Blogs

School Nurse Day
Wednesday, May 11, 2016

When I was a child, Fathers’ Day and Mothers’ Day were special days in our family. Of course, being a child, I wanted to know when Children’s Day was. My mother always responded, “Every day is Children’s Day!”

As a school nurse, we treat every day as Student Day! Our students are the center of our focus and care. Once a year, on the Wednesday during National Nurses’ Week, is NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE DAY! This year we observe National School Nurse Day on May 11, 2016. IT IS A DAY FOR CELEBRATION. It is the day for you to recognize the extraordinary role you play in the lives of children and celebrate you!

The sign outside your office says School Nurse. All students know that if they have a problem, if they need help, or if they don’t know what else to do, they can go to the school nurse. The school nurse can help. I was reminded of this one day when one of my students was hit by a car on his way home from school. The entire right side of his body had deep abrasions where he was thrown to the ground, yet he walked back to school to my office for help. After I took care of him and reflected on how he arrived at my office, I was overwhelmed with emotion. He knew I would help him; after all, I was the school nurse.

You are the school nurse for your students. You focus on population health as well as individual health. Your students know that you will care for them without judgment and actively listen to their concerns. The school staff values the expertise you bring to the health and well-being of students, connecting health and education. Parents repeatedly express gratitude for school nurses, many raising their voices to advocate for the care given by school nurses.