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Syracuse area school nurses struggle with changing COVID-19 guidelines, staff shortages

Syracuse area schools are struggling as nurses contend with changing COVID-19 guidelines and staff shortages.

“We’re constantly re-educating people on the new guidelines,” said Sydney Sargent, a nurse at Lincoln Middle School in the Syracuse City School District, according to CNY Central. “How they have to proceed if someone is positive, or if they’ve been exposed to a positive case. It’s constant education for our parents, students, and staff here who need that level of understanding as well.”


At Marcellus Central School District outside of Syracuse, Superintendent Michelle Brantner had to fill in for school nurse Amy Steigerwald on a few occasions in December when her children were home sick.

A 2017 survey from the National Association of School Nurses found that fewer than 40% of U.S. public schools had a full-time nurse on staff.