Latest news with #TraciJones
Medscape
3 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
A Nurse in Every School?
As a school nurse, Traci Jones, RN, PhD, NCSN, handed out ice packs and bandages, but she also helped students manage chronic health conditions ranging from diabetes and asthma to seizure disorders and life-threatening allergies. 'There can't be an expectation that the teachers know how to identify healthcare issues,' said Jones, a school nurse administrator in Temple Hills, Maryland. '[There should be] a nurse in every school.' School nurses oversee case management, assist with individualized education plans for students with disabilities; implement public health strategies for immunizations, natural disasters, and school violence; and connect families with community health resources. Despite the essential role that school nurses play in ensuring the safety and well-being of schoolchildren, a growing number of districts do not have enough nurses to meet student needs. Data from the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) found that just 65% of schools had access to a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or licensed vocational nurse. About Medscape Data Medscape continually surveys physicians and other medical professionals about key practice challenges and current issues, creating high-impact analyses. For example, the Medscape RN/LPN Job Market Report 2025 found that Both RNs and LPNs younger than 45 years were slightly more motivated to job search than older nurses. About 6 in 10 RNs and LPNs checked out a potential new job within the past 3 years. About 1 in 6 nurses don't think they have much negotiating power when it comes to getting a new job offer. Although 20 states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Minnesota, require K-12 schools to have a school nurse, students in other states often lack access to healthcare in school. Rural areas and districts in the Midwest and West employed the fewest number of school nurses, according to NASN. The Nurses for Under-Resourced Schools Everywhere (NURSE) Act was recently reintroduced in an effort to increase healthcare access in education. The legislation aims to establish a federal grant program to help Title I schools where at least 20% of students are enrolled in free- or reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs to hire and retain school nurses. 'The NURSE Act recognizes the critical role of school nurses in providing students with access to quality healthcare so they can be healthy, safe, and ready to learn,' explained NASN president-elect Pat Endsley, PhD, RN, NCSN, FNASN. More Than Bandages and Ice Packs Injuries, illnesses, and disabilities lead to chronic school absences for almost 6% of school-aged children, and school nurses can help manage acute and chronic illnesses that are linked with poor attendance. In schools without a school nurse, 18% of students were sent home for illnesses or injuries compared with just 5% of students in schools with a school nurse. School nurses don't just affect absenteeism. Studies have found that students with access to school nurses experience better management of chronic conditions and improved academic outcomes, too. 'Sometimes we're just that place where students can come for some reassurance…Sometimes they just need 5 minutes to come in and decompress before going back to class,' Endsley said. 'We're a safe place [and] our goal is getting that student back to class and getting the most out of their education.' However, providing healthcare and safe spaces in schools comes at a cost. On average, the cost of having an LPN in a school nursing program was $115,707 per school year at a time when US schools are facing their biggest budget crunch in years. Funding for school nurses comes from a patchwork of sources, including the federal Department of Education, Medicaid, state health departments, and grants. The patchwork approach leads to disparities in resources between states and even among school districts. Cuts to Medicaid and uncertainty about the future of the Board of Education could also affect the number of nurses in schools today. The expiration of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic led to severe implications in school districts that included job cuts and loss of critical programming, including the loss of school nurses. 'Schools got COVID funds to hire a lot of school nurses, but…after those funds expired, not very many schools made those positions permanent,' said Endsley. While previous recommendations from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics suggested a ratio of one school nurse for every 750 students, it's considered an outdated standard, according to Endsley. Instead, she believes districts should conduct ongoing assessments to determine student needs and inform hiring decisions. A school with 500 students but few chronic health conditions might need just one school nurse, while a less populated school with a higher proportion of students with ongoing medical needs might need two (or more) nurses, she explained. But there is more to addressing the school nurse shortage than coming up with student-to-nurse ratios. Changing Perceptions Hiring school nurses is challenging. Misconceptions about the role of school nurses and burnout are among the biggest reasons that 50% of RNs and LPNs leave school nursing in 3-6 months. 'Most people don't know what school nurses do,' said Jones. 'I've had people tell me, 'You sit at the desk all day and hand out candy.'' The perception that school nursing is all about 'Band-Aids, ice, and lice' prevents school nurses from entering the profession — but the RNs who work in school settings appreciate some of the perks: There are no weekend, rotating, or overnight shifts, and many school nurses work 10 months of the year, leading to better work-life balance. There are challenges, too. School nurses experience significant pay disparities. NASN data show that just 34% of school nurses make more than $60,000 per year compared with almost 70% of the total RN workforce. This often forces school nurses to pick up additional shifts in hospitals and clinics, Jones added. The workforce also tends to be older — more than two-thirds of school nurses are over 40 — and retire sooner, leading to greater turnover. The role is also best suited to mid-career nurses. Jones calls it 'grassroots nursing.' 'You have blood pressure cuffs and a stethoscope, and your own knowledge, judgment and skill set,' she added. 'You're usually the only medical expert in the building, and you need a solid foundation.' However, when RNs work in schools, sick and injured students aren't the only ones who benefit. Schools with full-time nurses receive an average return on investment of $1.59 for every dollar invested as well as significant savings in teacher, secretary, principal, and parent productivity — and the community benefits, too. 'School nurses really are an integral part of the whole education system,' Endsley said. 'We work in partnership with our school community, with our teachers, our administrators, but also with the community at large.'
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Named One of America's Best Employers for Women 2025 by Forbes
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kalahari Resorts & Conventions has been named one of America's Best Employers for Women 2025 by Forbes, in collaboration with Statista, a world leader in industry rankings and statistical analysis. The awards list, announced on July 30, 2025, recognizes companies that excel in employee satisfaction and workplace excellence. This prestigious award is based on data collected by Forbes and Statista through an independent survey of more than 140,000 U.S. women working for companies and institutions with at least 1,000 employees. Over 4 million employer evaluations were analyzed, with personal recommendations from employees carrying the most weight. 'To be recognized as one of the best employers for women is one of our proudest achievements,' said Traci Jones, Vice President of Human Resources at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. 'We're committed to creating a culture at Kalahari where women are seen, heard and celebrated at every stage of their careers.' Kalahari Resorts remains deeply invested in building an inclusive and equitable workplace – one that empowers women and nurtures talent from within. This recognition affirms Kalahari's position as a leader in employee satisfaction and underscores its commitment to creating an environment where women can truly thrive. As a result, Kalahari Resorts is proud to be recognized on Forbes' list of America's Best Employers for Women 2025. 'We are deeply honored by this recognition and immensely proud of the exceptional team we have built at Kalahari Resorts,' said Jones. 'It celebrates the dedication and efforts of our employees which is what truly sets us apart. This award underlines our commitment to our people and ensures every individual feels valued.' This honor comes at an exciting time for Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, as the company continues to expand and enhance its offerings. Recent developments include an $85 million, 75,000-square-foot expansion of the indoor waterpark in Wisconsin Dells, as well as the grand opening of the brand's fifth resort in Virginia, both set to open in fall 2026. These innovations reflect Kalahari's ongoing mission to deliver exceptional experiences for guests and employees alike. To learn more about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions and its commitment to excellence, visit About Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Sandusky, Ohio, the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania, Round Rock, Texas, and opening soon in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, deliver a beyond-expectations waterpark resort and conference experience all under one roof. The African-inspired Kalahari Resorts, privately owned by the Nelson family, is home to America's Largest Indoor Waterparks. Todd and Shari Nelson, the founders of Kalahari Resorts, were honored with an induction into the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame in 2023. Kalahari Resorts feature well-appointed guest rooms and suites, the full-service Spa Kalahari, a fun-filled family entertainment center, on-site signature restaurants, unique retail shops and a state-of-the-art convention center. For more information, members of the media are encouraged to visit Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high-profile media partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, business-relevant data, and various market and consumer studies and surveys.
