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North Central Educational Service District (NCESD) Celebrates Regional School Nurses for National School Nurse Day

On Wednesday, May 10, 2023, please take a few minutes to say “thank you” to a school nurse! National School Nurse Day, an annual celebration, recognizes the unique specialty of school nursing and the critical role that the school nurse plays in addressing student health and safety needs. Recognition of the school nurse specialty promotes a deeper examination and appreciation of the school nurse role.

The School Nurse Role in the Education Setting

School nurses provide student care coordination and case management support, and advocate for evidence-based, student-centered care. They serve as the critical link between the school, home, primary healthcare providers, and community and mental health services. Their contributions support student attendance, learning engagement, graduation rates, and ultimately, development of successful community members.

School districts are required by law to provide health services and make accommodations for students with chronic or life-threatening health conditions and these requirements are overseen by the school nurse. For some students, the nurse serves as their primary connection to a licensed health professional. School nurse responsibilities include assessing student health and safety needs, developing appropriate student care plans, training school staff involved in health services and student care, compiling mandatory health data, coordinating student health screenings, and addressing communicable diseases.

School Nurse Day Resources

Since 1972, National School Nurse Day has been set aside to recognize school nurses. National School Nurse Day was established to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week is May 6-12 each year.

This year, the National Association of School Nurses has put together a variety of resources for districts to celebrate and thank their school nurses. Click here to go to their resources webpage.

About North Central Educational Service District

The North Central Educational Service District (NCESD) provides a wide array of programs, services and support to the 29 public school districts in the North Central Washington region of Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties. NCESD provides professional and timely tools to meet the needs of individual schools and districts, and a reliable point of education-related information for the communities served. NCESD is one of nine respected educational service districts in Washington State.

About NCESD School Nurse Corps

School Nurse Corps (SNC) is a collaborative program of Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Educational Service Districts (ESDs) represented within the Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD). The program fills a critical gap in access to equitable registered nursing services for students in small, rural districts. SNC strives to ensure student health and safety and to support attendance and learning by expanding public school districts’ nursing service capacity. The program’s regional infrastructure allows for flexibility and coordination in response to regional health needs and trends. NCESD SNC team members include Sheila Salmon, Administrative Assistant, Meli Barajas, COVID Coordinator, and Cathy Meuret, Director.