National School Nurse Day

School nurses provide more than BAND-AIDs for scrapes on the playground.

It’s National School Nurse Day, and Ohio County Schools wants to thank its nurses who are greatly appreciated by school staff members and loved by students. School nurses are first responders for medical concerns, and they administer mid-day doses of medication. They advocate for students, too. In a school setting, school nurses make referrals for pediatric care when necessary. As a team member, school nurses play a vital role in guiding students to healthy lifestyles, and Ohio County Schools couldn’t be more proud of its nurses. Thank you to Jamie Billick, Cayla Black, Megan Gossett, Jodie Jorden, Crystal Law, Melissa Soltesz and Kylie Updegraff.

Ohio County Schools Special Education Director Leah Stout oversees the nursing staff of Ohio County Schools. Stout said school nurses serve as a critical health hub for students, ensuring that students are ready for learning by managing complex chronic conditions, identifying and addressing mental health issues, leveling the field on health disparities and promoting healthy behaviors, handling medical emergencies and now, navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic by testing, tracking and vaccinating students and school personnel.

“Our nurses are the best,” Stout said. “They are so committed and dedicated to the health and wellbeing of their students. Since COVID-19, their responsibilities have basically doubled. They take of our students in the same caring manner in which they always have, but now they are doing contact tracing to make sure all of the schools are safe. They are doing all they can to raise awareness, and do what is in the best interest of the students and schools. The nurses impress me every day.”

Since 1972, National School Nurse Day has been set aside to recognize school nurses. National School Nurse Day was established to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. This year, building on the increased visibility of nurses' contributions National Nurses' Week has been expanded to Nurses Month in May.

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