These numbers may surprise you!
Fast facts: in September, October, and November 2013, KPBSD nurses served an average of 382 students each school day. Staff and community visits were not included in this number. In addition, viruses and respiratory infections were abundant, and fall sports and football injuries always keep school nurses busy.
More specifically, nurses improved student time in the classroom with these interventions:
Total encounters and average per day:
- Injury, First Aid assessment and treatment: 6,555 students; 111 daily average
- Illness assessment and treatment: 8,981 students; 152 daily average
- Mental health, behavioral, social support: 2,728 students; 46 daily average
- Scheduled medications given: 2,068 students; 35 daily average
- Scheduled procedures provided: 1,715; 29 daily average
- Individual health education (class/groups not included): 466 students; 8 daily average
The result was a following return to class rates:
- Illness—88 %
- Injury—99 %
- Mental, Behavioral Health—99.5 %
And an overall return to class rate of 96 %
Additionally, school nurses improved educational access with the following interventions:
- Health Screenings: State mandated school entry requirements (TB tests, immunizations, physical exams) and scheduled health screenings including vision and hearing—10,598 students
- Medication Administration: Total number of all doses given by nurses of scheduled, emergency and as-needed medications—5,745 doses or an average of 97 per day
- Case Management: Including encounters with staff, parents, health care providers, community agencies about individual student health issues—10,843 or a daily average of 184.
These resulted in an average of 485 additional student encounters per day.
These statistics are tracked in the State School Nurse Data Collection, yet there are many more things our school nurses do every day, from offering health classes to head lice checks and beyond.
“Thank you to all of our dedicated school nurses. In addition, our nurses were chosen to develop a streamlined standard and procedure for Alaska’s school districts to follow with regard to collecting body mass index (BMI) data,” said Dr. Steve Atwater. “The school district appreciates Ms. Naomi Walsworth, RN, BSN, Health Services Coordinator, and our thirty KPBSD nurses for continuing to be leaders in Alaska.”
Please let your nurse know that he or she is appreciated and valued as part of the KPBSD educational team helping our schools and students be successful!
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KPBSD Health Services
