The Journal of School Nursing
2022, Vol. 38(4) 325
© The Author(s) 2022
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DOI: 10.1177/10598405221099145
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School nurses are often critical of their school systems and school stakeholders for not celebrating them more, for not recognizing what they bring to the table, and for sometimes forgetting them. Yet, many opportunities to honor and elevate the visibility of their fellow school nurses are squandered.
Many of the recognitions for school nurses across the country pass by without nominations. Each of the state affiliates are asked to honor excellence in nursing by submitting nominees for a state School Nurse of the Year and a state School Nurse Administrator of the Year, and many years of those awards in numerous states have no nominees (NASN, 2022a). The National Association of School Nurses annually offers significant national distinctions for an outstanding school nurse administrator, educator, private and parochial school nurse and special-needs school nurse (NASN, 2022c). Yet many years the honors are not awarded due to lack of candidates. The National Academy of School Nurses inducts Fellows. The Fellow designation is the most prestigious tribute in school nursing signifying superior achievements and enduring contributions to the profession and association. However, in its 25-year history, 16 states have never had an exemplary school nurse so honored, and another 14 states have only ever had one school nurse inducted as a Fellow (NASN, 2022b).
School nurses are also eligible for community awards given by school districts and health care systems. The American Academy of Nursing, the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, the American School Health Association, the American Public Health Association honor nurses from across the spectrum of specialties for awards annually. School nurses deserve to be made visible, nominated, and honored in broader health, education, and nursing arenas.
School nurses have served school children, families and their school communities with competence, generosity, and respect for 120 years. In the last two years, school nurses performed double duty. They have operated in their typical school nurse roles as well as filling the gap in public health services to keep children, staff, and their entire communities safe and healthy. Many are demoralized, burnt out, and grieving lost family and neighbors (Bergren, 2021). Recognition communicates that we value our peers and their work (Eddy et al., 2021). Recognition combats burnout, compassion fatigue, improves performance and engagement, and motivates others around them (Eddy et al., 2021; Kelly et al., 2015). Distinguishing the contributions of school nurses this year is more important than ever.
The National Association of School Nurses devotes countless hours to promoting the role of the school nurse as key to child health and education to the media, national health and education associations, partners, stakeholders, and federal legislators (Bergren, 2011). When we recognize those who are the best in our specialty, we signal to their local, state, and national groups that awardees represent school nursing and should be invited to the table. Awards and honors open doors for our champions and elevate the entire specialty.
Nominating our peers for awards communicates to them, better than they know it themselves, that they do great things. And when we express our confidence and admiration for rising stars, when we demonstrate our belief that they are talented and going somewhere, it makes them even better. Let us look for ways to celebrate the best among us. Let us resolve that no award passes by without nominees this year or any year. It is good for school nurses and school nursing. The onus is on us to assure that the spotlight shines on school nurses.
Martha Dewey Bergren, PhD, RN, NCSN, PHNA-BC,
FNASN, FASHA, FAAN
Executive EditorEmail: mbergren@nasn.org
Bergren, M. D. (2011). Promote thyself! NASN School Nurse, 26(5), 322. https://doi.org/10.1177/1942602X11416124
Bergren, M. D. (2021). School nurses’ moral distress amid COVID-19. The Journal of School Nursing, 37(6), 419–420. https://doi.org/10.1177/10598405211056570
Eddy, J. R., Kovick, L., & Caboral-Stevens, M. (2021). Meaningful recognition: A synergy between the individual and the organization. Nursing Management, 52(1), 14–21. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000724888.63400.f2
Kelly, L., Runge, J., & Spencer, C. (2015). Predictors of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction in acute care nurses. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 47(6), 522–528. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12162
National Association of School Nurses. (2022a). Excellence in school nursing. https://www.nasn.org/membership/benefits/awardsscholarships/excellence-in-school-nursing.
National Association of School Nurses. (2022b). Fellows of NASN. https://www.nasn.org/about-nasn/fellows.
National Association of School Nurses. (2022c). Special interest group awards. https://www.nasn.org/membership/benefits/awardsscholarships/special-interest-group-awards.
