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

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

Natalie Krebs is IPR's Health Reporter