After more than a decade as a school nurse, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some truly incredible teachers across multiple buildings. Those experiences, along with the many conversations that came with them, have shown me something important. We all care deeply about students, and we can benefit students best when we work together.

Over the years, I’ve also connected with school nurses and educators beyond my own buildings through professional groups and shared spaces. Time and time again, I’ve seen the same themes come up. There can be confusion, miscommunication, and at times a disconnect between the classroom and the nurse’s office, even though everyone is doing their best with the information they have.

Both roles bring valuable insight to the table, and when we understand each other better, we’re able to support students in a more meaningful and effective way.

I created The Joyful School Nurse to help bridge that gap. To open up communication, bring clarity to the role of the school nurse, and support teachers in feeling confident when it comes to student health concerns.

Because when we’re on the same page, everything works better for us and, most importantly, for our students.

“Joyful” doesn’t mean that every day is easy or that challenges don’t exist. In fact, it comes from experiencing the opposite.

Like many in both healthcare and education, I found myself in a season where the weight of the work became overwhelming, especially during the pandemic. I experienced what many would call compassion fatigue, and for a time, I stepped away from school nursing to rest and reset.

That space gave me the opportunity to reflect on what I needed, not just to return to the role, but to return in a healthier and more sustainable way.

When I came back, I made a commitment to protect my joy. Not by ignoring the hard parts, but by approaching them differently. By setting boundaries, focusing on what I can control, and choosing to find meaning in the everyday moments that remind me why this work matters.

It also means being a light for others who may be walking through a difficult season, and reminding them that it is possible to find joy in this work again.

If I had to choose just one thing, it would be this. There is often more happening in the nurse’s office than meets the eye.

School nurses are typically the only healthcare professional in the building, and while we may work in a school setting, we bring a medical lens to everything we do. We are constantly assessing, observing, and making clinical decisions, even in moments that may seem simple on the surface.

At the same time, we’re navigating limited resources, managing a wide range of student needs, and balancing both immediate concerns and ongoing care behind the scenes.

Because of that, there may be times when our decisions or responses don’t fully make sense from the outside. Not because we don’t value your perspective, but because we are looking at the situation, and often multiple situations, through a different lens.

When we trust each other’s expertise and communicate openly, it creates a stronger support system for everyone, especially our students.

You’re always welcome to reach out with general questions about student health, common concerns, or situations you’re seeing in the classroom. Supporting teachers in feeling more confident with student health is a big part of why I created The Joyful School Nurse.

That said, I’m not able to provide medical advice or address specific individual student situations. Every child is unique, and those concerns are best handled by your school nurse or a healthcare provider who can assess them directly.

Student privacy is also very important, and I am committed to respecting those boundaries at all times.

If you have access to a school nurse in your building, one of the most valuable things you can do is build a relationship with them.

Take time to get to know your school nurse, just like you would any other member of your team. Open communication makes a big difference. Sharing what you are seeing in your classroom, asking questions, and looping them in on student health and social-emotional concerns helps create a more coordinated approach to care.

School nurses can be a resource for understanding common health concerns, recognizing when something may need further attention, and helping you feel more confident in your day-to-day decisions. Even small conversations can lead to better support strategies for your students.

I also recognize that not every school has a full-time nurse, and that can make things more challenging. In those situations, having access to clear, reliable information becomes even more important.

At the end of the day, school nurses and teachers are on the same team. While our roles may look different, we are both working toward the same goal of keeping students healthy, in the classroom, and ready to learn. When we communicate and support each other, it creates a stronger, more connected environment for everyone.