Traditionally, the school nurse and the school athletic trainer have been two separate roles in a school. However, a new bill in Iowa could seek to combine those roles in an attempt to address the personnel shortages in both areas.
House Study Bill 10 would give schools the option between relying on a school nurse for student medical care or a certified athletic trainer. The bill has been approved in its subcommittee and now moves on to the Health and Human Services Committee for consideration. It was first written and proposed by state Rep. Shannon Lundgren.
According to the Des Moines Register, “the bill is in response to districts in her area that are struggling to find school nurses and need more options.”
However, several lawmakers and school officials have concerns that traditional nursing duties are outside the scope of work that athletic trainers typically handle. Some of these duties include writing health plans for students, administering medication and managing disabled students.
State Rep. Josh Turek does not support the bill. He said, “I’ve probably been under the supervision of athletic trainers far more than nurses. But this does, to me, seem to be a clear issue of scope of practice."
Despite the challenges the bill could put on school athletic trainers, the Iowa Athletic Trainers Society supports the bill.
Nate Newman, president of the Iowa Athletic Trainers Society, told the Des Moines Register that athletic trainers are trained for a variety of incidents including seizures, behavioral health, immunizations and helping students with asthma, all commonly found in the school nurses office as well.
He said, “all of these things are required to be taught within our programs and for our students to know and be tested on and be ready to practice when they start. We feel that many of these things are covered within our practice set and look forward to answering any questions that may be asked.”
