A question from an ENOUGH community member led to a bigger question about school nurses in Houston.
Does your child’s school have a nurse?
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ENOUGH’s Amy Davis asked parents and school nurses to tell us what they are seeing at their schools. The responses raised questions about school nurse staffing, student health and how schools are handling medical needs when a licensed nurse isn’t on campus.
60 HISD campuses have no school nurse
ENOUGH filed a public information request with Houston Independent School District to find out how many campuses did not have a school nurse this school year.
HISD provided data showing that 60 of about 273 campuses do not currently have a school nurse.
Davis said some of those campuses are working to hire a nurse. In some cases, another staff member may be on campus helping students, but that person is not a licensed nurse.
That distinction matters to parents whose children have medical conditions that may require specialized care during the school day.
The issue first came to ENOUGH after a mother contacted Davis at the start of the school year. Her daughter has diabetes, and the mother regularly communicates with the school nurse about how to care for her daughter.
But this school year, she discovered her daughter’s school did not have a nurse.
The school still does not have one.
Parents respond to ENOUGH’s question about school nurses
After hearing from the parent, Davis went to Facebook to ask parents and school nurses about their experiences.
Parents responded.
Katie Pearson said two of her middle school children attend a school on HISD’s list of campuses without a nurse.
“Yes, I care. The school nurse is an important adult for kids to rely on when they are not well,” Pearson wrote.
Andrea Lynne questioned how schools can operate without a full-time school nurse.
“Literally insane to me that any school would take on the liability these days to not have a full-time school nurse staffed,” she wrote.
School nurses say their jobs go far beyond first aid
ENOUGH also heard from school nurses who say school nurses do much more than treat minor injuries.
Renee Montgomery, a school nurse, said nurses promote student health, safety and academic achievement through advocacy, education, research and community connections.
She also said early recognition of illness and disease has allowed her to change or save lives.
Constance Kilroy, another school nurse, said staffing and school nurse-to-student ratios are major concerns.
Kilroy said some nurses are responsible for more than 1,000 students and that many districts have cut school nurse positions because of budget concerns.
She also said school nurses are leaving because of low pay and high workloads.
“Kids today have many medical issues that the average person is not trained to handle,” Kilroy wrote.
Why school nurse staffing matters
The responses to ENOUGH’s Facebook question point to a larger issue: What happens when a school does not have a licensed school nurse on campus?
For parents of children with diabetes and other medical needs, having access to a school nurse can be particularly important.
School nurses who responded to ENOUGH said their responsibilities extend beyond treating bumps, cuts and minor illnesses.
Related: TEA school nurse guidelines
The staffing question also raises concerns about how many students one nurse may be responsible for when nurses are available only at certain campuses or are responsible for large numbers of students.
Does your child’s school have a nurse?
ENOUGH wants to hear from parents, students and school nurses.
Below is the full list of HISD campuses identified as NOT having a school nurse.
- Alcott ES
- Barrick ES
- Bellaire HS
- Bellfort ECC
- Briscoe ES
- Burrus ES
- Chavez HS
- Community Services-SEC
- Coop ES
- DAEP EL
- DeZavala ES
- Durham ES
- Energized ECC
- Energized ES
- Energized MS
- E-STEM Central HS
- E-STEM West MS
- Field ES
- Fleming MS
- Forest Brook MS
- Franklin ES
- Halpin ECC
- Harper DAEP
- Henderson NQ ES
- High School Ahead Acad MS
- Hilliard ES
- Hogg MS
- Holland MS
- Houston MSTC HS
- JJAEP
- Jones Futures Academy HS
- Lamar HS
- Lantrip ES
- Las Americas MS
- Lawson MS
- Leland YMCPA
- Love ES
- MacGregor ES
- Martinez R ES
- McGowen ES
- Middle College HS - Fraga
- Middle College HS - Gulfton
- Milby HS
- Mitchell ES
- Ortiz MS
- Osborne ES
- Peck ES
- Pershing MS
- Port Houston ES
- R D S P D
- Red ES
- Ross ES
- Rucker ES
- Scarborough ES
- Scroggins ES
- Special Ed - HCC Lifeskills & Transition
- TCAH
- Welch MS
- Young ES
If your school is on the list — or if you have questions about school nurse staffing at your child’s campus — tell ENOUGH about your experience.
