Damion Mitchell, News Coordinator - Radio

The Nurses' Association of Jamaica (NAJ) is concerned that the majority of school nurses are not qualified for the job.

NAJ president Edith Allwood Anderson says, by medical standards, only registered nurses should be employed in schools.

Speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum, held yesterday at the newspaper's head office in central Kingston, Mrs. Allwood Anderson said the majority of school nurses are, in fact, practical nurses.

"It's a safety and a quality care issue," she said. "You mustn't fool parents that when they take their children to school, and something happens, they are being protected by putting in a practical nurse."

Unable to transfer benefits

At the same time, the NAJ president said many registered nurses were unwilling to work in the education system because they are paid less money than when they work for the Health Ministry. Additionally, she said registered nurses are unable to transfer their benefits, like pension, from the Health Ministry to the Education Ministry.

In the meantime, at least one school board chairman wants the standards to be changed to allow for practical nurses to work in schools.

Dr. William Brown, who is also the first vice-president of the Medical Association of Jamaica, said that, for many years, his school tried unsuccessfully to find a registered nurse. He said that, as a result, a practical nurse had to be employed.

But the NAJ's second vice-president, Patsy Edwards, said the standards should not be lowered to make it acceptable for practical nurses to be employed in schools. "It's a system problem and we need to address it," she said. "The first role of the nurse is assessment, and practical nurses cannot do that. Initial assessment can determine life or death."

President of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, Hopeton Henry, said it was important that the levelof collaboration between the Health and Education ministries be improved to resolve the controversy over school nurses.

damion.mitchell@gleanerjm.com