(REPRINTED WITH ADOPTED AMENDMENTS)

 

Assembly Bill No. 1–Assemblywoman Parnell

 

Prefiled January 11, 2001

 

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Education

 

SUMMARY—Revises provisions regarding school nurses. (BDR 34‑135)

 

FISCAL NOTE:                     Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

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:

 

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

1-2    391.207  1.  The provision of nursing services in a school district by

1-3  school nurses and other qualified personnel must be under the direction

1-4  and supervision of a chief nurse who is a registered nurse as provided in

1-5  NRS 632.240 and who:

1-6    (a) Holds an endorsement to serve as a school nurse issued pursuant

1-7  to regulations adopted by the commission; or

1-8    (b) Is employed by a state, county, city or district health department

1-9  and provides nursing services to the school district in the course of that

1-10  employment.

1-11    2.  A school district shall not employ a person to serve as a school

1-12  nurse unless he holds an endorsement to serve as a school nurse issued

1-13  pursuant to regulations adopted by the commission.

1-14    Sec. 2.  NRS 391.208 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-15    391.208  A school nurse shall, for each school at which he is

1-16  [employed:] responsible for providing nursing services:

1-17    1.  Ensure that each pupil enrolled in the school has been immunized in

1-18  accordance with, is exempt from or has otherwise complied with, the

1-19  requirements set forth in NRS 392.435 to 392.446, inclusive.

2-1    2.  Assess and evaluate the general health and physical development of

2-2  the pupils enrolled in the school to identify those pupils who have physical

2-3  or mental conditions that impede their ability to learn.

2-4    3.  Report the results of an evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection

2-5  2 to:

2-6    (a) A parent or guardian of the pupil;

2-7    (b) Each administrator and teacher directly involved with the education

2-8  of the pupil; and

2-9    (c) Other professional personnel within the school district who need the

2-10  information to assist the pupil with his health or education.

2-11    4.  Design and carry out a plan of nursing care for a pupil with special

2-12  needs which incorporates any plan specified by the pupil’s physician or

2-13  provider of health care, as defined in NRS 629.031, and which is

2-14  approved by the pupil’s parent or guardian. The nursing services provided

2-15  pursuant to a plan of nursing care must be performed in compliance with

2-16  chapter 632 of NRS.

2-17    5.  When appropriate, refer a pupil and his parent or guardian to other

2-18  sources in the community to obtain services necessary for the health of the

2-19  pupil.

2-20    6.  Interpret medical and nursing information that relates to a pupil’s

2-21  individual educational plan or individualized accommodation plan and

2-22  make recommendations to:

2-23    (a) Professional personnel directly involved with that pupil; and

2-24    (b) The parents or guardian of that pupil.

2-25    Sec. 3.  NRS 392.420 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-26    392.420  1.  In each school at which he is [employed,] responsible for

2-27  providing nursing services, a school nurse shall plan for and carry out, or

2-28  supervise qualified health personnel in carrying out, a separate and careful

2-29  observation and examination of every child who is regularly enrolled in a

2-30  grade specified by the board of trustees or superintendent of schools of the

2-31  school district to determine whether the child has scoliosis, any visual or

2-32  auditory problem , or any gross physical defect. The grades in which the

2-33  observations and examinations must be carried out are as follows:

2-34    (a) For visual and auditory problems, in at least two grades of the

2-35  elementary schools, one grade of the middle or junior high schools , and

2-36  one grade of the high schools; and

2-37    (b) For scoliosis, in at least one grade of schools below the high

2-38  schools.

2-39  Any person other than a school nurse who performs an observation or

2-40  examination pursuant to this subsection must be trained by a school nurse

2-41  to conduct the observation or examination.

2-42    2.  If any child is attending school in a grade above one of the specified

2-43  grades and has not previously received such an observation and

2-44  examination, he must be included in the current schedule for observation

2-45  and examination. Any child who is newly enrolled in the district must be

2-46  examined for any medical condition for which children in a lower grade are

2-47  examined.

2-48    3.  A special examination for a possible visual or auditory problem

2-49  must be provided for any child who:

3-1    (a) Is enrolled in a special program;

3-2    (b) Is repeating a grade;

3-3    (c) Has failed an examination for a visual or auditory problem during

3-4  the previous school year; or

3-5    (d) Shows in any other way that he may have such a problem.

3-6    4.  The school authorities shall notify the parents or guardian of any

3-7  child who is found or believed to have a visual or auditory problem,

3-8  scoliosis[,] or any gross physical defect , and shall recommend that

3-9  appropriate medical attention be secured to correct it.

3-10    5.  In any school district in which state, county or district public health

3-11  services are available or conveniently obtainable, those services may be

3-12  used to meet the responsibilities assigned under the provisions of this

3-13  section. The board of trustees of the school district may employ qualified

3-14  personnel to perform them. Any nursing services provided by such

3-15  qualified personnel must be performed in compliance with chapter 632 of

3-16  NRS.

3-17    6.  Any child must be exempted from the examination if his parents or

3-18  guardian filed with the teacher a written statement objecting to the

3-19  examination.

3-20    Sec. 4.  NRS 632.240 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-21    632.240  [1.] The provision of nursing services in any system for the

3-22  delivery of health care must be under the direction and supervision of a

3-23  chief administrative nurse who is a registered nurse.

3-24    [2.  The provisions of this section do not apply to a county school

3-25  district whose enrollment is fewer than 35,000 pupils.]

3-26    Sec. 5.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.

 

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