Nurses in Schools

There is one registered nurse (RN) at each of the five schools in Schalmont Central School District. For all of them, no two days are ever the same, but every day brings a mix of opportunities to treat and prevent health issues. What might surprise some parents is how much a nurse’s day has changed over the years.

"Our main role is to try to keep students healthy and informed and to help them make healthy choices," said Linda Mortensen, a nurse at Schalmont Middle School for more than 20 years.

Keeping kids healthy takes on many forms. The most obvious is the treatment of illnesses and injuries as they occur during the school day. This generally involves evaluating conditions and providing first aid as needed or contacting the school physicians (Five Corners Family Practice) for more serious issues.

"We’re also a really good resource for parents," said Mortensen (pictured at left), who regularly receives calls from parents who are looking for health information or advice as to whether or not to take their children to a physician.

Prevention is also an important part of keeping kids healthy. When students come in with a health concern, many school nurses use the visit to educate them about ways to keep from getting sick again.

"In a small school, I’m able to do a little more preventative medicine," said Joanne Jones, the nurse at Woestina Elementary and a 25-year Schalmont employee. She often speaks to students about topics such as playground rules and safety issues, nutrition and the food pyramid, and ways to prevent the spread of germs during the flu season.

School Nurses' Roles Continue to Grow

School nurses perform many other activities, most of which are mandated by state law. The mandated activities include reviewing and documenting health appraisals; conducting vision, hearing and scoliosis screenings; reviewing and documenting immunizations; preparing and administering prescription and non-prescription medications; identifying and reporting communicable diseases to the New York State Health Department; and more recently, tracking students’ Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight status category.

Certain nurses also oversee sports physicals, serve on the Wellness Committee and/or Safety Committee, and provide staff training on health issues.

"I process hundreds of students prior to each sports season," said Sandy VanEtten, the Schalmont High School nurse and an alumna. "I do not have a dull day."

School nurses’ roles are often complementary to those of school counselors and psychologists.

"A lot of it is emotional support," said Donna Wolbert, the Mariaville Elementary nurse for 18 years. Students sometimes come to her because they are having a bad day or need to talk. "I think a misconception is that we just do band-aids."

Whether emotional or physical, good health has a direct effect on academics and classroom performance.

"Just the littlest things will keep the younger children from learning," said Cheryl Glindmyer (pictured at right), the Jefferson Elementary nurse for about eight years.

School nurses have always helped students feel better so they could focus in class or sent them home to prevent the spread of an illness.

Today, they also administer medications and treatments that allow many children with chronic conditions – such as asthma, diabetes, seizure disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism, and food allergies to remain in school. That treatment sometimes involves serious procedures such as catheterizations, tube feedings and insulin shots.

"With more inclusion in schools, there’s definitely more hands-on nursing," said Wolbert.

School nurses’ responsibilities may have increased over the years, but their role as caregivers has remained just as important as ever.

"The health and safety of our students is foremost in everyone’s mind, and nurses help us preserve that," said Superintendent Valerie Kelsey.