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Say “school nurse” to some people and they might envision a kindly woman sitting at a desk in a small office, often with a cot – perhaps putting ice on a twisted ankle or a bandage on a scraped knee. That may have been how things were, but it’s not how they are anymore. At least not in the world of Natalie Gerdes, RN, PHN, M.Ed. In fact, as the school nurse for two elementary schools and the school readiness nurse for two pre-schools in the Newport Mesa Unified School District that quaint image could not be further from what she actually does every day. As part of the School Readiness Program, which is supported by the Children and Families Commission of Orange County (CFCOC), Natalie’s role is much broader and complex. She serves as a vital link between health and education. “What we do is different from the traditional role of the school nurse. My most important responsibility is to help remove obstacles so that by the time the children are in kindergarten, they are physically and emotionally ready to succeed,” Natalie explains. She does that in a number of ways, ranging from educating parents, children, teachers, administrators and staff on a wide range of health-related topics, to conducting screenings and developing custom-tailored health care plans for children with special needs. In the morning she might be in the classroom talking about healthy eating habits, or meeting with parents about issues such as insurance, immunizations or dental health. The afternoon might include teaching about safety or hygiene. It would not be unusual to find Natalie speaking with custodial staff about infection prevention or on the telephone with a doctor arranging for evaluation and treatment for a young child. Wherever help is needed, she is there. That’s Natalie’s job and she credits the CFCOC with making it possible for her to do it. “School nurses and school readiness nurses have a special expertise in supporting children’s health in the educational system. With the monies that the Commission has allocated school readiness nurses can change the health and educational trajectory of not only the child, but the family as well. These educated and empowered families can then share their knowledge with other families. It’s like throwing a rock into a pond. The small ripple the school readiness nurse makes can become the force that changes communities. Without support from the Commission, our School Readiness Program could not exist, and we would be sending many children to school without the proper physical and emotional foundation to reach their potential, “ Natalie points out. Reaching her potential is something Natalie had been thinking about since childhood. She always thought she might want to become a nurse, and at age 16 something happened that made her sure. She was the first person on the scene of a horrific car accident. Because of its rural location, it took emergency medical personnel a long time to arrive. Her decision was made right then and there. From that moment on, Natalie knew that nursing would be her career, and she wasted no time in pursuing it. In fact, while a senior at the Central Valley’s Riverbank High School she started junior college, where she earned an Associate of Arts degree in Nursing, and a few months later was certified by the State of California as a Registered Nurse. That was only the beginning. Over the years, while working full-time, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, a Master of Arts degree in Education, and separate certifications in School Nursing, Intensive Care Nursing and Emergency Nursing. She is more than happy in what she does. “I love my job. This is fun,“ she says. “I have an opportunity to make a difference in a child’s and family’s life. I particularly enjoy working with families in poverty who may lack the resources to know where to start when they have a concern about their child. Parent education, especially about prevention and early interventions, are the keys to getting children off to a healthy start. This allows me to do both.” Natalie’s credentials as a nurse are impeccable, but if you were to ask her to describe what she does, she would say she is an advocate – for children and families, helping them navigate the often confusing and bureaucratic maze of health care. Using her extensive education and experience as a mother of six and grandmother of four, Natalie has a good sense of what a child’s needs are, and goes to bat every day to make sure those needs are met. She considers pre-schoolers to be at an especially critical stage, because “early childhood is where we’re going to make a difference.” She praises the CFCOC for being “right on” in supporting early childhood development programs, especially the Newport Mesa Unified School District’s School Readiness Program. “The impact that has been made by the Commission in helping so many families has been tremendous,” Natalie observes. She hopes the program can serve as a model for other school districts in California and other states. Over more than 35 years in nursing, Natalie Gerdes has applied more than her fair share of ice packs and bandages. Some days she still does, though all of her assigned schools have health assistants to do that most of the time. What she really motivates her is healing of a different sort – taking a child with a problem, figuring out what’s needed, and then seeing the results. Natalie has helped hundreds, probably thousands, of children and families over the years, but one in particular stands out in her mind. “I had a preschool age child who was having intermittent behavior problems in the classroom. The teacher was not able to figure out why. During a health screening, I noticed the child had a hearing problem, and referred him to a specialist. Further testing revealed mild to moderate hearing losses in both ears, and he was provided hearing aids. As part of his educational assessment, he was able to integrate into our Hard of Hearing Program, to assist him in building his language and communication skills, and his behavior improved dramatically. He is doing very well and thriving now, and I get to care for him in his elementary school. His parents, grateful to the School Readiness Program, refer to him as their ‘new son.’ That’s what it’s all about.” |
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