School Nurse Day Celebrated

Submitted by School District of Pickens County

On May 9, the School District of Pickens County observed National School Nurse Day.

The annual observance provides a time to celebrate the nursing profession and the specialty of school nursing. This year’s theme “Advocacy, Access, Achievement: Making the Connection” reflects the overall positive impact school nurses have on the health and well-being of students.

Gov. Nikki Haley proclaimed May 9 as School Nurses Day throughout the state, encouraging all South Carolinians to recognize the role of school health care providers in protecting our children’s physical and emotional well-being.

School nursing is a specialized practice that advances the well-being, academic success and life-long achievement of students. Nurses promote wellness, health, and safety. They provide daily care for students with chronic conditions and other needs that require daily care at school. They intervene with actual and potential health problems.

“Each day school nurses make contributions to improve the health and success of our students,” said Angela Watson, SDPC Coordinator of Nursing. “We know that healthy children learn better. Today’s children, however, face many challenges that create barriers to success. School nurses help remove some of those barriers, keeping children healthy and ready to learn. School nurses provide services that allow teachers to focus on teaching.”

SDPC hired the first two school nurses in 1996. Today, the district employs 26 full-time and 3 part-time nurses. Each school, with the exception of the Pickens County Career & Technology Center, has a nurse on site.