Another Reason Why Costs In CCSD Are Out Of Control

Today, the Las Vegas Sun ran an article about school nursing in the Valley schools. At first glance, the casual reader of the story will find sympathy for the nurses, but as an insider who works closely with school nurses and nurses in general at the different jobs I have had over the years, I found the article interesting because the article points out the overspending CCSD does, but is mandated by the State of Nevada.
From the Sun: And although Clark County nurses contend they are adjusting their work practices to existing staffing — despite caseloads that are more than double recommended levels — they are spread thin. With more budget cuts looming, it might get thinner.
The sea change in school nursing can be seen in two large binders of student records that the nursing staff at Brinley keeps nearby. They are labeled “disability notebook” and “medication notebook.” Each is three inches thick.
“On a scale of difficulty, the nurse’s job was probably a 2” decades ago, said Diana Taylor, the district’s director of health services. She started as a nurse in the district in 1988. “Today, it can be a 10.”...
In Clark County, the nursing budget has escaped the nearly $400 million in education funding cuts made in the past three years. The number of nurses has grown but hasn’t skyrocketed, officials say. The district has 184 school nurses today, up from 45 more than 30 years ago. The nurses, who look after more than 300,000 students, work in tightly organized teams to account for there not being enough for each school.
Like circuit-riding judges in the Old West, Mossel and other nurses shuttle from school to school, usually two, but sometimes three schools in a week.
“The team approach can work,” Garcia said.
“It’s not the most desirable, however, because children with asthma or diabetes or seizure disorders can’t be treated by one nurse if they get sick at the same time. She can’t be in three places at once.”
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/feb/12/school-nurses-see-more-skinned-knees/
To become a nurse in CCSD, you are required to have a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree (BSN), even though RN's can have a Associates Nursing Degree they can get at a Community School. This is a State of Nevada mandate: http://nvteachers.doe.nv.gov/Specialized_EdcuationPersonnel_Nurse.htm
There is no real difference between the two. The BSN and a 2 year RN can do the same thing. Both can start IV's, work in hospitals, nursing homes and other places of employment where an RN is needed, except CCSD and other scool districts in the State of Nevada. They all have to pass the same RN test to become licensed and once licensed, they can do the same work. So, why does the State of Nevada require a BSN as opposed to a two year RN?
When I taught in Milwaukee many years ago, they had LPN's (Licensed Practial Nurses) in the schools. They did everything the RNs do in CCSD. They did tube feedings, administer EPI pen shots in case of allergies, administered medication, cleaned trach tubes for those students who had to breath through their neck instead of nose and mouth, took Dr. orders and treated injuries and illnesses. In other words, the same as what school BSNs do.
I worked as a Certified Nurses Assistant in nursing homes, hospitals and group homes for many, many years. I did tube feedings, administered medicines (with only a little extra training), cleaned trachs and treated minor injuries and illnesses, under the supervision of an RN who may or may not have been on site. This encompasses about 90%+ of what goes on in the schools today. (as an CNA in the Air Force, I could do even more)
So, clearly, BSN's are a luxury in the schools today because 2 year RNs and LPNs can do the exact same things as a BSN. That doesn't mean BSN's aren't needed in the district, they certainly can act as supervisors and perhaps deal with the highest levels of care for the most neediest students.
Of course these school RNs don't get paid as high as RNs in the hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, clinics and so forth. Well, the school RNs get weekends off in addition to all holidays, school vacations like summer, spring and Christmas breaks and if they work during the summer, they get extra pay. They work 8-4 and don't have to work overtime. No RN who works in a hospital, nursing home, clinics, assisted living etc. works those kind hours. The school nurse also doesn't start or maintain IVs, work with complicated equipment and monitors, draw blood, run codes and other complicated hospital work. The school RN also does not supervise many employees- except 1 person, the school FASA (First Aide School Assistant)
A question: Who would you rather in a school: A two year RN who has worked 20 years in a hospital setting, someone who has worked in ICUs, Emergency Room, pediatric ICU, children's clinics, pediatric oncology and/or in a mental health center for children versus a BSN right out of college. The 2 year RN would never been considered for the job because they don't have the paper saying they are a BSN. Meanwhile, a BSN nurse with no experience would be hired right of college with no experience.
Clearly, CCSD is living in luxury but is mandated by the State of Nevada when they only hire BSN nurses. Just another waste of money in CCSD mandated by the State of Nevada.