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Higher Ed Bill Supports Nursing Education

On August 14, 2008, President Bush signed into law The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (H.R. 4137), marking a significant stride in the effort to ease the national nurse and faculty shortage. With a number of provisions directed at nursing education including loan repayment for nurses and graduate assistance, the law will authorize critical funds to help strengthen nursing schools and faculty across the country.

To learn more about the Higher Education Opportunity Act, visit http://capwiz.com/nln/issues/bills/?bill=11807631&size=full.

New Bill Addresses Critical Shortage of School Nurses

In an effort to reduce the student-to-school nurse ratio in public secondary schools and elementary schools, United States Representative Carolyn McCarthy, D-NY, and fellow Congress member Lois Capps, D-CA, introduced the Student-to-School Nurse Ratio Improvement                                             Bill-H.R. 6201 in June 2008.

If enacted, the first-of-its-kind bill would direct funding to district schools with substandard nurse-to-student ratios to help improve them, providing grants through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to eligible states to help reduce the student-to-school nurse ratios. A report to Congress on the effectiveness of the grant program will also be required.

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN), in a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, calls on Congress to support the legislation stating, "Students today have increasingly complex needs for nursing care and school nurses help facilitate learning for all students."

School nurses provide health care and education to students and implement strategies that promote a healthy, safe and nurturing school environment. The school nurse role has advanced over the past few years as a result of an increase in the number of students entering public schools with severe physical or chronic conditions. This increase in responsibilities has become a challenge for school nurses, especially in schools where the ratio of school nurse to students is disproportionately large.

The NASN recommends one school nurse to no more than 750 students. But currently, more than 50 percent of public schools in the U.S. do not have a full-time registered nurse and wide gaps exist from state to state, within school districts, and between urban and rural schools, as stated by United States Representative Carolyn McCarthy, D-NY.

Intervention through federal legislation and funding will be essential to effectively manage and resolve this national issue.

To learn more about the Student-to-School Nurse Ratio Improvement Bill or to locate your Congressman to support and co-sponsor this legislation, visit http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=525.


School nurses must be familiar with various medical procedures, devices and treatments in order to effectively manage the care of students.

School Nurses Support Student Learning

School nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success, and life-long achievement of students.

Often considered the first line of defense, today's school nurses have modified their standard routine to accomodate the increasingly complex needs of today's students.

In addition to conducting mandated vision and hearing screenings, educating students on proper hygiene and dental health, supervising and administering medication, and developing policies and procedures for emergency response, school nurses are now monitoring and managing many other health care needs.

School nurses care for students with asthma, diabetes, disabilities and other chronic conditions and, therefore, must be familiar with certain medical procedures, devices and treatments to manage the care of these students while they are in the school environment.

"The role of the school nurse continuously evolves to meet the needs of the students," explained Julie Parker, RN and school nurse of the Chico Unified School District in Chico, Calif. "As a school nurse, we often encounter daily challenges, but no matter the situation, we always strive to support the life-long achievement of our students in the educational setting."

Serving as the health professional within the school community, the school nurse's responsibilities have expanded to include the complex needs of today's students. Despite the evolving role of these health care professionals, school nurses still manage their primary role of supporting student learning.

To learn more about school nursing, visit www.discovernursing.com.  


We want to hear from you!

Are you a nurse who was inspired to  pursue your nursing career in part by the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future? Tell us how the Campaign inspired you by sending in your story and email and telephone contact information to nursingnotes@gcigroup.com. With your approval, we may feature your story in future Campaign communications.
Holly Miller, RN and School Nurse
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
Indiana, Pa.

Q: Why did you decide to pursue nursing as a career and why?
A: For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a nurse. I enjoy working with people and find it rewarding to be able to help others. I have been a member of the nursing profession for 32 years. After graduating from college, my first employment was as a medical surgical nurse. Since moving to Pennsylvania, I have worked in a number of diverse areas including home health, hospice, discharge planning, enterostomal therapy and, most recently, school nursing.

Q: What inspired you to become a school nurse?
A: While raising my family, I was looking for a position that would allow me to attend more of my children's activities, but would still be challenging professionally. School nursing met those qualifications.

Q: What advice would you offer to individuals interested in becoming a school nurse?
A: Continuing education is very important because the school nurse often functions independently as the only health professional in the school.

Q: How has nursing impacted your life?
A: Nursing has shown me how people are able to overcome adversity in their life through education and a positive attitude. In turn, I am more appreciative of my own health and the health of my family. I strive to promote healthy behaviors in my home and in the schools where I work.


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