Judges’ comments:
This is a vivid look at a too-rarely-covered topic: The shortage of school nurses. As the program points out, with more and more children in the nation s public schools with more and more serious medical needs, there are fewer and fewer school nurses to look after them. And that is a prescription for trouble. We particularly liked that this came from a local station, which took the time to produce this well-researched and thought-provoking entry.
1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
A Crisis in Caring: California’s School Nursing Shortage, Viewfinder Series
Kelly Peterson
See the story on the web.
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
March 17, 19,20 21
November 10, 12, 13, 14
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
If your child becomes sick or injured at school, legally there might be no one who can help them! In one Northern California school district, there is only one nurse for 14,800 students, 20 times more than the recommended national standard. A Crisis in Caring: California’s School Nursing Shortage examines this growing concern by taking an in-depth look at some of t’he daily challenges facing school nurses, faculty and students. The program follows a credentialed school nurse over the course of an exhausting day visiting a dozen schools. We also discover how telemedicine research from leading medical institutions is helping address this critical problem. This documentary gained statewide attention. Here’s a statement I received from a viewer. Kelly, a personal thank you to you and all at KVIE your outstanding production on the CA School Nursing Crisis and helping bring awareness to these issues
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
I used several different documents in this documentary. I used video testimony of a little girl who has type-1 diabetes asking Assembly member Isadore Hall to pass a bill that would let yard duties, health aides and teachers take care of kids with diabetes at school. Bill, AB 1802 was also included in the documentary. This is the bill the little girl with diabetes was talking about. The Orange County Register did a video on a little girl who has epilepsy, and how she manages seizures at school. The segment was very powerful and emotional. The paper gave me permission to use their story in the documentary. A Crisis in Caring: California’s School Nursing Shortage also featured a school nurse in Davis, who was implementing telemedicine for the first time in California at her school. Through this documentary, decisions in the state were reversed (at least for a few hours) and radio stations called me for interviews, finding the topic incredibly serious and necessary.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
I used people who put a face to the problem. I followed a school nurse who was in charge of taking care of 8,000 students in her district. I highlighted the challenges she faces, and how she helped children with diabetes manage their disease. I also used students who told their personal story when they had an emergency at school. I interviewed lawyers, and state leaders who are very involved with this topic. Most importantly, I interviewed children with chronic illnesses who used their voice to bring awareness to the shortage of school nurses at school
6. Results (if any).
I received countless numbers of emails thanking me for writing a story that will and did make a difference in California
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Research every angle of your story. I had several legal issues that were involved in this documentary. It was through fact checking and extra phone calls that provided me with thorough clarification, and useful information.