NASN is asking about our experiences paying for supplies with our own $$! Let’s provide NASN with the data to help advocate for the needs of our students by filling out this quick survey:

        NASN wants to hear from you!

If you are a school nurse, you already know the truth: this job doesn’t end when the school day is over.  We carry our students’ stories home in our hearts—and often, we carry their needs in our shopping bags.

Snacks. Socks. Underwear. Hygiene products. Winter coats. The things that keep a child comfortable, dignified, and ready to learn are sometimes the very things in short supply at school. Too often, school nurses quietly reach into their own pockets to fill those gaps. We do it because we care. We do it because we can’t turn away from a child in need. But here’s the question: who is responsible for making sure those needs are met?

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) is asking for our help to answer that question. They want data—our lived reality—so they can advocate for the resources we need, not just to do our jobs, but to stop carrying the financial burden ourselves.

NASN’s quick survey asks:

• How often do you spend your own money on your students’ needs?

• On what items?

• How much do you spend, on average?

• Will you be willing to share a quote about your experiences?

Your answers matter. Numbers have power. Stories move hearts, but data moves policy. No numbers without stories and no stories without numbers! Without your voice, the problem stays invisible—hidden behind our open hearts and quiet sacrifices.

If we want change, we have to make the scope of the issue impossible to ignore. Please take just a moment to complete the survey. It’s one step toward ensuring that school nursing—a vital healthcare role in the well-being of our students—is properly funded and equipped.

We can be relentless in care and advocacy. Let’s make sure the policymakers and communities know that our support for our students is limitless, but our wallets are not.