The nurse’s office: a safe environment for students
Mrs. Sandra Brady at Knapp Elementary sits down to talk about what it truly means to be a school nurse today.
TOWAMENCIN- The school nurse: the one who takes care of you when you are feeling sick to the stomach, have a headache, or feel any other type of illness. However, that role has changed over the past few years. Because of the increasing amount of mental health issues, students seem to have found peace in the nurse’s office for issues related to mental health.
The nurse’s office is an escape for some people. Whether it is to calm their anxiety or get away from the negative vibes of their world, students seem to have an easier time adjusting themselves in the health suite. School nurses can not only take care of physical illness, but also manage the anxieties and darkness of mental illness.
Mrs. Sandra Brady, certified nurse at Knapp Elementary, has had much experience with North Penn students. She has seen a variety of students, from children to teenagers. Brady, along with the other nurses, has made the office a safe haven for them, no matter what their situation is. Brady emphasizes the safe environment they have created.
“I believe that school nurses play a very important role in the lives of the students,” Brady stated. “It is important to feel cared for and safe in the nurse’s office. This environment should be a place that is warm and welcoming.”
As a school nurse, it is important to be attentive to each and every person. Opening your ears and truly listening to take care of the student is a key factor of being a nurse. Brady feels that it is vital for the students to feel heard because it makes them feel valued as a person and gives them a space to be open.
“I like to take my time with the students while giving them my full attention by providing them support and really listening to what they have to say. I have recognized that creating a safe and supportive environment helps build trusting relationships with the students,” Brady expressed.
Outside the nurse’s office, students may not know how to express their feelings and thoughts. However, the health suite can become a space for people to truly open up. Brady emphasizes the fact that students are able to communicate their problems and feel heard in their space.
Brady said, “We recognize that students typically feel comfortable in the office. They tend to open up and, for the most part, are willing to share information. I believe that over time, it becomes a place where they feel supported, respected, and safe.”
With several students to take care of everyday, Brady has seen a variety of people. She feels that it is critical for students to feel secure coming into the suite in order to keep them well and fully attentive in school.
“Health and learning are connected, and it feels good knowing that the care and support we provide will give students the opportunity to stay in school and fully participate in the learning process,” Brady disclosed.
Lynn Averett • Mar 5, 2019 at 11:02 am
Thank you for this article. I am a school nurse and also believe my office is a safe place for students. Today’s children are growing up in a world very different than I did in the 70’s and 80’s. It takes a village to direct young people through life. Children and young adults spend a huge amount of their time within the walls of school and every person within is vital in the development and nurturing of their lives. I am proud of the role I have here at Southwest Elementary (grades K-2) . I want to ensure the safety of our students and make them feel important and loved.
Brenda Shumate • Mar 5, 2019 at 10:37 am
While I agree that the clinic is a safe place for students to confide in someone and be heard, I also know how chaotic it is in the clinic most days. We see about 120 student’s daily which, when you factor in charting, phone calls, emails, parent visits, emergency calls, staff medical needs, meetings, etc., limits the amount of time we can spend with each student. We have a great staff of counselors we rely on heavily when we see a student with a mental health issue and we are able to extend our services and collaborate with them in the care of our students. While it doesn’t all happen in the clinic, the student does receive the quality care they need and we are able to utilize skilled people within the school system as well as resources in our community to provide continuity of care. I feel good knowing that our students don’t slip through the cracks once we are made aware of a mental health problem.