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TUCSON, Arizona — As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, school nurses are stretched. Several districts say trying to hire more staff is proving difficult.
National Association of School Nurses President Linda Mendonca says the shortage has always been a problem, but the pandemic is making matters worse.
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“This is our third school year that we are facing this pandemic, and [nurses] are tired, they worked 24/7, ”she says.
Aside from the pandemic, the CDC recommends that schools have a full-time nurse for every 750 students. Currently, it is estimated that about a quarter of schools do not have a nurse (Stephanie Bennett / Fox News).
Like many other professions in recent months, schools are now seeing nurses retire early or change careers.
“We are definitely seeing the shortage,” Mendonca said. “Our country as a whole, it is concerning that almost half of our public schools do not have a full-time school nurse.”
Some school districts are now forced to share nurses across campuses, while others are working overtime to deal with the extra workload that now comes with keeping our children safe.
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Health Services Coordinator Sarah Rawdin is one of 10 registered nurses who attend 21 schools in the Sunnyside Unified School District in Tucson, Arizona. She tells Fox News that she visits an average of two to three schools a day. On busy days, it can go up to six.
Aside from the pandemic, the CDC recommends that schools have a full-time nurse for every 750 students. Currently, it is estimated that about a quarter of schools do not have a nurse.
“The work does not stop and so we continue to work,” said Rawdin. “There is so much extra work with COVID, it is not uncommon for me to see emails regarding COVID cases until late in the evening and I know my staff have stayed unfortunately they have not come back. hour because of the workload, and just trying to do everything and keep everyone safe. “
School nurses play multiple roles, helping students with everything from minor cuts and bruises to chronic illnesses and working with mental health situations. With the pandemic, they are also tracking and testing children for COVID-19.
School nurses play multiple roles, helping students with everything from minor cuts and bruises to chronic illnesses and working with mental health situations. With the pandemic, they are also tracking and testing children for COVID-19 (Stephanie Bennett / Fox News).
It can be time consuming for school nurses as they have to notify other students, parents, and staff, as well as the city, county, or state if a student tests positive.
“We are currently doing pool tests, which we do once a week, with the consent of the students’ parents and the nurses drop off the supplies,” said Crystal Alvarez, head nurse for the Nogales Unified School District. “The students drain on their own, then this goes to the lab, and if any of the PCR tests are positive, we retest those students with a rapid test.”
Nogales Unified School District is using outside help by working closely with community health leaders to offer telehealth visits with doctors and COVID-19 tests.
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“It has been busier than previous school years when there had been no pandemic,” Alvarez said. “Now, if you have a cold or a sore throat or something, they should be sent to the nurse’s office. “
She continued, “It’s a little more work than before, but it’s better, and that’s how we were able to keep our students safe.”
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