School Nurse Teacher
Member: Rhode Island Certified School Nurse Association | National Association of School Nurses
As a nurse for over 40 years, with 20 years working in schools as a certified school nurse teacher, I’ve supported the health care needs of thousands of patients and students. In schools, I’ve tended to kids with asthma, migraines, allergies, head lice, skinned knees, chronic disease management for conditions such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and autoimmune disorders, and a whole host of emotional and behavioral issues that are part and parcel of a school day. All this is done with a lot of coordination with families, teachers, other clinical providers, and even state agencies. The job of school nurse-teachers is varied every day but each of us has a commitment to meeting all students’ health needs, with an understanding of typical growth and development in children and youth.
Human sexuality is part of normal growth and development, but it is often a sensitive topic. It’s part of RI’s K-12 Health Education curriculum, but many schools only skim the surface of what is needed to be taught. Young people need to be able to get medically accurate sexual and reproductive health information – crucial knowledge that they have a need and right to know to protect themselves from infection and unintended pregnancy. And they should be able to get questions about their bodies and relationships and gender orientation answered accurately and honestly with no judgment.
They also need knowledge of and access to clinical services, which isn’t equal for all students depending on where they live. Many of Rhode Island’s students live in places that don’t have clinics and appropriate health resources nearby. As a school nurse, I don’t do STI or pregnancy testing, which is outside the scope of my job. But I do want to be sure that any student who comes to me in need of such services is able to find where to go and get the support they need. Accurate and truthful information, not what’s often found on social media platforms, is a win for Rhode Island’s youth and a vision for so many of us who work with our youth every day.