School Nurse Corps Program

In 1996-97, Washington State's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) conducted a survey of school nurses and other workers in public schools. The JLARC survey showed that 89% of students with no on-staff registered nurses were in Class II districts (those districts with less than 2,000 students).

Inclusion of all students in the public school system has created the necessity for school personnel to be responsible for additional and more complex medical procedures, such as EpiPen administration, and to be more knowledgeable about health conditions.

With a more adequate nursing presence, these issues could be safely accomplished in a school setting. Without an adequate presence, students are placed at risk, staff are unfairly burdened, and the schools face greater safety and legal hazards.

In response to these identified emergent needs for school nurse services, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) proposed to develop the state's first School Nurse Corps Program. State/OSPI monies have been funding the School Nurse Corps since August 1999.

Program Overview

• Provides quality, professional, school nurse services to districts through site funding if school qualifies.
• Provides school nurse services to districts through separate service contract with districts.
• Provides consultation to area nurses and/or district on oral medication training; computer health data collection, nursing delegation questions, "Washington State Staff Model for the Delivery of School Health Services" guidelines, health policies and procedures development, district assessments, and more.