GCISD to Hire School Nurse
Almost 30 parents jammed the GCISD boardroom Aug. 8 to hear discussion of two topics: weighting of high school courses and hiring a full-time school nurse. (See separate course weighting article.)
After Doug Jost, representing a number of parents, made a presentation outlining various reasons he thought the school should reinstate the position of school nurse, the board voted to post a job opening for a full-time nurse. The district hasn’t had a nurse since the fall of 1999, when that board decided to eliminate the position. Jost suggested the school look for a registered nurse who also has emergency medical training. [Superintendent Steve Long later said they would advertise for a school nurse, without being specific, and wait to see what qualifications applicants have.] No salary has yet been specified.
Jost noted that several children with various special needs now attend GCISD, and commended the school and the faculty for training to deal with these. He said, however, it would be better for a nurse to take these and other related duties and free faculty and administration to concentrate on their regular jobs.
Jost listed services a nurse could provide the school. Among them were: assess and perform emergency response to children, faculty or staff who might have various medical difficulties; administer medications and injections; supervise first aid equipment and supplies; train faculty and staff in recognizing conditions which need medical attention; organize and maintain comprehensive health-related documents for each student; conduct screenings; maintain notebooks which would notify substitute teachers of children’s health issues; monitor children’s mental and emotional well-being; provide health counseling for students and staff; identify campus health or safety concerns; teach health awareness required by TEKS; coordinate programs to help the school meet requirements of state and federal regulations, and coordinate a school wellness program.