Hard as it is to believe, some schools, even public schools, do not have a school nurse. Most parents or caregivers are frozen with fear at the idea of sending a child with diabetes to school without a nurse, but it can be done in a way that makes families feel safe.

Finding a Solution

If you are in this situation, you'll need to sit down with your school principal and possibly the district director of student services to talk about why a nurse is needed, and what you and the school will do to make your child safe without one. Some parents have moved their children to other schools that have nurses, but most parents don't want to disrupt their children's lives any more than they already have been.

If there is no school nurse, another adult in the school, usually a willing teacher or administrator, needs to learn all about your child's diabetes and be there as her support person during the school day.

Some schools scoff at this idea because of liability issues. Try to find other parents of children with diabetes who have made the situation work in their no-nurse school, and share their experience. Hope that your school staff will buy in. If they don't, you may need to consider asking them to allow your child to carry a cell phone and setting up set times during the school day when you or your spouse or another adult familiar with your child's care checks in with her.

Supply Management with No Nurse

Not having a nurse will mean you'll have to be even more careful to make sure your child's school supplies remain well stocked. Without a nurse to remind you, you can easily run out of snacks or insulin or lancets at school. Make a monthly visit to the school to check on your child's supplies, so he never falls short on something he needs. That's the funny thing about diabetes supplies: You never seem to need them until you don't have them within reach.

You'll also want to discuss with your school where your child's supplies will be kept. With no nurse's office, you'll need a cool and secure place to store them. If the school cannot provide this, you may need to consider a small fridge as a donation, just to keep your child's supplies correctly stored.