Wednesday, May 11 is National School Nurse’s Day. School nurses are the ones who monitor the health of students with vision, hearing and dental checks as well as distributing medication, band-aids, calming words and alerting parents when their student is ill.

Since 1972, when National School Nurse’s Day was created for the purpose of fostering a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting, parents, teachers and the school community have used this opportunity to say “thank you” for the contributions that school nurses make everyday.

The following is a copy of S.C. Governor Nikki Haley’s proclamation:

WHEREAS, our students are better prepared to learn when their bodies are healthy and their minds are clear; and

WHEREAS, in their absence, parents entrust their children daily to the care of school nurses, who tend to their health concerns and needs; and

WHEREAS, school nurses take on a variety of roles every day, including caregiver, counselor, child advocate, and educator, each demonstrating their commitment to our children’s health and fitness; and

WHEREAS, through the delivery of preventative care, health assessments, and on-site referral services, the presence of nurses in our schools encourages a healthier environment while educating our children about health and wellness issues.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Nikki R. Haley, governor of the great state of South Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 11, 2011, as School Nurses Day throughout the state and encourage all South Carolinians to recognize the role of school health care providers in protecting our children’s physical and emotional well-being.

– article submitted by Paula Brooks