School Nurse Day, May 12, 2010
 
What DO school nurses do? If you ask that question to 50 school nurses, you will get 50 different answers, and with good reason! The role of the school nurse is as varied as the spectrum of the rainbow. School nurses work in pre-schools, elementary, middle, and high schools; they work in public, private, parochial, and charter schools; they work in urban, suburban and rural districts; they work in wealthy, middle class, or poverty-stricken areas; they work at the grass roots level; they are coordinators or supervisors, consultants, and educators; they are new to school nursing or they are veterans; they are young and they are not-so-young.
 
What is the typical school nursing job? Clearly, there is none. Yet, despite the enormous diversity within the role, school nurses share many commonalities. To begin, most are passionate about student health and wellness. As I travel to different states, I have had the opportunity to meet many school nurses and to hear their stories. I find it most inspiring to see that passion in so many school nurses! Their desire to promote health and provide the best care possible to students and their families is remarkable. They are innovative, even in the most dire of staffing scenarios, and always have the best interest of the child/youth first.
 
As we celebrate National School Nurses Day 2010, I hope you will each look at the difference that you make and take the time to celebrate you! To honor what you do to improve the health and success of your students, I hope you will use this opportunity to tell one person about the role of the school nurse. Tell a student, a parent, a teacher, an administrator, a school committee member, or a legislator….just tell someone how you make a difference!
 
I would also ask that you take this time to rally support for NASNs ratio bills that are currently in the US Congress. These bills (H.R. 2730 and S. 2750) will pave the way for demonstration projects that will provide the data we need to show what we already know…..that school nurses truly do improve health and education outcomes for students. For more information on the bills and how you can help, visit the NASN Legislative Action Center. 
 
I wish you all a fulfilling National School Nurses Day and thank you for caring for America’s children, youth, and families!!!

Best,




Sandi Delack
NASN President