District nurses report sharp increases in visits, prescription doses and complexity; urge staffing attention

Two district nurses presented data during public comment, warning the board about rising medical and mental-health demands in classrooms and health rooms.

Amber Asherman, high-school nurse and district nursing coordinator, said secondary health rooms see many visits rooted in stress, anxiety and substance use and that nurses spend substantial time on urgent assessments and referrals. Theresa O'Neal, a 25-year elementary nurse (retiring end of July), presented district data: she reported a 37.8% increase in elementary daily nurse visits over recent years and a 61.9% increase in administered prescription doses, with the elementary nursing team giving 7,289 doses in the referenced year. O'Neal also cited increased toileting-assistance needs that require two staff for safety and said 911 calls for medical emergencies numbered 14 in the past year (10 elementary, 4 secondary).

Nurses said they were grateful for recent staffing additions that have helped, but requested the board consider whether existing staffing—especially given retirements—meets safety needs. Administration replied that current hiring plans replace retiring nurses but do not add new positions at this time; the board asked administration to explore further and indicated interest in reviewing the full data set shared by nurses.