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Comment: Strengthening the Academic Voice in School Nursing: Celebrating NASNA and SAPHNA partnership

In this comment piece, Melanie Hayward, Associate Professor and Lead for Quality Assurance and Enhancement (IHSC) and the Chair of National Association of School Nurse Academics (NASNA), celebrates the strategic affiliation between the School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA) and NASNA, while exploring why the collaboration is so significant.
 

Over the past year and half, I’ve had the privilege of chairing the National Association of School Nurse Academics (NASNA) - formerly the National Forum for School Health Educators (NFSHE). What began as a voluntary network of passionate academics working to support and enhance School Nurse education across the UK has now taken a significant step forward: NASNA has formally affiliated with the School nurse professional body School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA) as its official education and research arm.

This marks a major moment of recognition and consolidation, affirming the vital role that academic voices play in shaping the future of public health and nursing. The affiliation provides a new level of strategic alignment, ensuring that research, curriculum development and policy engagement work together with professional leadership and advocacy.
 

Highlights of What We've Achieved

We’ve made substantial progress as a collective so far. Key developments include:

  • A revised, co-produced NASNA constitution - strengthening governance, clarifying our purpose and embedding shared values.
  • A double membership model - NASNA members now benefit from access to SAPHNA networks, events and resources, while retaining our identity and academic focus.
  • National collaboration and representation - with regular contributions to UK-wide SCPHN education discussions, stakeholder consultations and strategic forums.
  • A growing evidence and publication profile - through our NASNA column in the Journal of Family and Child Health, authored by different members on topics ranging from curriculum change to digital safeguarding.
  • An inclusive and dynamic membership base - representing over 25 universities across the UK, we’ve doubled our membership and are offering peer support, idea exchange and real-time response to sector developments.
     

Why This Affiliation Matters

School Nursing sits at the intersection of public health, education and safeguarding. Our affiliation with SAPHNA is both timely and strategic, enabling us to work in partnership to:

  • Shape national policy through an evidence-informed academic lens
  • Contribute to sustainable workforce development through education and training pathways
  • Support the implementation of the NMC (2022) proficiencies across HEIs and practice settings
  • Raise the visibility and influence of School Nurse education in wider professional and political discussions

This is also about valuing School Nurse academics themselves — our leadership, our scholarship, our students and our contribution to improving the lives of children, young people, families and communities. 

I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far, and deeply grateful to NASNA colleagues across the UK who have contributed time, insight and energy to this collective effort. A special thank you goes to Maddie Jenkins (Senior Lecturer – SCPHN School Nursing) NASNA Secretary, whose organisation, professionalism and commitment have played a vital role in keeping us connected and coordinated throughout. I’m also thankful to SAPHNA for their warmth, support and shared ambition.

 

Want to Know More?

If you’re interested in School Nursing education, research, workforce development or public health, especially the role academia plays in shaping practice, I’d love to hear from you. NASNA is a growing, inclusive community, and we’re always open to collaboration, new members and shared projects.

Associate Professor Melanie Hayward is a Children’s Nurse and SCPHN School Nurse academic. She leads a strategic portfolio of quality and enhancement across Health and Social Care PSRB programmes at BNU and currently chairs NASNA, the UK network for School Nurse academics, now formally affiliated with SAPHNA as its education and research arm.