07/22/2026
There Is No Place Like School. Know Your Scope. Own Your Power.
What an honor it was to open the Kansas School Nurses Organization Conference.
School nursing looks very different today than it did even ten years ago. Today's school nurses care for students with increasingly complex medical needs while coordinating care, responding to emergencies, supporting mental health, managing chronic conditions, and helping students remain healthy enough to learn.
School nurses are not building secretaries.
They are not administrative assistants.
They are not the urgent care clinic for school employees.
They are licensed healthcare professionals.
What many people don't realize is that school nurses are also balancing state and federal laws, district policies, standards of nursing practice, and the requirements of their professional licensure every single day. Every clinical decision they make carries legal, ethical, and professional responsibility, all while protecting the health and safety of the students in their care.
My challenge wasn't only for school nurses.
It was also for school leaders.
Take the time to understand the value of your school nurse and the medical complexity they manage every day. A nurse's workload cannot be measured by student enrollment alone. Districts should evaluate staffing using evidence-based workload models that consider student acuity, medical complexity, and the nursing services required to safely support each school community. When you do, you may find that additional nursing staff are needed to meet the needs of your students.
When school nurses are empowered to practice within their scope, they can focus on what matters most: providing safe, high-quality care that supports student health, attendance, and academic success.
Thank you, Kansas School Nurses Organization, for the opportunity to share this message.
There is no place like school because there is no substitute for a school nurse practicing at the top of their license. Know your scope. Own your power.