School Nurses Have a Lot of Patients for the Job

Today is National School Nurse Day, which was established to acknowledge the contribution of school nurses in 1972. This day was created to give a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. National School Nurse Day is recognized on Wednesday during the celebration of National Nurses Week.

At Great Hearts Arizona, we have 20 Registered Nurses (RN), two Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), and six health office staff members. Our health offices across the network see on average 500-600 scholars per day. They administer nearly 125 daily medications each day throughout the campuses. On top of their daily duties, they completed over 2,000 hearing and vision screenings during the beginning of the school year, and have successfully certified over 550 graduating seniors in CPR this year, a state mandate for graduation.

“Our nurses and health assistants take so much pride in the care they provide for our scholars every day,” said Great Hearts Director of Nursing, Denise Schooley, RN, BSN. “Each plays a vital role in the health and wellness of our Great Hearts scholars and staff.”

“Their day begins around 7:00 AM when they arrive on campus and prepare their offices for students to visit. Some health offices are already administering daily medications to some early arrival scholars. We have morning recess that almost always brings scholars in for those abrasions, bruises and bumps received on the playground. On occasion, we see the scholar that already has a ‘tummy ache’ most often from skipping or forgetting breakfast. A small snack and a little TLC and they are off to their first class. Throughout the morning we continue to see a variety of head bumps, tummy aches, headaches, minor injuries, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and the list could be endless. Our health staff are watching blood sugars from devices that keep a constant eye on blood sugar levels and provide treatments per their care plans. They may see some diabetics 3-4 times per day. They take parent phone calls for a variety of reasons, such as reporting illnesses, injuries, and changes in their child’s health status,” said Schooley. She explained that their day doesn’t end until the last scholar in their care is picked up. “We often have those last-minute needs like the scholar that got ill when packing up for the day or got injured at the last recess or during P.E.”

“I love nursing because there is no other profession that can positively impact the community in so many different ways,” said Roslynn Phillips, RN at the Roosevelt Health Office.

“One of the biggest blessings of being a nurse is the multitudes of directions and careers you can choose as a nurse,” said Kara Wrublick, RN at Archway Lincoln/Lincoln Preparatory Academy. “Personally, finding this position saved me at a time when I was ready to leave nursing all together. I’ve relearned a lot about myself through this position. I love kids, I love being an educator, and I love building relationships with the people that come through my office, both students and staff. Being a school nurse can be challenging as you navigate a lot of visits throughout the day that range from minor to sometimes emergent. We are the only medical staff on campus and must be prepared to respond to anything. This is also part of the fun of the job, each day is completely different from the one before.”

“I love working with the students and staff and hoping to bring a smile to someone’s face,” said Susan McIver, RN at Archway Scottsdale Health Office.

“The best part of my job as a school nurse is the constant education. As nurses, much of our job is educating students; what is normal, abnormal, what to watch out for, and symptom management,” said Bethany Brown, RN at Archway Lincoln/Lincoln Preparatory Academy. “The students teach me something every day also. To quote Florence Nightingale, ‘Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses … we must be learning all of our lives.”

“I love working as a school nurse at Archway Classical Academy Scottsdale because I enjoy helping children and their families. I also appreciate the wonderful collaboration between teachers, administration, and the nurse’ s office. Everyone strives for what is in the best interest of the child,” said Mia Betz, RN at Archway Scottsdale Health Office.

“Being a school nurse is so rewarding! Even when our days are busy, we are so glad to be able to help our scholars stay healthy at school,” said Mackenzie Tigrett, RN at the Archway Cicero Health Office

These nurses and health staff love their jobs and love the scholars as their own,” said Schooley. “I have never been prouder of such an incredible team of health care workers. They deserved to be honored and spoiled for the daily care and kindness they provide.”

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts?  Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org