Schools struggle to fill nursing positions

More than a third of U.S. schools lack a full-time nurse on site, yet the need for school nurses to keep students healthy and ready to learn has grown. Kindergarten through secondary students face high rates of chronic illness and a severe mental health crisis. School nurses also help to prevent absenteeism. Students with illnesses or injuries were sent home 18% of the time after being evaluated by an unlicensed school employee, but only 5% after being seen by a school nurse, according to a recent study. School nurses are paid significantly less than nurses in hospitals, contributing to the shortage. Many school nurses also are approaching retirement age. (KFF Health News article, 10/16/23)