Nakia C. Best
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About Nakia
Best has been a nurse for over 20 years. Her research examines how school nurses and the services they provide improve student health and education outcomes, with a focus on translating evidence into policy. Best advocates for strong academic and community partnerships and pediatric injury prevention. She serves as Vice Chair of the City of Irvine Health & Wellness Advisory Committee and as a member of the AAP-California Injury & Violence Prevention team.
Contributions
Every Student Deserves a School Nurse
Publications
Explores how social determinants of health influence the well-being and educational success of school-aged children and adolescents. Argues that school nurse-led interventions can help address these broader social factors, improving both health outcomes and students' ability to learn and thrive in school.
Examines patterns in health services and programs provided by school nurses between 2006 and 2016 for students in North Carolina public schools. Demonstrates that school nurses play a critical role in improving student health, supporting chronic disease management, and enhancing students' ability to succeed in school through comprehensive health services.
Analyzes the impact of North Carolina school nurse-to-student ratios and school nurse health services on the health and education outcomes of students receiving services for asthma and diabetes. Concludes that lower school nurse-to-student ratios and services were associated with improvements in students' health and education outcomes.
Examines the range of interventions provided by school nurses and the ways these services influence students' health and educational outcomes. Finds that school nurse interventions are associated with improvements in student health and academic success.