(NewsNation) — More than half of Minnesota school districts don’t have a licensed school nurse on site, according to newly released data from a survey conducted in 2022.
The Minnesota School Nurse Workforce’s 2022 Snapshot report focused on the workforce’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the well-being of the school districts’ communities.
“This is the first time we’ve had such a comprehensive data picture about school nurses and health services staff in Minnesota,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham. “What we’ve learned is students in smaller districts, charter schools, and schools that serve more families with lower incomes just aren’t getting that same access to a school nurse as other students in Minnesota.”
According to the data, 49% of districts employed a licensed school nurse and only 34% of Minnesota school districts are required to employ licensed nurses due to their enrollment of more than 1,000 students.
Only 26% of districts that were not required by law to hire a school nurse actually employed them, the survey found. That means 74% of school districts in Minnesota with less than 1,000 students don’t have nurses on site.
“Access to quality health care is critical for students in Minnesota, no matter their ZIP code,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett. “School nurses play an important role in the overall health and well-being of our young people.”