May 8 is National School Nurse Day, and we're celebrating by highlighting some of our school nurses throughout the day. Lisa Raymond, LSN, works at Longfellow Elementary.
Why did you choose to work in a school setting versus a clinical setting?
My background in nursing was in the operating room, which meant crazy hours. When we moved here, my husband traveled about 75% of the time, we had no family in the area, and we had three young kids. I needed something that worked with our family. I ended up staying because I feel I make a huge difference in some children's lives.
How do you feel you contribute to student success as a school nurse?
School nursing is a specialized practice of nursing grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice. We are the medical professionals who bridge the health care and educational settings by providing care coordination, advocating for quality student-centered care, and collaborating to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potential.
What’s your favorite part of your job as a school nurse?
I like forming relationships with students and their families.
What do you wish people knew about your job as a nurse?
This job has been the most rewarding and challenging of any job I have had. School nursing is way more than medications, bandaids, and ice packs. It's about the whole well-being of every single child in the school.
Thank you to Lisa and all of our school nurses!