Nurse’s office closed one hour each day for paperwork
By Catherine Rogers

The effects of a nationwide shortage of registered nurses has many hospitals and healthcare facilities – and now Somerville public schools – straining to provide adequate care for patients.

In spite of the public school system filling its nursing staff quota Jan. 23 the nurses at Somerville High School still shutter the office during the school day to tend to administrative duties such as paperwork, physician follow-ups, follow-up visits and parent conferences.

While the nurses remain on the school premises behind closed doors during the fourth period, from 12:14 p.m. to 1:20 p.m., they are still available for emergencies. The current policy requires teachers to use their discretion to decide the urgency of a student’s request. The student is then referred to the building master, who also decides whether the student needs immediate attention.

“In no way would a building manager take over a healthcare role,” said Christine Henebury, who oversees the city’s school nurses as the essential school health coordinator. She stressed that if the building master is unsure of the nature of the situation he will connect the student with one of two full-time nurses at SHS via the telephone.

The Somerville Health Department currently employs 15 nurses throughout the city. Two of these full-time nurses work at SHS.

A nurse is always readily available for emergencies, but a high schooler’s perception of his or her own health needs might not see eye to eye with those of the teachers and building masters.

“What’s an emergency to a high school kid may not be an emergency to a nurse,” said Roberta Bauer, vice president of the school committee. She noted that during the fourth period, a sign hangs on the nurse’s door directing students to the building master. Currently, the sign reads only in English.

School Committee Vice President Roberta Bauer requested that the sign read in all four of the city’s languages at the Jan. 9 school committee meeting.

“I am in the process of getting it re-translated into the city’s four languages, English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and Portuguese,” said Henebury. “We really try hard to make sure that everything is in all of the languages. It’s only fair.”

SHS senior Jessica Dias brought the issue to the table when she noticed the closed doors and wondered what the policy was if a student were to need immediate attention. “Maybe if it’s a minor case, it might be something larger. You never know,” she said.

She noted that common complaints include headaches and nausea.

Henebury confirmed the influx of stress-related ailments – headaches and stomach issues included Рincreases as the day progresses.

At the Jan. 23 School Committee meeting, Dias reported that Henebury had contacted her and explained the situation. While Dias will report the findings back to the student council, other School Committee members suggested that the nurses reexamine the scheduling to accommodate more students.

“Perhaps some consideration could be given to try to schedule it at a different part of the day,” said Mary Jo Rossetti of Ward 7.