I was very disturbed to read at an article from the Arizona Republic that school nurses are becoming victims of budget cuts across the country, sometimes limited to one nurse per 1,200 students!
The school nurse at the elementary school I attended (yes, we did keep dinosaurs as classroom pets!) was only there alternate days. During one particularly warm afternoon, I played several games of volleyball. I then drank water like a camel. I didn't even make it back to the classroom. I ran for the office, where I promptly upchucked all over the longsuffering secretary. She stood me over the sink in the nurse's office, and called my mother. The nurse was at another school that day.
While there probably wasn't much she could have done for me, I would have felt much better emotionally if the adult taking care of me wasn't also having to answer the telephone and usher students in to see the principal.
Many years later, one of my students was having a hilarious day. He was laughing so hard he almost fell out of his seat on more than one occasion. As I was trying to get him back on task, I smelled his breath and realized he needed to be rushed to the nurse because he was having an insulin reaction. As we were walking down the hall, he decided to repeatedly stick a safety pin through his ear. Without a nurse on site, we probably would have had to call an ambulance.
I've had students overmedicated on prescriptions, others that decided to bring their parent's prescriptions to school to share with their friends, girls with pregnancy scares, and a host of others. It brought great comfort to me to know our wonderful school nurse was only a telephone call away.
The educational aspect shouldn't be overlooked. My own children sneeze into their elbows rather than their hands because they were taught by a school nurse. Others learn hygiene and self care they would not have been taught at home. For some, this may be the only health care they receive.
The school staff is also kept healthy through ongoing education, blood pressure checks and other vital services, even "Biggest Loser" contests to help us achieve a healthy weight!
If your school board is considering budget cuts (and almost all are in these tough economic times), look carefully to make sure your children's health is not becoming endangered.
Read the article at: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/11/02/20081102ednurses1102.html
5 years ago
