Michigan Students Need School Nurses

Hendrina Cupery is the manager of the Holland Hospital School Nurse/School Mental Health Program and President of the Michigan Association of School Nurses' Board of Directors:

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2025/07/28/cupery-michigan-students-need-a-school-nurse-in-every-building/85374081007/

Cupery: Michigan students need a school nurse in every building
By Hendrina Cupery - July 28, 2025

Imagine sending your child to school with a chronic condition like asthma, diabetes, a seizure disorder or a life-threatening allergy, and not knowing if there’s a trained medical professional on-site to help if something goes wrong. For hundreds of thousands of families across Michigan, this isn’t hypothetical. It’s reality.

Today, just 700 school nurses serve Michigan’s 1.5 million students. That’s one nurse for every 2,100 students. This is not just a staffing shortage, it’s a crisis that puts children, educators and communities at risk.

School nurses are not a luxury; they are a critical investment. They manage complex chronic conditions, administer daily medications, respond to emergencies and train school staff to act when seconds matter. The CDC reports that 40% of school-aged children live with a chronic health condition. That means around 600,000 Michigan students require some level of regular medical attention during the school day. And 25% of all students nationwide need daily medication.

Without a licensed school nurse, who is ensuring those medications are given safely and legally? Who is developing emergency plans, following up when a child is hospitalized for a mental health crisis or helping to create a plan for their safe return?

The short answer: too often, no one.

We've seen cases where school staff weren't even informed about a student's hospitalization or discharge after a suicide attempt — meaning no safety plan, no coordinated care and no support structure in place. That puts everyone at risk. This is where a school nurse makes all the difference.

Take the partnership between Holland Hospital and Holland Public Schools. By placing a school nurse care manager inside the schools, we closed the gap between healthcare systems and the classroom. The results speak for themselves: better communication, smoother transitions after hospital stays, better mental health support, and peace of mind for students and families.

This model can be the new standard.

The presence of a school nurse helps students stay in class and ready to learn. It reassures families that their child’s health needs are understood and met. It gives teachers and staff the confidence that they are not alone in handling complex medical and mental health issues. And it strengthens our schools as safe, inclusive spaces for everyone.

Research shows that schools with full-time nurses see improved attendance and better academic outcomes. While school nurses come with a cost, their presence leads to significant long-term savings by reducing hospital visits and emergency room costs. For every $1 spent on school nursing, society saves $2.20.

School leaders cannot view school nurses as optional extras. They are essential personnel, bridging the gap between education and health care. And if we’re serious about student success, safety and equitable access, we must invest in school nurses across every district in Michigan.

As planning for the school year ramps up, let’s put our kids first and provide them with the support they need. Now is not the time to cut health care services for Michigan school children.