COLUMBUS, Ohio — There continues to be a shortage of school nurses as some districts prepare for students to return to the classroom during a pandemic.
According to the National Association of School Nurses, 25.2% of schools across the United States do not employ a school nurse. The group reports 35.3% of schools employ part-time school nurses and 39.3% of schools employ full-time school nurses.
"I hope this pandemic really opens eyes to administrators, and at the higher government level, that this is a critical need," said Kelly Wagner, president of the Ohio Association of School Nurses. "At the end of the day, the one person people are going to go to regarding COVID-19, illness, wellness, is your school nurse. If you have one."
Wagner has been a practicing school nurse for 14 years. She said school nurses are already busy managing care plans for students with chronic conditions. Now, they face new protocols with COVID-19. If districts decide to send kids back to school, school nurses will need access to proper PPE and an isolation room (per recommendations by the Ohio Department of Education).
10TV's Angela Reighard asked Wagner how her members feel about potentially returning to school in the fall.
"I think there are emotions all over the place. Obviously, none of us want to do virtual learning. That's certainly not preferred. All of us would rather be back in school," she said. "I think as nurses, we have to look at the evidence and best practices and what's going to work and give that counsel and advice to our administrators."
With some school nurses serving several buildings and other districts having no nurses, school employees are asked to act in that role. A 2017 survey by the Ohio Department of Health found secretaries/office personnel were most likely to administer care for ill students in the absence of a school nurse.
"We train them as best we can, but that's not what they are there to do," Wagner said. "I know a lot of them don't like doing that because it's a huge responsibility to put on their shoulders."
Wagner said parents will play a critical role in this process of returning kids to the classroom. She said parents need to be doing wellness checks before their child leaves home.
"If they're not 100% well, don't send them. It will benefit them. It will benefit everyone around them," she said.
The National Association of School Nurses released the following statement calling for $208 billion in funding for the return to school:
“America’s school nurses, just like America’s teachers, students and parents want to return to school. Children want to see their friends, teachers want to see their students, and nurses want to reintegrate with their school communities. However, none of that is possible without robust federal investment, and reliance on accurate public health data” said NASN President Laurie G. Combe, MN, RN, NCSN. “NASN, along with other health and education leaders, sent a letter to Senate leaders demanding they appropriately fund any return-to-school plan requesting a minimum of $208 billion, and provide maximum flexibility for school districts and schools to prioritize investments that will enable environments where students are able to learn and students and staff are healthy and safe.”