Mom hopes to see nurse in every school

The child who helped inspire a bill directing lawmakers to examine school nurse issues was hospitalized last week due to complications from her accidental overdose on asthma medication when no school nurse was on hand.

Meanwhile, SB48 remained in House Rules because an $18,000 fiscal note, which means it has to be prioritized with other bills that cost more than $10,000. The bill directs the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee to study school nursing issues and seeks $18,000 for four additional meetings.

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to get that (out, but) anything can happen," said sponsoring Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley. "The Senate and the House are very supportive of bringing people together to try and find an answer to the deplorable situation of not enough school nurses in our schools."

Utah has 129 school nurses, or one for every 6,127 students — the nation's worst ratio. One nurse for every 750 students is recommended.

Michaela Tuck, who last fall took three times the recommended dosage of asthma medication during an attack at her Tooele elementary school, was hospitalized three days this week, said her mother, Paula Tuck. Following treatment at Primary Children's Medical Center, she was back in school Friday.

"That overdose (occurred) because we didn't have a school nurse," said Paula Tuck, whose campaign calling for full-time nurses in every Utah school made national headlines. "This is a lifelong injury to my daughter."

She is confident the House will support the bill. "It's when we go next January for funding (for school nurses) — that will be our biggest hurdle."