LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – State officials want to have a nurse in every school as students’ health needs increase. However, limited budgets make this difficult.
According to the Michigan School Nurses Association, 600,000 Michigan students have at least one chronic condition and 25% take medication daily. Therefore, the presence of school nurses is essential to ensure the physical and mental health and safety of students.
According to the National School Nurse Workforce Survey, only 66% of schools in the U.S. have access to a full-time school nurse. The numbers for rural schools are even worse, with only 56.2% employing full-time school nurses.
A $125 million investment in school safety and mental health grants that Governor Whitmer signed into law earlier this month will help ensure there is a nurse in every school building in the state. There is a possibility.
“I managed my diabetes without professional help in school. From kindergarten to high school graduation, I didn’t have a school nurse,” said Megan Steffle, a recent MSU graduate and first-year student. He said he was diagnosed with type I diabetes.
As the only child with a chronic illness at school, Steffl said it was difficult to overcome diabetes without the school nurse. She said, “My parents owned their own businesses locally.”
“To manage my diabetes, they had to come to my school three or four times a day to test my blood sugar levels and administer insulin.” said Steffl.
As Cindy Brummett said, school nurses do more than just support students. They also support their colleagues. If school nurses are not available, teachers and other staff members will have to do the work.
“This has increased the burden on faculty and staff,” she said. They don’t have that kind of support.”
Adhering to school rules can be difficult for children with chronic medical conditions, depression, or anxiety.
“The earlier we intervene, the better the outcome.” According to Dr. Elliot Attisha, 40% of children attending school have some type of chronic illness.
On Tuesday, he joined other health and education leaders in pleading with school officials to include at least one nurse in their budgets.
“When I worked as a school health worker, I would see students come to the school health room to take care of their health needs, and sometimes just to give them a hug.” said Dr. Atisha.
Atisha says, “Studies show that 95% of students who see a school nurse for health-related reasons are sent back to class.” This leaves administrators dealing with medical issues, which not only distracts them from their primary role, but often sends students home unnecessarily.”
Brummett said her job plays an important role in keeping students in the classroom. “School nurses are the bridge between health and education,” she said.
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