We observe National School Nurse Day every May during National Nurses Week in order to recognize and appreciate the vital role school nurses play in the safety and well-being of our students. School nurses are health advocates who provide students with the necessary examination, treatment, and follow-up to ensure they are physically and mentally ready to learn.  

In an interview for the Spring ISD news blog, Dr. Felicia Thomas, Spring ISD Director of Nursing and Health Services, explains: “Since the school nurse is the only health care professional on the campus, they play a pivotal role in supporting comprehensive health care access and ongoing health care delivery.”

School nurses are responsible for the well-being of every child in their school, and this can be an enormous task. They provide a multitude of health care services for students, including everything from bandaging cuts and bruises to administering medication and even checking for lice!

National School Nurse Day was designed to raise awareness of the incredible job that school nurses perform in our schools every day and recognize their contributions to our students’ success. This event was first recognized in 1972, and just a couple years later, President Gerald Ford declared it be celebrated annually.

The first official school nurse in the U.S. was Linda Richards, who was hired by a New York City school to help control the spread of infectious diseases. The success of her work would inspire other schools across the city to hire health care professionals, and this movement would eventually sweep the nation. Over the past century, the responsibilities and functions of school nurses have grown and expanded to have them fill the role of child advocate and first responder in emergencies as well.

For this year’s National School Nurse Day, be sure to recognize and show your appreciation for your school nurse!