Massachusetts Nurse :: October 2005

As academic year begins, school nursing takes center stage

By Charles Stefanini
Director, Legislative Affairs

The MNA is working with a broad-based coalition to support school nursing legislation and funding expansion. This was highlighted with an Aug. 29 State House press conference. Speaking at the event, then MNA president Karen Higgins cited a Boston Globe editorial on the need for adequately funded school nursing services.

“Time and again, it is school nurses who first identify a health problem, and then make sure the student is referred to a clinic or doctor.” Higgins said, quoting from the Globe editorial. “Nurses have to be ready to use nebulizers with asthmatics’ medication, treat severe allergy reactions with adrenaline shots, and test the blood sugar of students with diabetes. They are a primary source of information for children about the hazards of smoking, drinking, substance abuse and risky sexual activity.”

Higgins added, “The 23,000 members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the largest nursing organization in the state, fully support and endorse efforts to enhance school nursing services. As we begin the school year this week we urge the governor to increase funding for school nursing services in order to ensure that all our children have the health services they need.” The coalition’s goal is to restore $4 million in prior year’s cuts through a supplemental budget and increase funding for the school nurses line-item from $12 million a year to $25 million.

Are we prepared?
Post 9/11, the MNA testified in front of the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Com-
mittee on the status of “Emergency Preparedness Efforts in Massachusetts.” Recently the MNA was invited to join the committee once again to discuss the current status of emergency preparedness in Massachusetts.

The MNA expressed its concern and stated that while people were working hard to reach the appropriate goals, it appears that that state is falling short of where it needs to be?and that there are areas that are well organized and others that are not. In addition, the MNA commented that there needs to be more communication from the state with front-line nurses regarding the plans in the case of an emergency disaster.