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Lubbock ISD reports nursing shortage; nurses handled ~98,000 student visits last year
Summary
The district's Director of Nursing Services told trustees school nurses saw approximately 98,000 walk-in visits and returned nearly 87,000 students to class; nine nursing vacancies remain and medication errors were reduced to two minor incidents during the year.
The Director of Nursing Services reported to the committee that school nurses handled roughly 98,000 walk-in student visits during the school year and returned nearly 87,000 students to class. Nurses also provided daily medication administration and care for students with complex medical needs, including diabetes, asthma, and seizure disorders.
The director said the district still faces a nursing shortage with nine vacancies remaining after recent hires and described temporary measures—floating nurses and cross-training campus staff—to provide coverage when a campus nurse is absent. The district listed several safety initiatives: standardized clinic organization, medication storage and labeling protocols, leadership support for campus nurses, regular campus visits for compliance checks, expanded AED access, emergency medication lockboxes for after-school activities, and preparations for the state's Cardiac Emergency Response Plan mandate. District leaders also noted an increase in vaping-related illnesses among students and plan expanded education for staff and students on vaping risks.
Board members asked about delegation of medical duties when nurses are unavailable; district staff said trained personnel may be delegated to administer medications and that partnerships with local nursing programs provide clinical experiences, though newly graduated nurses generally require additional supervised experience before working independently in district clinics.
