by unlicensed school employees when children are sick or injured at school. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in the number of students sent home when ill or injured based on who assessed the student in the school health office--a school nurse or an unlicensed school employee. Findings indicated that 5% of students seen by the school nurse were sent home and 18% of students seen by an unlicensed school employee were sent home.