Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Bolster Nursing at High-Need Schools

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan bill reintroduced Wednesday would establish a grant program under the auspices of the Department of Education to give high-need schools the ability to hire and retain additional school nurses.

“All too often, when school districts like that in Clark County, Nevada, are forced to stretch limited funding, school nurse positions are overlooked,” said. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., one of the co-sponsors of the bill.

“In fact, Clark County needs over 100 more school nurses to meet the demands of its students,” she said. “School nurses play a critical role in our children’s learning and success. Students who have the appropriate health care resources are better equipped for studies, sports and everyday activities.”

Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., a nurse practitioner and the other co-sponsor of the bill, said the legislation, formally known as the Nurses for Under-Resourced Schools Everywhere Act, or NURSE Act, builds on efforts she championed during her tenure in the Virginia State Senate.

“By investing in school nurses, we’re ensuring that our children have the support they need to stay healthy and succeed in the classroom. Introducing this bill during National Nurses Week underscores our commitment to recognizing the incredible contributions our nurses make in communities across the country,” she said.

According to the National Association of School Nurses, only 39.3% of schools employ full-time school nurses, even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that more than 40% of school-aged children and adolescents have at least one chronic health condition.

Under the NURSE Act, schools with 20% of their student body qualifying for low-cost or free lunches would be eligible for grants to hire more school nurses. 

The legislation targets schools with the highest health care needs, the bill’s sponsors said.

Among those cheering their effort Wednesday was Kate King, president of the National Association of School Nurses, who said it is important for children to have their physical and behavioral health care needs met at school, “particularly in case of an emergency.” 

“Every school should have a school nurse on staff every day. Passage of the NURSE Act is the first step to achieving student health equity,” King said.

Marc Egan, director of government relations for the National Education Association, agreed, noting that this bill, in particular, “focuses on those schools serving communities and the families that face economic challenges, where students might not have access to health care support, and where school nurses are vital. 

“Every student, regardless of zip code, deserves a healthy and caring environment to learn and thrive,” Egan said.

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