State faces school nurse shortage
Wood Schools says problem has not surfaced locallyBy MICHAEL ERB
PARKERSBURG - Officials are warning of a statewide shortage in school nurses within the next several years, but so far Wood County has not had any difficulties in filling positions.
Teresa Bayer, coordinator of health services for Wood County Schools, said school nursing remains an in-demand position in the area.
"School nursing is a very sought after position," she said. "At this time in Wood County we are not really seeing the problems some other counties face."
One benefit of the Wood County area is the number of local colleges that provide nursing training.
"We have several colleges that offer training, and we have nursing students who graduate with the bachelor's degree needed for school nursing," she said. "It makes it a lot easier to find people for the positions right in this area."
Bayer said the problem mostly seems to affect rural areas.
"I think in other counties in the state, especially where you don't have as many bachelor's-prepared nurses available, they have had more problems finding the appropriate staff," she said.
Larger counties are not immune, however. Officials with Kanawha County Schools said a lack of state funding coupled with more and greater health needs among students has put a strain on existing school nurses and makes it difficult to hire new ones.
Bayer said the state already is taking steps to address the projected state nursing shortage, asking groups to analyze the problem. Bayer as part of the West Virginia Leadership Institute already has begun working with other health and education officials to determine better ways to attract school nurses to the state.
"It is something we are looking at," she said.
Wood County Schools employs more than 19 full-time nurses, with some assigned to specific schools and others traveling between schools. Several positions are funded through grants and the district's continuing levy.
