Until the 1800s, nursing was considered a lowly task, relegated to women who were usually in the lower echelons of society. The Civil War highlighted the need for qualified nurses. To raise nursing to an organized, professional status, three nursing schools based on Florence Nightingale's principles of nursing were established in 1873: the Bellevue School of Nursing in New York, the Connecticut Training School at New Haven, and the Boston Training School in Mass.
In an effort to reduce health-related absenteeism in schools, the New York City school system hired Lina Rogers Struthers on October 1, 1902, to serve as a nurse for a one-month trial. She continued her appointment after the month ended because of promising results, and two months later she was named superintendent of school nurses, and had a staff of 12 nurses. By February 1903, another 15 nurses were added to the staff. During the first year of this new school-nurse system, health-related absenteeism dropped by nearly 90 percent. The positive results triggered other large cities to hire school nurses, with Philadelphia starting in 1903, Los Angeles in 1904, Boston in 1905, Philadelphia in 1908, and Chicago in 1910.
The school nurse continues to play a vital role in the education and health care systems. In recognition of this role, National School Nurse Day is celebrated each year in May.
- Adaptive Physical Education Specialists
- Adult and Vocational Education Teachers
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Allergists/Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Art Teachers
- Athletic Directors
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Biophysicists
- Book Editors
- Cardiologists
- Cardiovascular Technologists
- Career and Employment Counselors and Technicians
- Child Care Service Owners
- Child Care Workers
- Child Life Specialists
- Children's Librarians
- Chiropractors
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- College Administrators
- College Professors
- Community Health Nurses
- Computer Trainers
- Contact Tracers
- Cooking Instructors
- Cosmetic Surgeons
- Creative Arts Therapists
- Critical Care Nurses
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dance School Owners and Managers
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dentists
- Dermatologists
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Dialysis Technicians
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians and Nutritionists
- Dispensing Opticians
- Distance Learning Coordinators
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists
- Education Directors and Museum Teachers
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists
- Elementary School Teachers
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Nurses
- Endocrinologists
- Endodontists
- Endoscopy Technicians
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Teachers
- Environmental Education Program Directors
- Epidemiologists
- Ergonomists
- Gastroenterologists
- General Practitioners
- Genetic Counselors
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Psychiatrists
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Grief Therapists
- Guidance Counselors
- Health Advocates
- Hematologists
- Histologic Technicians
- Holistic Physicians
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses
- Hospice Workers
- Hospitalists
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Instructional Coordinators
- Instructional Designers
- Journalism Teachers
- Kinesiologists
- Legal Nurse Consultants
- Library and Information Science Instructors
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Mathematics Teachers
- Medical Assistants
- Medical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Technologists
- Microbiologists
- Music Teachers
- Music Therapists
- Nannies
- Neonatal Nurses
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Assistants
- Nurse Managers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse-Midwives
- Nursing Instructors
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- Oncological Nurses
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Optometrists
- Oriental Medicine Practitioners
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists
- Orthodontists
- Orthoptists
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Pathologists
- Pediatric Dentists
- Pediatricians
- Pedorthists
- Perfusionists
- Periodontists
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Physiatrists
- Physical Education Teachers
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Preschool Teachers
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Prosthodontists
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Radiologic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Recreational Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Respiratory Therapists and Technicians
- School Administrators
- Secondary School Teachers
- Senior Care Pharmacists
- Social Workers
- Special Education Teachers
- Special Procedures Technologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Sports Physicians
- Sports Psychologists
- Surgeons
- Surgical Technologists
- Teacher Aides
- Toxicologists
- Transplant Coordinators
- Tutors and Trainers
- Urologists