Prabina Dahal, RN, MN ’20, DNP ’24 shares her experiences as a school nurse.
What’s one thing you want the world to know about school nurses? It is difficult to point out one thing that a school nurse does but I will be as succinct as possible. School nurses are the spine of any public school. They bridge the gap between health and education. When school nurses are available, educators and staff feel secure in continuing their work at school.
What’s your favorite thing about being a school nurse? I make connections with parents, students, staff, and other administrators on various health and equity-related issues and that is one of the roles I appreciate best.
Why did you become a school nurse? When my kids were home due to COVID-19, I noticed they were losing the sense of having a school, friends, and many other activities. It was impacting their behavior at home. I felt the urge to work in the school community so that I could provide evidence-based information to the staff, who then were hesitant to open the school. Today, I agree that choosing to be a school nurse was the best decision I made in my career.