The shortage of substitute school nurses plagues various Massachusetts school districts, and many school districts have been feeling its effects for some time. Although the situation in most school districts is not as severe as in Worcester, where several vacancies remain unfilled, school nurses say they are concerned that a lack of substitutes can leave schools unattended when the nurses themselves are out sick. Also, because more students with serious illnesses are being mainstreamed into classrooms, nurses sometimes face a dilemma when contemplating something as seemingly benign as a field trip. If nurses choose to go along to assist children who need daily care, they risk leaving their school unattended. The situation varies from district to district.
Some schools know they can call on parents who are registered nurses to help out.
Others do not have that luxury. And the school nurse situation is just part of an overall nursing shortage, making the solution all the more elusive. And you can t take a graduate out of college and just put her on a job. Even the hospitals are complaining, she said. There is a nursing shortage, and part of it might be because of pay.