Washington, D.C. – Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District introduced legislation to help K-12 schools hire more full-time nurses. The Nurses for Under-Resourced Schools Everywhere (NURSE) Act, introduced on National School Nurse Day, would create a grant program at the Department of Education to reduce the cost of hiring nurses in public elementary and secondary schools.

Under the legislation, eligible entities, such as the Clark County School District, could apply for the grants if at least 20% of students within their jurisdictions are eligible for low-cost or free school lunches.

Even prior to the pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended one full-time registered nurse in every school. Yet, the Clark County School District has 196 full-time nurses serving over 350 schools.

“As students return to the classroom, school nurses will play a key role in stopping the spread of COVID-19,” said Congresswoman Titus (NV-1). “These health care heroes administer COVID-19 tests, monitor students for symptoms, and can assist with vaccinations.

“School nurses have always been vital to creating a healthy learning environment for students and that is true now more than ever. Yet, schools in Clark County and across the country are struggling to hire nurses to keep up with their students’ needs. The NURSE Act will help put a full-time registered nurse in every school.”