Nurses in the North Allegheny School District continue to see an increase of students and staff to their offices annually, with visits this school year already up by 2,500 as of January.
In fact, there has been a steady increase of more than 17,000 visits annually to the health services offices since its last review in 2018, said Bridgett Bilenski, who chairs the health services department.
With the growing student population comes more health-related needs, according to a health services review presented at the March 12 school board meeting.
“As we continue to see an increase of the number of students that attend North Allegheny, an increase of medical complexities of students attending and an increase of demand of health services, an annual review of staffing is needed to support the students,” said Bilenski, whose office is stationed at Marshall Middle School.
In the 2023-24 school year, nurses handled 87,133 visits by students and staff, reflecting anything from illness to injuries or complex medical care, she said.
A nurse’s office is located in each of the district’s 14 school buildings. The department includes a staff of 10 certified school nurses, seven full-time support nurses and two part-time support nurses.
Seven of the support nurses are registered nurses and two are licensed practical nurses, classified as paraprofessionals in the district.
Collectively, the health services nursing staff has 525 years of nursing experience, averaging 27 years of experience per nurse in district, Bilenski said.
“We provide education, prevention and early intervention of possible health complications. And we rely on our relationships with students, families, administration, teachers, support services, the North Allegheny police force and local health care professionals to best support students,” Bilenski said.
In addition to treating illnesses and injuries, the nurses also provide health screenings as mandated by the Pennslyvania Department of Health or requested by a guardian. These include hearing, vision and scoliosis, according to the district’s website.
There were 8,555 students districtwide as of Oct. 1, 2024, and approximately 1,100 employees for the current school year, according to northallegheny.org.
Lori Kelly, a nurse at the intermediate high school, said the well-being of students, both academically and personally, is a priority for the district.
“When students are physically safe and healthy, they’re able to focus better on their learning and achieve their academic goals,” she said. “It really is a great partnership between the community, families and staff, all working together to meet each child’s needs both inside and outside of the classroom.
Certified nurses provide episodic care to students and staff, care coordination of their caseload of students and monitor for community and public health issues. Nurses also handle medical 504 plans for students and sit on individualized education program teams, as well as other district committees, Bilenski said.
About 23,000 medications were administered in the 2023-24 school year, an increase of 56% since the department’s last review in 2018.
More than 1,900 students identify with a serious health condition, which may include diabetes, life-threatening allergies, blood disorders or seizures, Bilenski said. Of these students, 508 have individualized health plans, medical 504 plans and emergency action plans.
And 105 students require skilled nursing care, including catheterization, tube feedings, diabetes management, seizure care and support. The health services team also addresses care for students with complex mental health and behavioral concerns, according to Belinski.
The nursing department provided several recommendations to the district, including staffing needs.
“We recommend a review of health services staffing over the next several years to best support the health, safety and wellness of every student so that they can achieve their full academic potential,” Belinski said.
Because of the busyness of the health offices and lack of double coverage, nurses are not able to find time to access professional education opportunities and often are called upon to teach on professional development days to other school departments.
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They also would like better and more relevant educational resources to provide the best support for the increasing number of students with diverse backgrounds, Bilenski said.
The health services department recognized that several of their offices have been recently renovated, but its personnel would like to be consulted during future capital project planning.
Some more immediate needs include locked medicine storage at Peebles Elementary School, as more students need controlled substance medications. Currently, this is in a locked filing cabinet. They also need new cots, she said.
But the main request is more staff.
“Honestly, right now, we would need nurses. As far as trying to support the students just because of busyness. I think it’s worth the deep dive, looking into the staffing,” Bilenski said.
The report provided a good look at the department, according to school board director Dr. Robert Gibbs.
“I think one thing that comes through really loud and clear is that our health services department has a big job,” he said.
Elizabeth Warner, school board president, said she appreciates that the nurses are looking to best serve all students.
“Because it’s about our students learning and you’re taking down those barriers so that they’re able to do that. I just wanted to recognize that important role that all of you have in doing that for our students,” Warner said.
The health services offices are guided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health regulations, the Allegheny Health Department, the PA Department of Education, nursing licensure requirements, and the scope and standards of school nursing practice, Bilenski said.