School Nurse Day

On May 6, 2020, we will recognize our school nurses by celebrating National School Nurse Day
to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses have in the educational setting.
The theme this year is School Nurses: Supporting Students in Times of Crisis.

This year has been more challenging for everyone in the world with the COVID-19 global
pandemic. Pickens County School District (PCSD) has a licensed school nurse in every building
and whether they are working in the school clinic or working virtually, they take on a variety of
roles, duties, and responsibilities with the intent to promote academic and lifelong achievement.
For many children, the school nurse may be the only health professional they have access to
regularly. This becomes even more important as the prevalence of chronic social, emotional,
and other health problems keep increasing. Their role is essential for all students — in public
health, in care coordination, in organizing access to resources to help address the social
determinants of health, and in policy development, particularly to support the health and
education of our students during this pandemic.

Thank you, Pickens County School District nurses, for leading health promotion and disease
prevention in our school community. You have helped decrease fears and promote the
prevention of COVID-19, the flu, and other illnesses. You continue to educate and support
students, parents, and school staff virtually. You are volunteering with food distribution,
providing facial coverings, assisting the Department of Public Health with contact tracing, and
modifying end-of-year processes considering the pandemic.

Our elected officials and school leaders have invested in programs and services that improve
the health and well-being outcomes of all children. The school nurses could not do the job they
do without the support and investment of community stakeholders including PCSD Board of
Education members, district and school leaders, and many others. “Thank You” to everyone
who supports school nurses ensuring our children have a successful, productive, and healthy
future.