editorials

When Julie or Johnny breaks a bone, has an accident or takes medication at school, there's a good chance a nurse won't be there to help. As Minnesota school districts have tightened their budget belts, many nursing positions have been lost.

This shortage needs to be addressed. Teachers, administrators, coaches and other school staff do what they can when students are in need, but it's not the same as having a trained health professional as a first responder. And it takes time away from the other duties of educators.

School nurses perform initial triage when kids get in scraps or sustain injuries. They provide the only preventative and primary health care for students without health insurance. And when kids are healthy, they tend to do better academically.

A survey of 131 Minnesota school nurses found that 80 percent of them believe there is a serious shortage within their ranks. Conducted by the Minnesota 2020 think tank and the School Nurse Organization of Minnesota, the study found that more than 60 percent of nurses say there is not enough health staff in schools to handle the medical needs of students.

National data confirms the survey results. In Minnesota, the ratio is one school nurse for every 1,400 students. But the National Association of Schools Nurses recommends one for every 750 students.

Hiring additional staff nurses at the recommended levels would cost about $29 million a year statewide.

The nurse's group recommends a 1-cent tax on carbonated beverages to raise money for the salaries. But that should just start the discussion. The state and individual districts should consider a variety of ways to support student health -- including reallocating current resources, increasing state assistance, and partnerships with agencies that provide health care.

Investing in school nurses should be a top priority. Keeping students healthy is good for kids, for education and for general public health.