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CNN Today

School Nurses Stretched Thin

Aired August 28, 2000 - 1:40 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In health news, it's back to school time, and the words "overworked" and "understaffed" may not just apply to teachers.

CNN's Pat Etheridge looks at the changing responsibilities of the school nurse, and why some experts say shortages are putting our children in danger.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There you go, let me get a Band-Aid.

PAT ETHERIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To the basic bumps, bruises, stomach aches and loose teeth, add Ritalin prescriptions, asthma inhalers and blood sugar tests, and you'll understand the steady stream of children in and out of this school nurse's office.

School nurses today may see more than they did a decade ago because students' needs have changed.

NANCY RITHMIRE, HEALTH SERVICES COORDINATOR: Children are getting more and more chronic illnesses. There's an increased number of asthma, increased number of children with diabetes, seizure disorders. We have more children that are coming to school more chronically ill.

ETHERIDGE: Unfortunately, for many students across the country, no school nurse is available.

RITHMIRE: It's a matter of funding. It's a matter of budgeting.

ETHERIDGE: According to a 1999 survey of 47 states, less than one-third mandate nursing services. Even in schools that do have nurses, they may be stretched to the limit, with each nurse responsible for too many students.

So where do these children go if nurses like Kathy Moreland aren't at school?

KATHY MORELAND, SCHOOL NURSE: They go to the administration, the secretaries and the receptionists, and they hand out their medicines, and it's an accident waiting to happen is what I'm afraid it is. ETHERIDGE: At Big Creek Elementary just outside Atlanta, the new school year means more funding for a school nurse. Georgia is spending $30 million in tobacco settlement money to help provide school nurses across the state. For some students, the school nurse may be their only contact with a health care professional.

Pat Etheridge, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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