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Highlights, inspiration, and affirmation from the 80th School Nursing Congress in Stockholm, Sweden
Abstract
Sarah Bekaert shares some of the highlights from the recent school nursing congress in Sweden, including a collaborative effort towards growing the school nursing evidence base and discussion surrounding workforce.
In May 2024, the Swedish School Nursing Congress celebrated its 80th anniversary in Stockholm – and what a celebration it was! Currently presided over by the chair for the Swedish Association of School Nurses, Mia Göransdotter Hammer, over 1 500 school nurses descended on the capital for the association's national annual congress to celebrate this history, watch (and join in with!) some inspirational performances, consider current issues facing school-aged children, and enjoy each other's company.
An excellent session by the nurse-historian, Susan Magnusson, took attendees through an insightful 80 years of school nursing in Sweden. Magnusson made the notable observation that many of the health issues that school nurses work with today; such as alcohol and drug use, smoking, poor sleep and diet; have endured across the decades, each generation presenting its new take on the old. All delegates were treated to a copy of her book: The School Nurse: how children, health and society have shaped the profession over a century. A regular feature at the congress is a movement session after the morning plenaries, and this year this was led by students from Pohlem's special needs school in Stockholm, with some choreographed, and impressively improvised, dance moves. Also featured was a performance piece from Dance for Health (Dans för Hälsa), a research-based programme that enhances mental wellbeing in young people. Without performance or choreography, the focus of Dance for Health is on the enjoyment of movement in a safe, supportive group.
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