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Sue McCarroll School Nurse Administrator of the Year Cincinnati, Ohio June 28, 2003 Twenty-three years ago I was lucky enough to discover a profession that is the purest blend of the art and the science of nursing - school nursing. That decision, and the decision to marry my husband, Les, were the best decisions of my life. Health promotion has
always been my passion. Perhaps it is because I had the opportunity to
see health care from the patient's perspective while I was still discovering
myself as a nursing student when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease
during my junior year. I gained first hand experience with surgery, then
radiation, and then more surgery, then chemotherapy. I incurred the worries
that come with poor insurance coverage. I learned the pain of being sick
in a world of healthy peers. I learned first hand what it takes to heal
physically, emotionally and spiritually. I thought I could utilize the
knowledge and wisdom I gained from these experiences as a school nurse,
and I was right. Who among us has helped care for a student this year
with a chronic illness, living in a world of healthy peers? Raise your
hands. These are the nurses who know what I mean. Leaving direct care school
nursing five years ago for administrative work - the business side of
school nursing - was a difficult decision for me. I missed the kids and
wondered if this work would be as meaningful to me. But I guess being
up here tonight demonstrates that I figured it out - and it is. I utilize
the data collected by school nurses to articulate the role of the school
nurse and how we improve student achievement. We school nurse administrators
get to create an environment that encourages the school nurse to use their
deep soul of caring and competent nursing skills to get the job done.
I am so deeply, deeply honored to be here with all of you tonight. This is because life isn't all about accomplishments. It's about relationships. Nod your head if you already knew that. And school nursing is not about accomplishments - it is about relationships. We are in a business where the predominant common denominator of all is people helping people. This makes our relationships unique - because it is not what we do, but who we are. You can be as goal oriented as you want, and if you accomplish your goals, it usually does not mean that you are going to get more money. Instead, you gain an opportunity to develop new relationships. Neat, huh! My goals have given me such opportunities at the local, state and national level. First, the local level. Several school nurses who are the best of the best, Aurora Public School nurses, the "A" team, are here tonight. They are amazing - I wish you could see them at work. They are the best, and our district knows and recognizes their expertise. My school nurse administration mentors are also here tonight. Fran (Wehrer) is the one who taught me that a program is only as strong as the skills and compassion of each individual nurse, and believed in my leadership skills long before I did. Her predecessor, Bev (Ford), flew in last night and surprised me. I have been mentored by the best, and in Aurora Public Schools, if you are a school nurse, it is for life. Our culture is to remain connected, and we plan events to do so. I have had the opportunity to create relationships at the state level. The person who first encouraged me to be involved in our State organization is here. Sharon (Ruske) called me to run for state office, and made me do it. She may seem really nice, but she is persistent! After I was elected, she then taught me how to hum and dance the paperwork shuffle when stuffing packets for our conference, creating fun from tedium. I have now been on the committee for eleven years. Other Colorado nurses helped me learn that legislative work and testifying really isn't all that scary, because school nurses know their stuff. I have had the opportunity to create relationships and have my ideas both challenged and supported at the national level. Many of those exceptional professionals are here tonight, and I treasure our relationships. We didn't always have the same perspective - thank goodness - and my vision of school nursing expanded, as it should. Stagnation is dangerous and unproductive. Remember what long hours, evenings and weekends we spent, volunteering our time to serve NASN and its members? We accomplished a lot, but what I treasure most is our relationships. And the caring did not end when our Board terms ended. Thus, when my nursing friends and colleagues from Missouri and Vermont and Texas experienced the loss of their husbands, their board friend in Colorado also wept. Because it is all about relationships. And I am proud to publicly recognize my family - the greatest relationships of all. They support me, and I support the, and it is unconditional and it is for life. Judy, Mike, John, Les, I thank you and I love you. I would like to end with
a little survey. As you know, today's school nurse practice must be research
based and data driven. Thus, I have a hypothesis I need to validate and
I'm hoping to have full participation from this audience. Here is my hypothesis:
I think I'm pretty good at recognizing a competent, caring, successful
school nurse. I think I see a lot of those in this group, but I want my
opinion to be based on data. I'm asking you to participate by verbal response.
I'm going to be using the tried and true "That's Me" response
tool. (Explanation of That's Me and several options for response from
reserved to animated). Any of these responses will be considered as "exceeds
standard" on your evaluations. Excellent! Now, let's
get started with our "That's Me" official verbal survey. I knew it! I am standing
in the midst of competent, caring, skilled school nurses. I have the data
now. I think we are ready to publish! I feel the warmth that only friends
create. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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