Schools are facing a nursing shortage; why it may get worse come September

WASHINGTON (TND) — Summer vacation may be getting underway, but some schools may find themselves in a nursing shortage come the fall.

During the pandemic, the federal government approved Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding, which many schools used to hire nurses, and assistants and buy personal protective equipment. But school districts have until the end of September to allocate that money.

Jodi Bobbitt has worked as a nurse for 28 years and as a school nurse for 16 years. She said when working in Colorado, the district didn't have enough nurses so she floated from school to school.

I think I had three to four schools and then we had health assistants," Bobbitt said.

Right now, those health assistants are becoming more common as districts try to cut back on spending. But they're not registered nurses.

"Typically someone who has some special training. Maybe specifically through the school district or the health department," said Bobbitt.

Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at George Washington University Jennifer Walsh said less than 40% of schools in the U.S. have a full-time registered nurse.

It increases absenteeism. It increases emergency services being needed," Walsh said.

She said part of the issue, is that some school districts don't prioritize registered nurses in every school.

"Others are not as supportive and will put in ancillary health aides," said Walsh.

Having worked in schools for nearly two decades, including a school in Virginia for the past six years, Bobbitt said having a registered nurse benefits not only the students but also the parents.

Letting them know, 'this is not an emergency but you should go make an appointment with your doctor.' Or, 'this is more urgent and you should go to the urgent care if your doctor can't see you today,'" said Bobbitt.

Bobbitt says she's fortunate at her current school because the school district has a registered nurse in each school. But her school did take advantage of emergency funding, so come this fall, there is a chance some assistant positions get cut.