May 8 is National School Nurse Day, and our opportunity to say “thank you” for what our county school nurses do to optimize student health and learning every day of the year!
GCPS’ 13 county school nurses work with local schools, serving as consultants and providing training on health-related issues that affect our students. Our nurses help develop health management plans for students with chronic health conditions such as allergies, asthma, epilepsy, and diabetes. They supervise health services provided in schools and provide training for school clinic workers and other school staff, including teachers, cafeteria staff, and transportation staff.
A nurse’s clinical assessment and support allows schools to meet the health needs of students with chronic and acute health conditions during the school day. School nurses train staff to understand emergency signs and symptoms, and when and how to get help, allowing maximum in-class time for students who require medical interventions. They often serve as part of Student Support Teams, Individualized Accommodations Plan teams, and Individualized Education Plan teams. Nurses oversee school AED (automated external defibrillator) programs, ensure that students are in compliance on immunizations, and work to prevent, contain, and respond to communicable diseases in a school setting.
And our nurses give a shout-out to local school clinic workers, the staff members on the front lines who meet the daily health needs of students with care, concern, and professionalism. In addition, direct-care nurses provide one-to-one care for our most medically fragile students served through GCPS' Special Education Department.
Together with our school clinic workers, these healthcare professionals have a positive impact on attendance and, as a result, on academic achievement. On National School Nurse Day, we celebrate the contributions that school nurses and other support staff are making to the health and learning of our students! #ThankASchoolNurse