From KSBA Governmental Relations
The Kentucky Board of Nursing has convened a task force on the ability of nurses to delegate administration of insulin injections to unlicensed personnel, particularly in schools. The task force is accepting public comment in Hopkinsville and Louisville.
More and more Kentucky children are being diagnosed with diabetes, requiring insulin injections during the school day. Currently, an advisory opinion by the board of nursing states that nurses should not delegate insulin injections to unlicensed personnel and doing so could jeopardize their nursing license.
Federal law requires schools to provide a free and appropriate education to all children. It is the responsibility of local school districts to provide health services students may need to attend school. While advocates, the nursing community and educators alike would agree the solution is to have a nurse in every school, this is not likely under the current state budget. The nursing community is concerned that unlicensed personnel cannot be trained without jeopardizing the safety of students.
KSBA, the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents and the Kentucky Department of Education will send written comments on this issue to the state nursing board. If local school board members or school administrators also would like to address the task force, this is the time to do so. The task force will also accept written comments via email at [email protected].
For more information, please contact Shannon Stiglitz at 502-229-9454 or by email at [email protected].
The meetings will be held on the following dates and locations:
Aug. 16, 1-3 p.m. CT
Hopkinsville Community and Technical College
Lecture Hall
720 North Dr., Hopkinsville
Aug. 22, 2-5 p.m. ET
Kentucky Board of Nursing Office
312 Whittington Pkwy., Ste. 300, Louisville