Angels in Disguise: Stories from America's School Nurses

By Dolores H. McNany

School nurses serve on the front lines of the everyday struggle for our childrens health, yet they are often perceived as little more than glorified dispensers of bandages. This false perception, held by many parents, officials, and administrators, does a serious disservice to this dedicated group of health professionals.

Angels in Disguise tells the oral history of school nursing through the eyes, ears, and hearts of school nurses serving throughout the United States. By sharing their personal experiences, these nurses illustrate their love and compassion and throw the doors wide open on this often-undervalued profession, enabling readers to see into their world and understand how much they truly care for the children they treat.

This collection of heartwarming stories offers unique insight into the daily responsibilities and duties of school nurses and serves to raise public awareness of the dedication, leadership, and exemplary pediatric health care provided by the devoted women and men who care for Americas schoolchildren.

The sophisticated medical health care required in schools today can only be delivered by qualified professional school personnel, and that challenge is met by having a school nurse in every school facility.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462006281

Dolores H. McNany

Dolores H. McNany, EdD, RN, NJSCSN holds a doctorate in education from California Coast University and worked as a school nurse and health teacher in public and private urban school systems for more than twenty years. She resides in Maplewood, New Jersey with her husband Gene, and enjoys spending time at their summer home with their five children and seven grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2011, 2014 Dolores H. McNany, EdD, MA, RN, NJSCSN

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In order to protect individuals’ privacy, names and details in selected stories have been changed.

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Ritalin® is a registered trademark of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. Manufactured for: Alliant Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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ISBN: 978-1-4620-0626-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-0627-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-0628-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011904433

iUniverse rev. date: 01/21/2014

Cover Design and Illustration: Maureen Jansen, BFA

Photographer: Tim McNany, BA

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

First Response

Nurse To The Playground

Ellen Williams, Med, Bsn, Rn

My Small Life

Tamara J. Smylie, Bs, Rn, Ncsn

One Toe On The Gas

Alexis J. Strickland, Rn

We Were All Columbine

Elizabeth (Betty) Fitzpatrick, Ms, Snp, Rn

Front Line

More Than Frostbite

Laura Petrowich, Bsn, Rn

From Novice To Mentor With Some Help From My Friends

Heidi Toth, Ms, Msn, Rn, Cic

Appeal To County Commissioners

Julia A. Derouen, Med, Ncc, Lpca

Beyond Bandages

Linda Betley, Msn, Rn

The Many Hats Of This Nurse

Barbara L. Filer, Bsn, Rn, Csn

Little Did I Know

Tracy Jones, Rn

Knock-Knock

Patricia A. Delorenze, Lpn

School Nursing In A Rural Community

Anne E. Allen, Bsn, Rn, Ocn

Baseline Data

Waiting To Be Bored

Kathleen M. Halkins, Bsn, Rn

3,659 And Counting

Carol Ann Scalgione, Rn

No Monotony Here

Jeanmarie Ringwood, Ma, Rn, Csn

From 7:00 A.m. To 3:30 P.m.

Laurie Feldkamp, Bsn, Rn

Back And Forth Between Schools

Sherri Verdun, Bs, Rn, Csn

Big Luxuries In A Little Town

Candi Thomas, Bsn, Rn

A Day In The Life Of A School Nurse

Phyllis Gentry, Rn

The Hardest Job I Have Ever Loved

Amy Jayne Barnes, Ma, Bsn, Rn

School Nursing Versus Fear Of Working Nights

Renie Sullivan, Med, Bsn, Rn

Do Vegetarians Eat Animal Crackers?

Lori E. Robson, Bsn, Rn, Csn

Critical Care

It Mattered To This One

Shirley Rodriguez, Bsn, Rn, Csnp

Here’s The Deal

Kayla Mohling, Bsn, Rn

Triage

You Did What?

Tamara Dorsett, Bsn, Rn

More Than Twenty Cents Per Student

Donna C. Maginness, Bsn, Rn

Everything Hurts

Laura D. Fell, Bsn, Rn

Between Filling Out Reports

Ruthann Hatt, Bsn, Rn

One Child At A Time

Sunny Kirkham, Rn

Tell Me … I Can Take It!

Shirley Rodriguez, Bsn, Rn, Csnp

Counseling

Special Passes

Wanda Bouvier, Rnc

Super Solution

Patricia Marsh-Thorell, Bsn, Rn

The Stomachache

Gloria Jean Reynolds, Bsn, Rn, Csn

Everything Isn’t Always What I Hear

Patti J. Twaddle, Rn

The Little Boy And His Shoes

Gloria Jean Reynolds, Bsn, Rn, Csn

Yes, The Nurse Is Here … You’re Looking At Him

Robert D. Naugle, And, Bfa

A Mighty Purpose

Laurie Rufolo, Msn, Rn

The Proper Care And Feeding Of A School Nurse

Patricia H. Allocca, Lcsw, Rn, Csn

Evaluation

A Plum Of A Job

Nina R. Fekaris, Ms, Bsn, Rn, Ncsn

Every Student Deserves A School Nurse

Verna Thompson, Bsn, Rn

Outside The Gym Closet

Dorothy Patrock, Ms, Rn, Sane-A

Grateful To Serve

Carol Ray, Lpn

The Acorn And The Tree

Eunice Arendt, Rn

Swine Flu

Beth H. Wipf, Bsn, Rn

Multitasking

Perfecting The Art Of Multitasking

Julie Parker, Rn

Just In Time

Melanie Sharpton, Rn

Phone Calls To E-Mail

Janne M. Demarco, Ms, Bs, Rn, Lpn, Csn

Who Am I And What Hat Should I Wear Today?

Marcia Howard, Bsn, Rn, Phn

Intervention

Substitute Mom

Marilyn L. Hebert, Bs, Rn

School Nurses Are Public Health Allies

Wendy Doremus, Ms, Rn, Np-Bc

Ponytail Lesson

Phyllis E. Kobayashi, School Health Aide

Together We Can Make A Difference To A Child

Rosamarie Cruz, Med, Bsn, Rn, Csn

From Head Lice To Budget Cuts

Mary A. O’neill, Ma, Rn, Csn

It’s The Little Things That Count

Sharon L. King, Rn, Ncsn

First Year

Domichellei Walker, Rn

Lessons Learned

Robin Halemeyer, Bsn, Rn, Csn

A Piece Of My Heart

Vici Mcclure, Bsn, Rn

The Eighth-Grade Graduation

Robin Halemeyer, Bsn, Rn, Csn

The Blue Denim Hat

Jean Anne Kamrath, Msfl, Bsn, Rn

Contributors

For my husband, five children,

and seven grandchildren, with love

Foreword

In this compilation of letters from school nurses, Dolores H. McNany, EdD, MA, RN, NJSCSN, gathered, after nearly three years of persistent pursuit of school nurses throughout the nation, insights from the experts. This book is a snapshot of the character that makes a school nurse so unique to her geographic location but so similar to the caregivers of schoolchildren throughout our country.

You will discover the heart, body, and soul of dedicated, committed nurses upholding the standards and best practices of school nursing in every school nurse’s office. Whether a school nurse works with a school population of one school with two hundred fifty students or four schools with eight thousand students and takes her office in a bag with one toe on the gas, a practice one nurse in Michigan describes as drive-by school nursing, she will provide the same high quality of nursing care to each child.

Regardless of a state’s nurse-to-student ratio practices, these school nurses provide the gold standard of care to students and will continue to do so until there is a nurse in every building because they believe, as McNany does, that Every child deserves access to a school nurse.

As state-mandated and federally mandated programs continue to extract high costs to educate our students, McNany demonstrates that school nurses carry out their professional practice and regard it as the toughest job they have ever loved. These letters provide the common threads of:

Love ~ one nurse giving money to a child so that she could buy a flower for her mother on Mother’s Day,

Humor ~ one child not wanting to eat animal crackers to settle his stomach because he was a vegetarian, and

Trauma ~ school nurses calming students during a lockdown for a shooter in the school.

This is a different kind of book. The editor’s need to have school nurses be heard has driven her to collect the stories to answer the question What do school nurses do? and to answer that question in their own words. We extend our gratitude to Dr. McNany for her efforts to obtain these stories detailing the experiences of school nurses and to educate the public regarding the critical position of the school nurse.

Judith A. Woop, MEd, RN, NJSCSN

School Nurse Certification Program Coordinator

Department of Education, Caldwell College, New Jersey

Past President New Jersey State School Nurses Association

Preface

My mother said, ‘Go see the nurse.’

Throughout my twenty-year career as a school nurse, how often did I hear these words from a child at my office door? The child stood in the doorway with a dirty bandaged finger or a cough, maybe holding back tears or experiencing unfamiliar pain. Many parents who are unable to afford adequate health insurance, or cannot stay at home from work, send their children to school and trust that the school nurse will see to it that their children will get the care they need. Parents expected me, as the school nurse, to administer medical treatment and clinical procedures to their children.

The perception the general public has of the twenty-first-century school nurse is antiquated. The general public knows little about the rich educational, clinical, social, and psychological experience and skills that school nurses possess. With the advancement of medical technology and the inclusion of medically fragile children, school nurses are the professionals who are best prepared to meet the necessary medical and clinical needs of students. Applying Band-Aids to scraped knees, checking for fevers, or taking out splinters are a minuscule part of today’s school nursing procedures. Most cases are handled by the school nurse on the spot, with first aid or tender loving care.

For all school nurses, there are those times and incidents that, for different reasons, leave them with deep impressions that they will never forget. As a school nurse, I too experienced, along with parents, both the happy and sad times in a child’s life. School nurses are now the frontline primary health care provider for today’s students and school personnel. The caseload and complex responsibilities for school nurses have changed from what was at one time considered a minor health care office into a full-fledged health clinic.

By sharing my experiences and knowledge with the general public, my goal is to introduce and provide a behind-the-scenes view of how all school nurses meet the daily demands by drawing upon their knowledge, leadership skills, and clinical expertise. People will come to understand and recognize the dedication school nurses have for all children. Underlying and woven within each story is the often unrecognized yet endless energy school nurses possess as they care for our schoolchildren while juggling a myriad of tasks set forth by school districts and state and federal laws. The role of the school nurse is complex, and it is exactly these complexities that need to be revealed to the public sector in order to gain their confidence and understanding regarding the importance of the role that school nurses play in the lives of their children.

School nursing is a specialized branch of professional nursing within the field of nursing. School nurses come from diverse backgrounds, training, education, and experiences. They draw upon their medical knowledge and clinical expertise to recognize and respond to mental, emotional, and physical needs of children at all levels of wellness or illness. Holistic care of the child from head to toe is the utmost important part of their daily life.

In the medical office each day, often unnoticed in the bustle of a school day, the school nurse demonstrates strong, loving, and compassionate care for the children. School nurses have the highest privilege and honor and the greatest responsibility: that of teaching and molding young healthy hearts and minds, healthy bodies, and healthy lifestyles. Each day, school nurses across America make a difference in children’s lives and help prepare them to become healthy, responsible, and productive members of society. The most rewarding endeavor for a school nurse is to see each and every child reach their full potential, mentally and physically. School nurses deserve recognition and should be applauded for their devotion to children, yet sadly, the school nurse is seldom in the limelight.

My intent for this book of collective stories is to enlighten and stimulate the reader’s mind to appreciate the devotion of school nurses, as told through their personal stories. Unfortunately, many school nurses in this country are responsible for more than two thousand to three thousand students in attendance at two to five schools (or more), regardless of the health of the student population. Regardless of the total number of students, each child will receive the same devotion to the best of the school nurse’s abilities.

The health of the school population served by school nurses today includes, but is not limited to, services performed, such as: counseling, social work, serving as a resource person, monitoring health records, and providing medical assessments through individualized health care management plans. Physical ailments presented by students, to name only a few, include: seizures, obesity, bipolar disorder, depression, pregnancy, ADHD, life-threatening allergies, catheterizations, and screening programs, with written referrals for follow-up notification on all medical and physical ailments. Moreover, the responsibility of training unlicensed personnel to assist the school nurse and health concerns of the school employees, administrators, and even parents have been incorporated into the school nurses’ increased responsibilities. In addition, concerns regarding school laws, state and federal mandates, plans as first responders in school shootings and terrorist attacks, the Nurse Practice Act, and legal issues in school health services definitely demonstrate that the plate is full for all school nurses across the country. The successful delivery of school health services depends upon the ability of the school nurse to reach out to parents in the community and convince them that she or he is an advocate for their children.

School nurses are an integral part of the school system, with a direct bearing upon the wellness and educational outcome of the student. If a child is not feeling well, he or she cannot mentally or physically concentrate on learning in the classroom. Parents whose children come under the care of school nurses find it difficult to understand the limitations and standards set by districts and state and federal laws that school nurses are required to uphold. Additionally, the book will help parents and others to understand how difficult it is for the school nurse to accomplish all that is required of her. Misconceptions by school personnel and school administrators regarding the role of the school nurse in an educational setting leave the school nurse with a feeling of isolation.

To add to the dilemma, school nursing positions are being threatened by budgetary crises facing school districts all across the United States. The position of the school nurse should not be subject to budget reduction. Many states lack mandated laws regarding the hiring of school nurses. Instead, they rely on recommended guidelines proposed by the federal government. Parents are often understandably confused by limitations and standards set by state and federal law. If school nurses are to be successful in providing high-quality health services to the children in their school systems and under their care, parental support is vital. School nursing associations, school nurse leaders at state, county, and local levels, and school nurses themselves must be ever vigilant in taking a proactive approach with legislators at all levels of government. Our most precious commodity, the youth of this nation, will be the ones most affected by the decision to cut back on school nurse positions. Additionally, it is my goal that this information enlighten parents, teachers, principals, school administrators, and state legislators to recognize the invaluable services that school nurses provide in enabling every child to fulfill his or her potential.

Regardless of the state or its location in our nation, I found through personal contact and telephone conversations with countless school nurses that they are universally dedicated to caring for the mental and physical well-being of the children in their care. School nurses are dedicated to helping children realize their full potential: intellectually, emotionally, and physically.

School nurses have many wonderful stories to tell, stories that can help others better understand and appreciate their vital role in our schools and communities. Perhaps these stories from school nurses across America, in their very spirited and personal anecdotes, will enlighten everyone about the reservoirs of health care available to our school children.

I believe other school nurses will thoroughly enjoy reading their fellow school nurses’ stories and recognize themselves and their own commitment to serving children each day with devotion. I firmly believe that parents after reading the book will have a better understanding of the role of