School nurses and health secretaries deserve credit

Thanks to Gazette reporter Grace King for writing an informational extended story regarding the position of school nurses within our local school district.

I was employed as a health secretary for 13 years at two separate elementary schools. I have first hand knowledge of job responsibilities in the educational nursing field. My point is that more credit and acknowledgment should be given to health secretaries at every level of education. School nurses have assigned hours at all school levels. ie: Monday, Washington High School, Tuesday Roosevelt Middle, Wednesday, Johnson Elementary, etc. True, school nurses have a lot of 'windshield time” The health secretary at the schools are in the clinic every school day during school hours. These women are first in line to greet and evaluate students.

Health secretaries do not float from one assignment location to another. Teachers who are concerned about their students send the children to the School Health Clinic first. Health secretaries are first to evaluate students, follow protocols, notify parents and notify the school nurse if needed. Most often health Secretaries are first in decisions made in regard to the student's welfare. Please give some credit to where credit is due.

Kathleen Noid

Cedar Rapids