Photo: Governor Jim Doyle is seated. From the left, Jack O'Meara, WASN lobbyist, Twyla Lato, WASN Legislative Committee Member, Kathleen Murphy WASN/NASN Representative, Rachel Gallagher, Wis. DPI School Nurse Consultant, State Superintendent Tony Evers, and Rep. Pope- Roberts
MADISON — State Superintendent Tony Evers issued the following statement regarding Gov. Jim Doyle signing Senate Bill 414 into law.
“Governor Doyle and the Legislature understand that our student population and the nature of school nursing have changed over the years. The provisions of this law are important given the large number of people in the school setting that may have responsibilities for administering medications to students and the increasing proportion of students with special health care needs. With the school nurse to pupil ratio in Wisconsin averaging one nurse for every 2,359 pupils, it is increasingly important for school staff to be prepared and trained.
“This law will enhance the health and safety of students by giving schools clear guidance as to what drugs can be administered to students, the instructions that must accompany those drugs, records that must be kept, the training required for those administering drugs, and the education requirements for school nurses.
School nurses who want to contact a legislator should know what they are
talking about. You can contact Jack O'Meara @,jack@omearapublicaffairs.com for more
information about an issue, a legislator, or whatever.
Be sure to tell your legislators that school nurses provide highly skilled care in the
school setting. Many legislators and their staffs have no idea what school nurses
really do.
School nurses should be prepared to talk with an aide as opposed to talking directly to the legislator. In many cases,
that is just as good. Staffers pass information along to the legislator.
Jack O'Meara
O'Meara Public Affairs L.L.C.
3 South Pinckney Street, Suite 720
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
(608) 294-8746
In 2007-2008, Kathy Brockman will chair the Legislative Committee. Other committee members are Twyla Lato, Linda Caldart-Olson,
Holly Bauer, and Rita Simon.
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