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January 22, 2021Pandemic Daily Nurse Update!
As of January 29 we are losing the services of our special pandemic nurse due to a decision by the Pennsbury School District. I have asked repeatedly since last September for the services to continue but Pennsbury school District has denied all my requests.
Attached are the phone numbers and email addresses to respectfully voice your opinions if you wish.
SMA school is presently searching for a part time nurse. If you know of anyone who would be interested in the position, please email at sdicicco@sma-pa.org or call us at 215-943-9222. Ty!
Contact info:
I attached the Act (See below) Technically they are meeting the requirement but there are many more public schools that get a full time nurse and also are provided many, many additional health programs. They cite that Act but don't mention all the auxiliary services they give themselves with our taxpayer money.
Also, we are in the middle of a pandemic which should require additional services. That is especially true since Pennsbury School District received additional CARES FEDERAL monies (and probably will receive much more soon in a new Federal Aid package) to especially provide emergency assistance in a pandemic for situations such as this.
Feel free to call or email the Pennsbury Superintendent or Nurse Director (See below) , Brian Fitzpatrick PA Senator, Rep. John T. Galloway, The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to voice your respectful opinion.
Thank you! God's grace, Mr. "D".
William Gretzula: Superintendent Pennsbury Telephone: 215-428-4100
wgretzula@pennsburysd.org
Elizabeth Aldridge Nurse Director of Services 215-428-4181
ealdridge@pennsburysd.org
Pennsbury School District
134 Yardley Avenue, PO Box 338
Fallsington, PA 19058
Telephone: 215-428-4100
Contact Brian Fitzpatrick PA Senator
271 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4276
Fax: (202) 225-9511
Contact Rep. John T. Galloway
Levittown Office 8610 New Falls Road
Levittown, PA 19054
P*: (215) 943-7206
Hours of Operation - Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Harrisburg Office
301 K. Leroy Irvis Office Bldg.
PO Box 202140
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2140
P*: (717) 787-1292
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126
Call PDE: 717-783-6788
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Shea Andress <sheaandress@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, Jul 15, 2020 at 10:01 AM
Subject: information
Hi Mr. DiCicco,
I did a ton of research last night and found this. This is directly from the Pennsylvania Department of Health's website. It clearly states, as a result of the School Nurse Act, that Catholic school children are to have the same nursing services as the public school kids. Thank you! Shea Andress
Provision of School Health Services to Private/Non-public Schools
In 1962, the legislature passed the School Nurse Act. This act was considered revolutionary at the time because it required equitable services be provided to students, whether they attended public or non-public schools. This law remains in effect today as Section 1402(a.1) of the Pennsylvania Public School Code.
The Department of Health regulations state in Section 23.51 "A child in private, parochial and public schools shall be provided with school nurse services in the school which the child attends;" and Section 23.52 "The school nurse services shall be provided through the public school system and the administration of this service shall be the responsibility of the public school administrator in consultation, as needed, with the private or parochial school administrator.
School nurse services are considered to be one of the mandated services (same as examinations and screens) and include the same nursing functions as those provided to students in public school buildings, such as assessment of student health care needs, development of appropriate plans of care, medication administration, first aid and emergency care, etc. Neither the law nor regulation distinguish differences in the level of service to public vs. non-public schools.
Many school districts include private and non-public schools as buildings being served in the School Health Annual Reimbursement Request System (SHARRS). The school district receives the same level of reimbursement for these students as those attending the public school buildings. Therefore, the expectation is that all students receive equitable nursing services from the school district. Provision of non-equitable services could adversely affect the school district's reimbursement.
Many of the nursing services can be performed by supplemental licensed health staff such as non-certified RNs and LPNs working in consultation with the CSN.
In addition, the Pennsylvania Public School Code (PSC) requires that schools educate students and provide a safe, healthy environment. The PSC (Section 1401 ) also requires that schools employ nurses. Section 1402(a.1) requires that "every child of school age shall be provided with school nurse services…" In the School Health regulations, 28 PA Code, Chapter 23, Section 23.74, it is a function of the school nurse to interpret the health needs of individual children.
However, school nurses don't just function under Educational law. They are licensed by the Department of State, Board of Nursing and licensure requirements are in effect regardless of the nurse's practice setting. The Nurse Practice regulations require (49 PA Code, Chapter 21, Section 21.11) that nurses follow the "standards of practice and professional codes of behavior" published by the American Nurses Association as the "criteria for assuring safe and effective practice." The standards are "authoritative statements of the duties that all registered nurses, regardless of role, population, or specialty, are expected to perform competently." These standards outline the nursing process for provision of safe care (assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, implementation, coordination of care and evaluation).