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How This School Nurse Handles 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 Midwestern school districts as they balance their students’ education and safety. At the forefront are 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.

To get a closer look at the issue, Side Effects spoke with Jen BarbouRoske, 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.

This story was produced bySide Effects Public Media, a news collaborative covering public health.

Copyright 2021 Side Effects Public Media. To see more, visit Side Effects Public Media.

Natalie Krebs is the health reporter for Iowa Public Radio in Des Moines. She previously worked as an independent producer in west Texas where she covered issues related to the environment, immigration and health care. She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.