School nurses today carry out a variety of roles in providing healthcare to our nation's children. They are often the only non-emergency healthcare professional that a child will see.

There are approximately 45,000 school nurses employed in the United States. Unfortunately, this means that there is only one school nurse for every 1,155 students. Worse, most of these school nurses are employed in only a few states. Almost half of all school nurses are responsible for three or more different schools. Funding cuts are making the situation worse, as school nurses are sacrificed to balance budgets.

While the number of school nurses is dropping, the need for a registered nurse in every school is rising. More and more children with special healthcare needs are now mainstreamed into the public schools. Between 10 and 20 percent of the nation's schoolchildren now have chronic physical, emotional or social problems. One in 20 students receives a prescription medication while at school. Yet, the duties of caring for these special-needs children and administering these medications often fall to school secretaries, teacher's aides, and even coaches.

That's dangerous. A recent University of Iowa study showed that medication errors with 39 percent more likely when someone other than a school nurse was involved.

School nurses don't merely help care for kids with physical problems. Other studies have found that students in schools with a school nurse perform better academically.

The AFT represents more than 15,000 of the nation's school nurses. AFT Healthcare helps provide school nurses and AFT affiliates with the tools, research and legislative support to enhance the profession of school nursing and ensure that every child has a school nurse. Below are some of the resources we offer.