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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

GREAT NEWS FROM UTAH! The legislature authorized 1 Million for new school nurses in the state. This has been a long effort, and congratulations are due to the school nurses, parents, administrators and legislators who made this happen.

Kathy Briggs, UT NASN Director.

The Salt Lake Tribune News: Funds could allow districts to hire up to 40 - By Julia Lyon

School nurse increase The number of school nurses is expected to increase significantly next school year thanks to a proposed $1 million funding boost from the Legislature.

The money, which would be shared by the state's 40 school districts, would be expected to help pay for an additional 35 to 40 nurses statewide.

The money would be used to match district funding. View Full Story <http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_5320437?source=email>

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I admire those school nurses who stay with their jobs in spite of the continual threat of job elimination. How lucky for your district that you were available and willing to return on the first day of school after your position had been cut.

I think that having to fight to hire or retain school nurses is a broader issue than pleading with principals and school boards. There must be legislation in every state that mandates a school nurse in every school. Perhaps NASN could help individual states create such legislation. I am going through the process of introducing legislation in the state of Vermont to require a state school nurse consultant. I am learning so much about the legislative process by doing this. If your state had a law that required a school nurse in every school, school boards and/or school administrators would not be able to so easily cut our services. (Vermont's law requires a school nurse for every 500 students)

Nancy Coleman - VSSNA president

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This is not an issue that is state specific. With budget cuts forthcoming, I am sure that many states are facing elimination of school nurses. Last year my position was cut. Fortunately, I was called back the first day of school. This year our entire department may be cut. Of course, we try to be proactive with our jobs. Each year we collect data regarding who, when and what type of issues we encounter on a daily basis. We compile this data and share it with our principals and board members at board meetings. We stress the importance of safety when caring for our diabetic students. We search for grants that may cover the salaries of our our 3 nurses (we have 2 additional that are paid by a local hospital). Quite frankly, I don't know what else to do! Again, I reiterate, this is not just a select problem. This is happening in other districts across the state of Michigan. This is also a problem that many states are facing. Of course, suggestions are always welcome.

Julia - MASN President

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We need to take a look at Montana, I have information (from my daughter whose children attend school there) that they are eliminating school nurses in all of the elementary schools in Kalispell Montana. Who will care for those students with health challenges in those schools? How can we get the word out? Does NASA have some influence there? Cindy Perry Idaho

Cindy Perry in Idaho

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"NASN" 3/10/2007

The following Letter to the Editor was written by NASN member, Martha Dewey Bergren, in response to a Chicago Tribune article titled, "Girl, interrupted"(http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/magazine/chi-0703040528mar04,1,6824889.story?coll=chi-leisuremagazine-hed89.story?coll=chi-leisuremagazine-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true>

In the article, an elementary school-aged child faces the challenges of having diabetes and attending school. NASN shares this with you to encourage you to 'speak out' on behalf of school nursing to support the link between health and learning.

The article in this Sunday's Magazine Section about Sophie Elder's struggle in getting support for her health care needs in schools was tragic. However, your article did not mention the obvious solution: a school nurse.

The health care needs of all children are important, whether they have diabetes, seizures, anaphylactic food allergies, asthma or the accidents and injuries that occur every day in the school setting. Many local districts opt to staff each building with a school nurse.

However, a specific nurse to student ratio is not mandated in Illinois. Why doesn't Illinois think the health of all of the children in school is important enough to have a school nurse in every building?

Delaware requires a school nurse in every building.

South Carolina requires a school nurse in every elementary building.

The Massachusetts Legislature recommends:

-One fulltime equivalent (FTE) licensed school nurse for each building (both public and nonpublic) with 250 to 500 students;
-An additional 0.1 FTE for each additional 50 students in buildings with more than 500 students; and

-0.1 FTE for each 25 students in buildings with fewer than 250 students.

New Jersey and Pennsylvania require the medications in school be administered by a registered nurse.

Both the CDC Healthy People 2010 and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) recommend that the school nurse to student ratio be 1:750 in the general school population. NASN recommends 1:225 in the special education population; 1:125 in the severely chronically ill or disabled population.

Without adequate coverage by a registered nurse with the required extra classes for school nurse certification, lay persons, secretaries or other school personnel are expected to administer medications including injections and perform nursing procedures unsupervised. It is important for parents to investigate who provides care in their child's school. The person answering the phone in the health office many not be a "nurse".

The obvious answer for providing safe and knowledgeable care for Sophie and all children with health care needs is a certified school nurse.

Martha Dewey Bergren, Doctor of Nursing Science, RN, ILCSN. NCSN Clinical Assistant Professor Public Health, Mental Health and Administrative Nursing University of Illinois - Chicago College of Nursing