Nurse Holly is educating herself and her students as she grows her display featuring Black healthcare leaders during Black History Month. She shares her story of how the project has expanded in this edition of “School Nursing Stories from the Field.” You might know Nurse Holly from the School Nursing Facebook page!
If you want to add your story to our growing collection, please email me at: relentlessschoolnurse@gmail.com
13 Leaders in Nursing & Medicine to Honor This Black History Month
One of the inspirations that came from sharing on social media is being able to see what other professionals do and then tweak it to make it work for my environment. Anyone that knows me, knows I am all about not reinventing the wheel and sharing best practices. Several years back a contributor to the Facebook School Nursing group had shared a bulletin board for Black History Month. I sat on it for a year and last year proudly copied it and placed the Leadership board outside my School Nursing office. After great feedback I decided to do it again, and after the Relentless School Nurse taught me about Ms. Collins I changed the 2 to a 3 and now 13 Leaders sit outside my door.
As a school nurse in an elementary school, I believe it is important to showcase influential Black leaders in nursing and medicine to our students. Knowing the achievements and successes of diverse professionals in these fields can help to inspire and motivate our students to reach for the stars and pursue their dreams.
The value of showcasing influential leaders in nursing and medicine in the elementary school hallway can be seen in a few different ways. First, it allows students to see that nursing and medicine are not “fairytale” professions. They can see the long history of excellence that comes with these fields and learn about the hard work and dedication it takes to reach the top ranks in these professions.
Second, it allows our students to see different pathways available to them. Nursing and medicine are two fields with many different specializations and roles that a person can fill. By expressing these specializations in the hallways, we can help to highlight the various possibilities available to our students and inspire them to consider different opportunities.
Finally, showcasing influential leaders in nursing and medicine in the elementary school hallway can serve to increase our students’ sense of pride and belonging. Knowing that their school is celebrating the accomplishments of such professionals can help to instill a greater sense of self-worth and connection to their school community.
Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Showcasing influential leaders in nursing and medicine in the elementary school hallway is an important initiative that informs our students. It may inspire them to reach beyond the stars and consider different pathways, while also increasing their sense of connection to their school community. – Holly Giovi
What a great project and wonderful service to your kids and communities! “You can’t be what you can’t see” says it!! Great going! I’m really enjoying these stories from the field, thanks Robin!
Wonderful, always ready for more from you, my friend!
love this !!!!
We should start a school nursing organization that speaks directly to the equity piece in our schools !
I have to say that NASN is making important strides in centering equity. Here is an important podcast that describes an innovative program from DE: https://sagenursing.libsyn.com/webpage/nasn-january-2023-moving-upstream-to-address-health-inequity-a-middle-school-program-to-introduce-students-to-a-career-in-nursing