Bridging Communication With Non-Speaking Students

School nurses rely heavily on their assessments to determine if a student can remain in school or if they require the care of a parent or healthcare provider. However, school nurses may face challenges in completing a thorough assessment when a student is non-speaking and has limited means of communication. In Northeast Texas, a gap in educational opportunities for school nurses to learn about communication with non-speaking students was identified. To address this gap, a nurse practitioner with expertise in non-speaking patients with autism spectrum disorder, and a nursing student fluent in American Sign Language, created an educational offering for school nurses that was part of a larger one-day nursing continuing professional development event.