On average, there is only about one school nurse for every 1,100
students in the United States. The concept of school nursing seems to
be considered less and less important by many educational institutions,
when in reality, often the school nurse is the only healthcare provider
many children will see or talk to in their younger years. School
nursing is extremely important and should be treated as such within
every school in America, both private and public. School nursing is
taught much like traditional nursing, and all school nurses must be
registered, educated, and pass an exam before they can administer any
kind of treatment to children. Without the help of a school nurse, many
dangerous errors can occur, such as giving children the wrong
medications. Statistics have shown that people are about 40 percent
more likely to give children incorrect medicine if a school nurse is
not involved in the process. This is an example of the importance of
school nursing.
Aside from the occasional sniffle
or tummy ache, school nursing is also important to help kids with
special needs. A school nurse can help to assist kids with problems
such as diabetes, asthma, or those who are in a wheelchair or battling
other health related issues. Teachers and coaches are not trained to
deal with or treat students with special needs, but school nurses are.
Just having someone there who practices school nursing can give
students a sense of security and emotional support. The job of school
nurses is much broader than just taking a temperature or making phone
calls. They are needed because they have the experience and know how to
help treat kids or make decisions that most faculty and staff cannot
do. Without them, our schools are lacking a vital part of the system
that is in place to help and protect our children.