An RN for every building in every public school in NYS.

The role of the school nurse goes far beyond that of band aids and ice packs.  School nurses are the first responders to critical, emergency incidents on school property; we provide direct health services for both students and staff; we provide screening and referrals for health conditions such as vision and hearing and we are a critical safety net for the most fragile students.  Nurses enable children with chronic and often complex medical conditions, such as diabetes and seizure disorders, to attend school; we serve as a liaison between school personnel, family, community and health care providers; and as evidenced by this past year, we are the first line of defense against epidemics/pandemics and disease outbreaks, monitoring the health of the overall population and connecting with public health officials.  Simply stated, schools cannot run safely without a nurse in every school.  For too long, the critical role of school nurses has been overlooked and underappreciated.

In every school in New York State there is at least one student with a 504 plan that specifically identifies the need for a nurse.  In June 2019, amid a measles outbreak, Governor Cuomo signed a law that no longer allowed for families to claim religious exemption against vaccines.  This required nurses in every school in the state to ensure that all students were fully and properly immunized.  
We are required by New York State to submit immunization reports annually, complete Body Mass Index surveys, do required screenings, administer medications, manage students with significant chronic health issues, address student and staff health needs, and respond to and manage medical emergencies.  Incredibly, despite these vast responsibilities, nurses are not viewed as essential and are not mandated school employees under New York law.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, many schools lack a licensed health care professional on site to respond to individual student medical emergencies.  Injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States, with 70% of injury related deaths occurring in school aged youth.  It is estimated that 10-25% of injuries to children occur while they are in school.  In addition to injury-related emergencies, status asthmaticus, diabetic crisis, status epilepticus, sudden cardiac death, and other medical emergencies can and do occur in students and staff at school.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the need to re-open and keep open schools safely has only magnified our need.  The role school nurses have played in this pandemic has been vital.  
Bottom line, it is time that New York State recognizes school nurses for the essential role that we play.

 School nurses are grossly underpaid and undervalued.  It is imperative to the health and safety of all students that New York State mandate registered nurses in each and every school building and two nurses in buildings with more than 750 students.