Chicago Area School Nurse Helps Students Be Ready To Achieve
Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than average for all occupations according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Maryellen Wessendorf is a certified school nurse and has thirty-eight years of nursing experience. Wessendorf worked 20 years as a hospital and occupational R.N. before becoming a C.S.N.. Her past, varied work experiences have given her the confidence to be a school nurse. Wessendorf has found her 18 years working in the school system to be awesome, knowing she is assisting students to be healthy, happy and helping them to have the ability to achieve. She shares her joys of the nursing field and what it takes to be an excellent school nurse.
What are the responsibilities of your current role?
"School nursing is a very rewarding profession; working with students is a definite perk of my job. My responsibilities entail working at one middle school and three elementary schools, and approximately 2,500 students. The main scope of my role is being a member of the instructional support team at each school. I collaborate with other special educators, to help identify ways we can accommodate and meet the educational needs of students. It is my responsibility to research the health concerns information and to determine if there is a health component impacting the student's learning ability. For example, one quick piece of the puzzle is vision and hearing screening, proving that academic struggles are not being caused by low hearing or low vision. Along with the health office R.N., we strive to keep students happy and healthy, and in the classroom ready for learning."
What is your favorite part of your daily duties?
"My favorite work responsibility is related to finding out if there is a medical/behavioral/mental health condition, which may be keeping a student from achieving in the school environment. I enjoy being part of the instructional support team, especially on days when we are able to identify specific educational needs of a student. It is rewarding when the team is able to create a special educational plan to help students become more successful in the school setting."
Do you feel your education prepared you for your current role?
"My 'alphabet soup' is B.S.N., MAEL, R.N., PEL-NCSN, IL vision & hearing technician – it spells 'a lot to be proud of.' Certified school nurses are specialized, highly qualified registered nurses. Post-graduate education is required, followed by a school nurse internship and a competency exam. Certified school nursing is one of few specialties, which require advanced post-graduate education, after being licensed by the state of Illinois as a registered nurse. I went on to get my MAEL (Master of Arts in Educational Leadership). This higher-level degree prepared me to better understand the functioning and laws which govern schools. All of this education makes me feel very confident and competent in my C.S.N. career."
Do you have any advice for people who desire to pursue a similar career?
"Go for it! Consider pursuing a certified school nurse career. The college courses are challenging yet fun because you are working toward an awesome career. There are many schools in the state of Illinois that will hire registered nurses to work in the school health office. You must have your associates degree and your state RN license. You will love the hours and enjoy summers off!"
Michelle Guilbeau is a writer, reviewer, teacher and business owner living in Chicago, Illinois. She also has experience in school administration, literacy coaching and is proud founder of CraftKitsForKids.com and MichelleGuilbeau.com Michelle enjoys sharing her knowledge of Chicago, food, travel, education and parenting issues with her readers. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.