As school nurses, we are the sentinels of student health, on the frontlines of care, advocacy, and equity. We are not only caregivers but also witnesses to the daily realities that shape our communities and, ultimately, our nation’s future. From chronic absenteeism to unmet mental health needs, from hunger and housing instability to the trauma that walks through our doors in the bodies and behaviors of the children we serve, school nurses see it all. And we don’t just see it, we carry it.

That’s why the recent OpEd by nurses Donna Gaffney and Teri Mills (I call them the OpEd Nurses) resonates so deeply. Once again, they’ve raised their voices to spotlight the urgent questions facing not only our profession but our democracy itself. Their message is bold and unflinching: Are we, as Americans, truly aware of what we have signed up for in this moment? The dismantling of public health infrastructure, the erosion of trust in science, and the relentless politicization of healthcare are not abstract issues; they are felt every single day in school nurse offices across this country.

Gaffney and Mills are sounding the alarm. Their OpEd is a clarion call to reflect, engage, and act. We cannot afford to be silent. Nurses, educators, and community members must demand better, because the stakes are not only high, they are existential. If we lose sight of the well-being of our children, we lose the soul of our nation.

This is our lane. This is our fight. And this is our time to be relentless.

👉 Read the full OpEd here