School Nurses: An Upstream Investment for Achieving Menstrual Equity

Abstract

Menstrual equity has emerged as an important public health issue, with a growing political coalition advocating improved access to menstrual products. In the September 2024 issue of AJPH, we described and analyzed the history of the role of school nurses in the US education system in relation to menstruation and its intersection with population health.1 In recognition of School Nurse Day and Menstrual Hygiene Day—both of which took place in the month of May—we build on this work and make the case for honoring both occasions through investments in school nurse staffing and training as essential public health investments toward menstrual equity. Adequately staffed and trained, school nurses—who are often the only health care providers in the school setting—can fulfill the full scope of their role in menstrual health education and care, from identifying potential menstrual health disorders to dispelling the stigma still attached to menstruation.