The Relentless School Nurse: State Houses Across the Country Can Follow Maine’s Lead by Honoring School Nurses

We need more nurses across the country to become legislators. Nurses, no matter where their careers lead, view the world through a unique lens that centers health and well-being. This skill set translates into many settings, especially for lawmakers, tasked with protecting the public good.  One outstanding example is Maine State Representative Michele Meyer, from House District 2. Representative Meyer recently invited 3 Maine school nurse leaders to the statehouse to be presented with a joint resolution in advance of School Nurses’ Day which will be celebrated on May 11, 2022. 

Here is what Representative Meyer’s said about the event that brought these school nurse leaders to the Augusta Statehouse on April 14, 2022:

Today in the Maine House of Representatives, I presented a Joint Resolution recognizing May 11 as National School Nurses Day.

Shouldering enormous COVID-related responsibilities on top of their regular demanding roles, the pandemic shines a spotlight on the important work of school nurses as the public health experts in their school communities.

 

I was so pleased to welcome as guests of the Legislature today, 3 of MSAD35’s School Nurses:

 

Judy Doran RN (District Nurse Coordinator)

Kasey Callahan RN (Eliot Elementary School) &

Tara Walsh RN ( Marshwood Middle School).

 

Thank your school nurse, standing at the intersection of health & education, weaving supports needed to reduce barriers to learning & promoting healthy kids, families, & communities.

Mr. Speaker, esteemed House colleagues, by age 5, most children are spending more time in school than in any other activity. 

This makes the school nurse a primary resource in recognizing and managing children´s health issues.  School nurses stand at the intersection of health and education, weaving supports needed to reduce barriers to learning and promoting healthy children, families, and communities

The school nurse is the building’s health ambassador, on the frontline for day-to-day oversight and management of the school population’s health. Optimal learning requires good emotional and physical health. 

Shouldering enormous COVID-related responsibilities on top of their regular demanding  roles, the pandemic shines a spotlight on the important work of school nurses as the public health experts in their school communities.

Mr Speaker, in preparing these remarks I reached out to a number of my youngest constituents and asked “What can you tell me about your school nurse?”  From middle and  high school students I heard about trust and compassion, about their nurse as a resource, and an  ally. And from a first grader at Eliot Elementary, “She loves me even when I am sick and scared.”.

Join me in thanking your school nurses on May 11 and every day.