School Board authorizes the cut of district nurses

Sam ReamerStaff WriterFive of the nine nurses in the Santa Monica Malibu School District (SMMUSD) were given notices of termination in recent weeks after the SMMUSD school board approved layoffs due to budgetary concerns. The status of these cuts remain undetermined because the Santa Monica Malibu California Teachers Association (SMMCTA) is fighting to retain these jobs.Currently, the district has nine working Registered Nurses (RNs) who are classified by the district as having a masters degree or higher in nursing, public health, or a related field. According to SMMUSD board of education vice president Ben Allen, if the layoffs occur, 16 schools will be left with only four RNs. The district would then consider hiring nurse clerks or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) to provide basic services. Neither position has been given a description or set of requirements by the district, but generally LVNs have only completed one year of training, whereas RNs have completed at least an Associate’s Degree if not a Bachelor’s Degree. Allen emphasizes that each school will have at least one LVN after the cuts, but the status of the RNs is still unknown.“It would need to be a mix, with at least an LVN on every single campus,” Allen said.Some students who do not utilize the nurses’ office believe that the current nurses could be successfully replaced by nurse clerks.“I think anyone can do their job well if they’ve had the proper training,” freshman Freddie Norris said.Nurse Nora McElvain, the nurse on the Samo campus who has received a notice of termination, agrees with Norris when it comes to the dispensing of Advil and the inserting of thermometers — which, according to McElvain is about the only treatment clerks would have the responsibility to do — but believes there are some essential skills to the job that only nurses are equipped with.“Clerks are trained to do certain particular activities and procedures,” McElvain said. “They do not have the nursing judgment that comes from many years of nursing school to be able to make assessments and better plan the care for our children. There are a number of children in this district without insurance, and the nurse is the only health provider they see on a regular basis. Taking us away would deprive these children of that opportunity to get healthcare.”Although some students find the nurses’ jobs dispensable, junior Hayle Roy has positive things to say about the work they do.“She’s just really nice and she’s always so positive,” Roy said. “She’s just a really cool nurse to have because she’s not like really scary, but she’s not like a pushover. She is really, really helpful. No matter what you go in for, she’ll help.”Roy also talked about how the nurse treated her when she had a headache, letting her rest for a half an hour and when she still felt ill, and letting her call her parents.Many students are also worry about nurse-clerks’ ability to deal with the medical emergencies that could arise.“People who are untrained could be dangerous. I’m worried [clerks] won’t know how to do their job,” freshman Jisuk Oh said.According to SMMUSD board of education member Laurie Lieberman, there currently is a task force looking into the matter and is determining how to approach the issue so the district suffers the least.“People who are untrained could be dangerous. I’m worried [clerks] won’t know how to do their job,” freshman Jisuk Oh said.According to SMMUSD board of education member Laurie Lieberman, there currently is a task force looking into the matter and is determining how to approach the issue so the district suffers the least.“We are deciding if we would rather have someone who’s there all the time with less medical experience, or someone who’s there part time with more experience.”Lieberman went on to say that five nurses have been given notices of termination (the maximum amount that could be fired). However, none of those terminations are finalized. She believes that if that is the case, Samo may still have a full time nurse, even after the cuts. Leiberman also believes that the current situation in regards to nursing (nine nurses for 16 schools) is not working, and hopes that even with these tentative cuts the district can move forward to the best of its abilities.“Nurses are currently driving around to different schools to give shots,” she said. “Nobody in the world wants to be firing nurses, but we spend more money then we take in as a school district.”sreamer@thesamohi.com