School nurses aid students every day

As president of the Western New York Association of School Nurses, I feel compelled to address the current situation with the Amherst school nurses. One cannot underestimate the professional assessment abilities of a nurse. It is difficult and unfair to say how many children a school needs in order to "deserve" a school nurse. Every child deserves a school nurse, whether he or she has a chronic health condition or not. Even the healthiest of children can have a medical emergency or develop a new condition that is often picked up by the school nurse. Every day we assist with medical emergencies and provide case management for those with more chronic health needs. We help teachers and administrators understand how certain health issues affect a student's ability to learn, and how they might better meet a child's academic needs. Parochial schools often do not have social workers or a guidance department, so many mental health issues fall into the lap of the school nurse as well.

I know I am continually used as a resource person at my school and amongst my colleagues. It is also against New York State law for a nonlicensed person to administer medications/ treatments to a non-self-directing student. I don't know many self-directed kindergartners. Do you? Fourteen states currently mandate school nurses. New York, which considers itself proactive and concerned about children's health, does not. It is a sad day when we start putting a price tag on our children's health. NYS can mandate an automated external defibrillator for every school, but not a nurse?
Elaine Herberger, RN
Nancy Lane
Amherst