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Category: Health News

Washington, DC - The American Nurses Association (ANA) , American Nurses Association/California, California School Nurses Organization and the American Diabetes Association are pleased to announce a joint statement on the Provision of Care to Students with Diabetes in the School Setting.

The four organizations have come together to collaborate on improving the care of students with diabetes in public schools, including issuing a joint statement focusing on the importance of ensuring they have a healthy school environment, with timely access to insulina hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy. The beta cells of the pancreas make insulin. When the body cannot make enough insulin, it is taken by injection or through use of an insulin pump.X, glucagona hormone produced by the alpha cells in the pancreas. It raises blood glucose. An injectable form of glucagon, available by prescription, may be used to treat severe hypoglycemia. The opposite of insulinX and other diabetes care, and that these students’ rights under state and federal law are protected. 

The organizations recognize that all too often students with diabetes have no one available to assist them with insulin administration in school and school-related events, thereby jeopardizing their health and access to education.  Because of this, they support implementation of a recent ruling of the California Supreme Court clarifying that appropriately trained, unlicensed school personnel may administer insulin when school nurses or other health care professionals are not available and when such care is permitted by a physician’s order.

“It’s a great achievement that all of our organizations have come together to support students with diabetes, said Dwight Holing, Chair of the Board of the American Diabetes Association. “The American Diabetes Association looks forward to continuing to work with these nursing groups and California schools to ensure that all students with diabetes are medically safe and have access to the same educational opportunities as other students.”

American Nurses Association President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, said, “Nurses want to ensure that students with diabetes have a healthy school environment in which to thrive, participate fully and be medically safe and supported.  We look forward to achieving these goals through effective collaboration and teamwork.”

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation's 3.1 million registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations and its organizational affiliates. ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

The mission of American Nurses Association\California (ANA\C) is to advance the quality of health care and the ethical practice of nursing in contemporary society through legislation, regulation, and policy advocacy.  ANA\C provides resources and leadership for nurses to shape the nursing profession and health care today and for the future.

California School Nurses Organization (CSNO) is the statewide professional organization committed to excellence in school health services and ensuring that school nurses optimize student health and enhance learning. CSNO collaborates with health care providers and educational leaders to identify and promote best practices in school health.  School nurses believe that all students should be in school, healthy, ready and able to learn.  For further information please contact CSNO at www.csno.org.