printable version
For Immediate Release
May 8, 2025
Contact: Kate McDuffie
National Association of School Nurses
kmcduffie@nasn.org
NURSE Act Reintroduced on School Nurse Day
SILVER SPRING, MD — The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) is excited to announce bipartisan support for the Nurses for Under-Resourced Schools Everywhere (NURSE) Act. Congresswomen Dina Titus (NV-01) and Jen Kiggans (VA-02) introduced the legislation on School Nurse Day, Wednesday, May 7. The legislation aims to establish a grant program through the U.S. Department of Education to help high-need schools hire and retain additional school nurses.
The NURSE Act specifically targets Title I schools — where at least 20% of students are enrolled in free or reduced-price lunch and breakfast programs — by providing a five-year grant with a 75/25 Federal-to-State/Local cost share. At the end of the grant period, the Department of Education will submit a report assessing the impact of school nurses on students’ health, academic achievement, attendance, and classroom time.
“The NURSE Act recognizes the critical role of school nurses in providing students with access to quality healthcare so they can be healthy, safe, and ready to learn,” said Kate King, DNP, MSN, RN, LSN, President of NASN. “We are thrilled that Representative Titus reintroduced this important legislation with Representative Kiggans on School Nurse Day, a day that celebrates the contributions of school nurses to children and their academic success. Every school should have a school nurse on staff every day. Passage of the NURSE Act is the first step to achieving student health equity.”
Congresswoman Titus emphasized the urgent need for more school nurses, particularly in under-resourced districts: “All too often, when school districts like Clark County are forced to stretch limited funding, school nurse positions are overlooked. In fact, Clark County needs over 100 more school nurses to meet the demands of its students. School nurses play a critical role in our children’s learning and success. Students who have the appropriate healthcare resources are better equipped for studies, sports, and everyday activities.”
Congresswoman Kiggans, a nurse practitioner, underscored the bill’s alignment with her longstanding healthcare advocacy: “I know firsthand how vital nurses are to the health and wellbeing of our communities. I’m proud to support the NURSE Act, which builds on efforts I championed in the Virginia State Senate to increase access to care in our schools. By investing in school nurses, we’re ensuring that our children have the support they need to stay healthy and succeed in the classroom. Introducing this bill during National Nurses Week underscores our commitment to recognizing the incredible contributions our nurses make in communities across the country.”
NASN remains committed to advancing policies that ensure every student has access to a school nurse, recognizing that healthy children are better learners. The NURSE Act is a vital step toward reducing health disparities and supporting the academic success of students in high-need schools.
For more information about NASN’s advocacy work, visit www.nasn.org.
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NASN
The National Association of School Nurses is a non-profit specialty nursing organization, organized in 1968 and incorporated in 1977, representing school nurses exclusively. NASN has more than 19,000 members and 50 affiliates, including the District of Columbia and overseas school nurses. The mission of the NASN is to optimize student health and learning by advancing the practice of school nursing. To learn more about NASN, please visit www.nasn.org or call 866-627-6767.
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