Assembly Bill No. 1–Assemblywoman Parnell

 

CHAPTER..........

 

AN ACT relating to schools; requiring that nursing services in all school districts must be provided under the direction and supervision of a chief nurse; prescribing the qualifications of a chief nurse; revision provisions relating to nursing services provided to certain pupils; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

   Section 1.  NRS 391.207 is hereby amended to read as follows:

   391.207  1.  The provision of nursing services in a school district by

 school nurses and other qualified personnel must be under the direction

 and supervision of a chief nurse who is a registered nurse as provided in

 NRS 632.240 and who:

   (a) Holds an endorsement to serve as a school nurse issued pursuant

 to regulations adopted by the commission; or

   (b) Is employed by a state, county, city or district health department

 and provides nursing services to the school district in the course of that

 employment.

   2.  A school district shall not employ a person to serve as a school

 nurse unless he holds an endorsement to serve as a school nurse issued

 pursuant to regulations adopted by the commission.

   Sec. 2.  NRS 391.208 is hereby amended to read as follows:

   391.208  A school nurse shall, for each school at which he is

 [employed:] responsible for providing nursing services:

   1.  Ensure that each pupil enrolled in the school has been immunized in

 accordance with, is exempt from or has otherwise complied with, the

 requirements set forth in NRS 392.435 to 392.446, inclusive.

   2.  Assess and evaluate the general health and physical development of

 the pupils enrolled in the school to identify those pupils who have physical

 or mental conditions that impede their ability to learn.

   3.  Report the results of an evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection

 2 to:

   (a) A parent or guardian of the pupil;

   (b) Each administrator and teacher directly involved with the education

 of the pupil; and

   (c) Other professional personnel within the school district who need the

 information to assist the pupil with his health or education.

   4.  Design and carry out a plan of nursing care for a pupil with special

 needs which incorporates any plan specified by the pupil’s physician or

 provider of health care, as defined in NRS 629.031, and which is

 approved by the pupil’s parent or guardian. The nursing services provided

 pursuant to a plan of nursing care must be performed in compliance

 with chapter 632 of NRS.

   5.  When appropriate, refer a pupil and his parent or guardian to other

 sources in the community to obtain services necessary for the health of the

 pupil.

   6.  Interpret medical and nursing information that relates to a pupil’s

 individual educational plan or individualized accommodation plan and

 make recommendations to:

   (a) Professional personnel directly involved with that pupil; and

   (b) The parents or guardian of that pupil.

   Sec. 3.  NRS 392.420 is hereby amended to read as follows:

   392.420  1.  In each school at which he is [employed,] responsible for

 providing nursing services, a school nurse shall plan for and carry out, or

 supervise qualified health personnel in carrying out, a separate and careful

 observation and examination of every child who is regularly enrolled in a

 grade specified by the board of trustees or superintendent of schools of the

 school district to determine whether the child has scoliosis, any visual or

 auditory problem , or any gross physical defect. The grades in which the

 observations and examinations must be carried out are as follows:

   (a) For visual and auditory problems, in at least two grades of the

 elementary schools, one grade of the middle or junior high schools , and

 one grade of the high schools; and

   (b) For scoliosis, in at least one grade of schools below the high

 schools.

Any person other than a school nurse who performs an observation or

 examination pursuant to this subsection must be trained by a school nurse

 to conduct the observation or examination.

   2.  If any child is attending school in a grade above one of the specified

 grades and has not previously received such an observation and

 examination, he must be included in the current schedule for observation

 and examination. Any child who is newly enrolled in the district must be

 examined for any medical condition for which children in a lower grade

 are examined.

   3.  A special examination for a possible visual or auditory problem

 must be provided for any child who:

   (a) Is enrolled in a special program;

   (b) Is repeating a grade;

   (c) Has failed an examination for a visual or auditory problem during

 the previous school year; or

   (d) Shows in any other way that he may have such a problem.

   4.  The school authorities shall notify the parents or guardian of any

 child who is found or believed to have a visual or auditory problem,

 scoliosis[,] or any gross physical defect , and shall recommend that

 appropriate medical attention be secured to correct it.

   5.  In any school district in which state, county or district public health

 services are available or conveniently obtainable, those services may be

 used to meet the responsibilities assigned under the provisions of this

 section. The board of trustees of the school district may employ qualified

 personnel to perform them. Any nursing services provided by such

 qualified personnel must be performed in compliance with chapter 632

 of NRS.

   6.  Any child must be exempted from the examination if his parents or

 guardian filed with the teacher a written statement objecting to the

 examination.

   Sec. 4.  NRS 632.240 is hereby amended to read as follows:

   632.240  [1.] The provision of nursing services in any system for the

 delivery of health care must be under the direction and supervision of a

 chief administrative nurse who is a registered nurse.

   [2.  The provisions of this section do not apply to a county school

district whose enrollment is fewer than 35,000 pupils.]

   Sec. 5.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.

 

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