Friday, February 3, 2012

School Nurses Become Medical Safety Net - New America Media

School Nurses Become Medical Safety Net - New America Media:

School Nurses Become Medical Safety Net

School Nurses Become Medical Safety Net

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NEWMAN, Calif.--When Bernice Arnett accepted a school nurse position with the Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District seven years ago, people suggested the job would entail little more than applying Band-Aids to boo-boos.

But as the sole medical provider for seven schools in the west Stanislaus County district--where about 70 percent of the 2,841 students are Latino and about 75 percent of students receive free or reduced-price meals--Arnett's job has been far from simple.

"It is a kaleidoscope," Arnett said one Tuesday afternoon in January, between providing ice packs