A new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy says that, every school should have at least one full-time registered nurse. Dr. Breena Welch Holmes, a lead author of the policy statement and chair of the AAP Council on School Health, said, "School nursing is one of the most effective ways to keep children healthy and in school and to prevent chronic absenteeism".
According to the policy, the previous ratios aren't enough to meet the health needs of today's students.
Co-author Anne Sheetz said, "more children need help with medical management or have special needs. Some of the conditions that require help from the school nurse include: asthma, diabetes, life-threatening allergies, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and seizures. Other duties a nurse might have include emergency preparedness and health education".
