Sniffing, sneezing, wheezing and coughing are all symptoms indicating that fall semester is synonymous with the flu season. Although most students try to avoid sitting next to their sick classmates, it is almost impossible to dodge a cold when your study buddy is highly contagious.
If the Yuba Community College District provided a campus nurse, which students are paying for with their fees, they would have help with the flu or other ailments.
Based on a health survey conducted at Woodland Community College, one out of every four students has health insurance through their parents.
Nearly 60 percent of the students surveyed claimed not to have any health insurance. One participant said, “My job won’t provide for health care because I work part-time.”
Another student stated, “I’m still paying off bills from two years ago through my food service job’s insurance.”
Working full time at a minimum wage job, Angie Griffin, a student at Woodland, has relied on the “the free clinics, that won’t do all of the things you need.” She said, “The fact that I don’t have (health insurance) means that if I get into a car accident my car insurance only covers something like $1000.”
During the fall semester of 2005, Yuba Community College students could forget about these health insurance woes by turning to their district nurse.
One source from Woodland Community College explained that until the end of Fall semester of 2005, there was a district nurse based at Marysville’s campus, who visited Woodland twice a week.
When asked whether there was any current source of first aid available to students the source joked, “I don’t even have band aids available. So don’t get cut!”
A majority of students said that they would like a nurse available to help them with minor cuts, answer questions about viruses or infections going around, and provide them with Band-Aids and aspirin.
A doctor with Sutter Hospital explained, “Aside from providing medical advice and care for slight injuries, such as minor cuts, a school nurse can help identify a problem that may lead to something more serious.”
“Typically school nurses and nurse practitioners work with a physician and follow a treatment protocol. They may evaluate, take vital signs, and give advice per their protocol. While they may advise students, they cannot diagnose.”
If provided with a campus nurse, students can cut the cost of medical bills. Instead of going to the doctor for the common flu, students could visit the school nurse for the note and then return home to rest.
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