School nurses needed in LVUSD

School nurses needed in LVUSD

School nurses are responsible for much more than Band-Aids, taking temperatures and calling 911 when an emergency occurs. The state of California has mandated certain requirements of the schools that are performed by school nursing professionals. These include but are not limited to review of immunization records, health assessments for special education, audio and visual screening, control of communicable diseases, reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect, supervision of medication administration and coordinating fulfillment of the Child Health and Disabilities Act.

The state of California also requires that the school nurses performing these responsibilities possess a school nurse credential. The college units required to obtain this credential are equal to a master’s degree. This is in addition to possessing an active California Registered Nurse license and having five years of nursing experience.

It has been shown that healthy kids learn better. California state law has made the need and requirement for school nursing services a significant element in education. The parents in Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) have worked hard to campaign and vote for funds to benefit the school district. Using the funds to budget accordingly for the requirements stated by law has been left up to the district to meet the needs of the entire school population, not just the healthy ones.

Shouldn’t LVUSD hold itself to a standard required by California law and provide safer care protecting their students and the district from hardship?

We hope that LVUSD will manage to meet the budget pressures as well as other districts do and staff appropriately to provide adequate services to their students.

Cynthia Moss, RN

Credentialed school nurse

Agoura Hills