As we approach School Nurse Day on May 7, 2025, it’s the perfect moment to recognize the invaluable contributions of school nurses-not only as caregivers and health advocates, but also as essential allies for children and teens living with migraine.
This year, our appreciation extends with a special focus on the unique and often under-recognized role school nurses play in supporting students with migraine, a condition that affects up to 10% of school-aged children.
School Nurses: The First Line of Support for Migraine Sufferers
For many students, the school nurse is the first healthcare professional they turn to when migraine symptoms strike. In some districts, visits to the nurse for headaches account for nearly a third of all student visits. School nurses are uniquely positioned to identify migraine patterns, provide acute care, and implement preventive strategies that can make a significant difference in a student’s school experience.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Migraine Symptoms: School nurses are trained to distinguish migraine from other types of headaches, ensuring students receive appropriate care and aren’t dismissed or misunderstood.
- Immediate Support for Relief: Nurses often provide a quiet, dimly lit space for students to rest, administer prescribed medications, and offer comfort measures such as gel ice packs kept in the nurse’s office.
- Trigger Management: By understanding common migraine triggers-such as dehydration, skipped meals, bright lights, or stress-school nurses help students avoid or manage these factors during the school day.
Communication and Advocacy: Nurses act as liaisons between students, families, teachers, and healthcare providers, ensuring everyone is aware of a student’s needs and any necessary accommodations.
Creating a Migraine-Friendly School Environment
School nurses are central to creating and maintaining a supportive environment for students with migraine. They help develop individualized care plans, often in collaboration with parents and physicians, that may include:
- Access to Snacks and Hydration: Allowing students to eat snacks and carry water bottles to prevent hunger or dehydration, both common migraine triggers.
- Medication Administration: Ensuring students can take their prescribed migraine medications at the onset of symptoms, which can help abort attacks and minimize missed class time.
- Rest and Recovery: Providing a safe, quiet area for students to rest during an attack, and monitoring them for improvement or the need for further intervention.
- Academic Accommodations: Supporting modifications such as extended test time, testing in a quiet room, or modified physical education, all of which can be crucial for students managing migraine.
- Education and Empowerment: Many school nurses participate in specialized training and mentorship programs, such as the “Headache Champion Program,” to deepen their expertise and empower them to advocate for students with migraine.
School Nurses: Partners in Migraine Prevention
Beyond acute care, school nurses play a preventive role by:
- Educating students about healthy habits that can reduce migraine frequency, such as regular sleep, hydration, and stress management.
- Monitoring for early warning signs and intervening before migraines become severe.
- Collaborating with families to update care plans and ensure students have the tools they need, such as blue light-blocking glasses or ear plugs for sensory sensitivities.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We extend our deepest gratitude to school nurses everywhere. Your compassion, expertise, and advocacy are lifelines for students with migraine and their families. By recognizing triggers, providing immediate care, and championing accommodations, you help ensure that migraine does not stand in the way of a child’s education or well-being.
As a manufacturer of nutritional supplements for migraine sufferers and migraine-focused community we salute your hard work and dedication. Thank you, school nurses, for being champions of children’s health-especially for those navigating the challenges of migraine.
