Nebraska School Nurses Association

Virtual Hill Day: Call Your Member of Congress

Posted almost 5 years ago by Megan Lytle MBA, MSN, RN

Children’s health and learning are linked. School nurses work as child health and safety experts at the intersection of health and education. NASN worked with Congressional champions to craft the NURSE Act (Nurses for Under-Resourced Schools Everywhere Act).

On May 8th, coinciding with School Nurse Day, the NURSE Act (S 1362/HR 2606) was introduced in the Senate and House concurrently. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and Representative Dina Titus (D-NV) are the lead sponsors of this important legislation for school nurses. The NURSE Act would give grants from the Department of Education to increase the number of registered school nurses in Title I schools where there does not already exist a school nurse.

NASN’s Virtual Hill Day will create momentum and show support for this important legislation to help children be safe, healthy and ready to learn. Your participation in NASN’s second Virtual Hill Day will show the ground swell of support the NURSE Act has across the country. Please tweet, email and call your Member of Congress and Senators using the samples messages below (or feel free to use your own) May 21 - 23!

Talking Points

Call your Representative or Senator and ask them to co-sponsor the NURSE Act (Nurses for Under-Resourced Schools Everywhere Act) HR 2606/S 1362. Call the Capitol Switchboard and ask to be connected to your Congressman or Senator at 202-225-3121.

Use these talking points

  • As a constituent and a school nurse, I know how important it is that children have their health needs met at school.
  • According to national data, only 39 percent of schools employ a full-time school nurse, while 35 percent of schools employ a part-time school nurse. Twenty five percent of schools do not a have a school nurse at all.
  • The NURSE Act would give grants to increase the number of school nurses in Title I schools where there is not already a school nurse.
  • Between 15 and 20 percent of children in school have a chronic condition, such as asthma, diabetes, food allergy, seizure disorder or other health conditions. Today’s children face greater health needs than in past generations.
  • Additionally, school nurses spend 32 percent of their time on mental health issues of their students.
  • School nurses help keep students safe, healthy and ready to learn. Please co-sponsor the NURSE Act HR 2606/S 1362.