Parents of students with diabetes are cheering Governor Jon Corzine signed, a bill that allows teachers to administer plans of glucagon to diabetic students and allow children to treat the disease in the class.
For TimesAllison Klei, 10-year-old Lawrenceville, holds a glucagon emergency kit she carries with her to have her treated diabetes should she become unconscious.
The measure was opposed by the state union of teachers and the School Nurses Association, whose president said yesterday that she still believes the new law conflicts with the legal obligations of nurses not medical delegate responsibilities.
Corzine on Thursday signed the bill and several other bills unrelated. It was good news for parents like Howard Effron of Barnegat, who had been frustrated by the delay of the Governor to sign the measure after it was passed by both houses of the legislature in June
"It's just a good thing. It will make life much easier," said Effron, whose 14-year-old son has diabetes type I. Under the new law, teachers in May voluntarily accept to be trained to give injections of glucagon, which are used in rare cases to boost students with diabetes who fell unconscious because of low blood sugar levels.
Some schools have only allowed nurses to give shots, which in some cases made it impossible for students to participate in school programs and sporting events where a nurse was not present.
"This new law will give parents who have children with diabetes greater peace of mind knowing that if something should happen to their children while at school, they will be supported by trained people who know what to do, "state Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Lawrence, said yesterday.
The law also requires school nurses to develop plans of care for diabetic children and allows students to test their blood sugar and use insulin pumps in the classroom.
Just this week, met with key Effron his son, who would be trained in glucagon injections himself but was advised not to school by lawyers who were concerned about liability issues, according Effron. The law contains a disclaimer which should make it easier to overcome these objections, although he said he could still face obstacles with the school staff. "We have to see what the nurse said," he said. "It was pretty adamantly against it. Who knows what the union will tell him to do."
Marie Peppas, a school nurse in Long Valley and the President of the State of New Jersey Association of School Nurses, said yesterday that the new law will not change because it conflicts with the legal obligations of nurses. "The law on nursing practice, and our license does not allow us to delegate to non-medical staff," Peppas said. "It does not really matter what Bill says. We have our permit to answer.
Over the last 10 years, schools in New Jersey have had to call ambulances only a few times to administer glucagon, in the absence of a school nurse, "she said. "We want all students to be safe and healthy school and we will do whatever it takes to get there," she said. "We are already that this happens. We don ' have no need for the bill. "
Peppas said board of state nursing is to review the new law. Council Regulation Committee will discuss at a meeting October 20, a council employee said. Turner said lawyers for the governor to review invoices to ensure they pass legal muster, and she noted that doctors and parents have voted for the bill that he received legislative approval . "They certainly would not defend something that is detrimental to their patients and children," she said.
For TimesAllison Klei, 10-year-old Lawrenceville, holds a glucagon emergency kit she carries with her to have her treated diabetes should she become unconscious.
The measure was opposed by the state union of teachers and the School Nurses Association, whose president said yesterday that she still believes the new law conflicts with the legal obligations of nurses not medical delegate responsibilities.
Corzine on Thursday signed the bill and several other bills unrelated. It was good news for parents like Howard Effron of Barnegat, who had been frustrated by the delay of the Governor to sign the measure after it was passed by both houses of the legislature in June
"It's just a good thing. It will make life much easier," said Effron, whose 14-year-old son has diabetes type I. Under the new law, teachers in May voluntarily accept to be trained to give injections of glucagon, which are used in rare cases to boost students with diabetes who fell unconscious because of low blood sugar levels.
Some schools have only allowed nurses to give shots, which in some cases made it impossible for students to participate in school programs and sporting events where a nurse was not present.
"This new law will give parents who have children with diabetes greater peace of mind knowing that if something should happen to their children while at school, they will be supported by trained people who know what to do, "state Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Lawrence, said yesterday.
The law also requires school nurses to develop plans of care for diabetic children and allows students to test their blood sugar and use insulin pumps in the classroom.
Just this week, met with key Effron his son, who would be trained in glucagon injections himself but was advised not to school by lawyers who were concerned about liability issues, according Effron. The law contains a disclaimer which should make it easier to overcome these objections, although he said he could still face obstacles with the school staff. "We have to see what the nurse said," he said. "It was pretty adamantly against it. Who knows what the union will tell him to do."
Marie Peppas, a school nurse in Long Valley and the President of the State of New Jersey Association of School Nurses, said yesterday that the new law will not change because it conflicts with the legal obligations of nurses. "The law on nursing practice, and our license does not allow us to delegate to non-medical staff," Peppas said. "It does not really matter what Bill says. We have our permit to answer.
Over the last 10 years, schools in New Jersey have had to call ambulances only a few times to administer glucagon, in the absence of a school nurse, "she said. "We want all students to be safe and healthy school and we will do whatever it takes to get there," she said. "We are already that this happens. We don ' have no need for the bill. "
Peppas said board of state nursing is to review the new law. Council Regulation Committee will discuss at a meeting October 20, a council employee said. Turner said lawyers for the governor to review invoices to ensure they pass legal muster, and she noted that doctors and parents have voted for the bill that he received legislative approval . "They certainly would not defend something that is detrimental to their patients and children," she said.
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