Planned redistribution and reduction in school nurses in DC Public & Public Charter Schools

[Anonymous]

I can see better coordination of care with pediatricians and community resources being helpful for complicated cases or kids with no access to resources. But I don't see how it helps at all with stuff that comes up during the school day -- medications, injuries, illnesses ... The nurse at our school stored and dispensed medications. Who will do that when she's gone? She sat with our son when he had a seizure until we got there. Would he have to just lay down in a corner of the classroom? I overheard her calling down to the cafeteria telling them to make breakfast for a girl who arrived late with a "stomach ache" (e.g., was going hungry). Who would do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can see better coordination of care with pediatricians and community resources being helpful for complicated cases or kids with no access to resources. But I don't see how it helps at all with stuff that comes up during the school day -- medications, injuries, illnesses ... The nurse at our school stored and dispensed medications. Who will do that when she's gone? She sat with our son when he had a seizure until we got there. Would he have to just lay down in a corner of the classroom? I overheard her calling down to the cafeteria telling them to make breakfast for a girl who arrived late with a "stomach ache" (e.g., was going hungry). Who would do that?

Aren't there already a number of agencies that connect families with city services? Why cut school nurses to pay for that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nurses are nice to have in ES - essential in middle and high school.

Essential in ES too - head injuries, asthma, broken bones on playground equipment, allergies and little kids in lunch rooms, etc. etc.,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nurses are nice to have in ES - essential in middle and high school.

Essential in ES too - head injuries, asthma, broken bones on playground equipment, allergies and little kids in lunch rooms, etc. etc.,

And picking up early signs of medical issues that aren't yet know to the parents.

[Anonymous]

I think they started doing this in the spring at my child's school--we got notice that our nurse would only be there 3 days per week, and that she would be at another school the other two days.

I'm concerned. My child has an Epipen and albuterol inhaler in the nurse's office--I would hope other staff have a key and are able to access those meds if necessary. A ton of kids have allergies etc. at our nut-free school.

[Anonymous]

Wow. This change is already in effect. At our back to school night on Tuesday (Shepherd) informed us that two members of the support staff are currently being trained on how to handle and dispense medicines. The principal did not say that the (already part-time) nurse was being cut back, but with this thread, it is easy to see the writing on the wall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So 1/2 time per school without regard to the size of the school? 1/2 time for 300 students and 1/2 time for 1300 also?

It is a terrible idea either way, but a much worse idea for really big schools.

1/2 time minimum. The actuals will depend on number of students, student health needs, and proximity to health services in the community.

Number of students may be one factor, but even with more than 500 kids in our elementary school, they will only be providing a nurse 4 days a week.

[Anonymous]

So was January a lie? They're doing this now?? Or are they just cutting corners to transition to where they want it to be.

Where's the @%^@#$ transparency?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The relevant committee, I think, is Health and Human Services.

http://dccouncil.us/committees/committe-on-health-and-human-services

Yvette Alexander is the chair so she doesn't have a lot of incentive to do much (nor does Ruby LaMay). But Grosso, Cheh, and Nadeau do.

Yvette Alexander and LaRuby May are both lame ducks on the Council. Don't know who will be named chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, but presume it may be Todd, Allen, or Nadeau (who currently don't chair committees but will be eligible to chair this term).

[Anonymous]

As I understand it, the nurses are not DOH employees but DOH hires them via a Children's Hospital contract.

That said, for years I've heard they have trouble covering all the schools they're supposed to. Not sure if it's a qualified applicants or a budget issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. This change is already in effect. At our back to school night on Tuesday (Shepherd) informed us that two members of the support staff are currently being trained on how to handle and dispense medicines. The principal did not say that the (already part-time) nurse was being cut back, but with this thread, it is easy to see the writing on the wall.

15:58 here. They were doing this at the end of last year at Shepherd.

[Anonymous]

Basis has never had a nurse to my knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Basis has never had a nurse to my knowledge.

Why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. This change is already in effect. At our back to school night on Tuesday (Shepherd) informed us that two members of the support staff are currently being trained on how to handle and dispense medicines. The principal did not say that the (already part-time) nurse was being cut back, but with this thread, it is easy to see the writing on the wall.

Already part time? Since when?? Shepherd had a full time nurse two years ago.

This is a perfect example of really stupid cost cutting.

[Anonymous]

If the charters win their lawsuit, DCPS is going to lose a lot more than its nurses.