'This Year’s Been Different Than Any Other By A Longshot': A School Nurse Reflects On Her Work During COVID-19

Iowa Public Radio | By Natalie Krebs

Published January 4, 2021 at 11:11 AM CST

Jen BarbouRoske is an elementary school nurse in the Iowa City Community School District.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for Iowa’s school districts as they carefully balance their students’ education and safety.

At the forefront of this has been school nurses, who are responsible for screening kids for COVID-19, notifying parents and even contact tracing. And that’s on top of their regular duties.

Jen BarbouRoske is a nurse at three elementary schools in the Iowa City Community School District. She reflected on the extra challenges her team has faced so far this school year.

Education

Natalie Krebs

Natalie Krebs is IPR's Health Reporter and collaborator with Side Effects Public Media. Krebs has expertise covering health news and issues, including maternal health and rural health care access. She's covered abortion access and women's health care in Iowa and the Midwest, news from Iowa's state health agencies, and medical care and health concerns for elders. Krebs is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

See stories by Natalie Krebs

'This Year’s Been Different Than Any Other By A Longshot': A School Nurse Reflects On Her Work During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for Iowa’s school districts as they carefully balance their students’ education and safety.

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