Taking A Position

Bill 1896 states there needs to be a 1:1000 nurse to student ratio in school systems. We believe this ratio is a step in the right direction; however, we would like to see the ratio decrease even more. It would be beneficial to the health of the student body and ideal if the ratio were to be 1:500. We recognize that this number is difficult to achieve due to financial and resource constraints, but this bill kick starts an effort to provide more efficient healthcare to students.

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) proposed Ratio Bill H.R. 2229 to Congress in 2009 and again in 2011 as a National bill requesting the requirement of a decreased nurse to student ratio at 1:750 in the public school systems. While this is a National bill, our state level bill should also work toward this goal. At present, over 50% of US public schools do not have a full time RN. This percentage varies from state to state, and within urban and rural school districts. http://www.nasn.org/portals/0/legislation/NASN082011Advocacy.pdf

The need for school nurses has increased vastly, as students enrolled in schools today have more complex medical conditions and needs. Some of these needs entail asthma, food allergies, obesity, diabetes, vision and hearing difficulties, dental problems, mental and behavioral problems (autism, ADHD, etc.), and those who need prescribed medicine for both acute and chronic conditions. For many of these children, contact with a school nurse may be the only access they have to healthcare. For these reasons, in addition to others, it is imperative that this bill is passed to ensure that students receive the individualized care they require.

The key legislators and stakeholders of this bill were previously identified under the Governmental Objectives posting in the Political Influences section.

Our action plan includes:

- Contact the legislators supporting this bill, Lionell Spruill Sr. and Rosalyn R. Dance, and invite them to view our blog.

- Contact possible supporters of the bill to encourage their endorsement on the stance of decreasing the nurse to student ratio in public schools.

- Keep our blog updated on the current events related to this bill and topics associated with it.

- Interview a school nurse in the Waynesboro Public School District.

- Actively respond to comments posted on our blog page.