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Advancing Excellence in School Nursing Award Recipients

Maureen Callas

Maureen J. Callas, M.Ed, BSN, RN, CSN
Certified School Nurse, Duquesne City Education Center

What encouraged you to want to become a school nurse?
Being a School Nurse I have the unique opportunity to follow in the footsteps of both of my childhood idols. When I was in elementary school, my favorite teacher was Miss Kyle. Everyone wanted to be in her class because she made learning a fun experience. Miss Kyle was kind, smart, pretty and the mayor's daughter. Later on during my high school years, my sister Valerie became a nurse. Valerie spoke often of her work, but more important to me was how she was able to manage our mother's care and navigate the health system. Heading off to college, I struggled with the decision of which path to take, become a nurse like my sister or a teacher like Miss Kyle. Both professions interested me equally; they both contain aspects which involve individual development, growth and success. I could see myself being happy in either profession. After much consideration, I chose nursing as my career path. Once I graduated and began working in acute patient care, it was obvious that health promotion and patient education is where my greatest passion lies. Exploring my options to grow professionally into the education world, I obtained my school nurse certification. After a short time of substituting in various school districts around the Pittsburgh area, I knew I had found what I was looking for. As it turns out, the blending of these two has led me to where I am today and the perfect career fit for me. I can only hope that my passion for school nursing, coupled with daily interaction with my students, can in some small way make an impact on their lives as Miss Kyle and my sister had an impact on my life, profession and career path.

What do you plan to do with your award?
I would like to use this award to support my professional development goals for the 2016-2017 school year. First, I would like to prepare and sit for the National School Nurse Certification exam. Second, I would like to attend the 2017 National School Nurse Conference. I believe that working towards these two goals, collaborating with my peers and extending myself to face new challenges will allow me to continue to grow both as a school nurse, as well as personally.

What is the most common misperception about being a school nurse?
I believe that the most common misperception about being a school nurse is that it is "easy." True, there are far less life or death moments that occur in school than my days at Allegheny General Hospital, however there are also far less supports in place for when emergency situations arise. The needs of the students are growing at the same rate that the financial supports are shrinking. Families are fractured and struggling to make ends meet. They have less time and resources to address the health issues they face that can also be barriers to learning. The school nurse is a part of the team that helps the student pull it all together and succeed despite what life challenges they face. What has made this "easy" for me to continue on despite the challenges is the students. Their positive energy, smiles and laughs all make this job worthwhile. Despite the challenges, I know that each year is a new beginning with many opportunities to make an impact on the future.

Carrie Piccinini

Carrie L. Piccinini
Certified School Nurse, Edinboro Elementary School

What encouraged you to want to become a school nurse?
I worked in home health for many years and really enjoyed teaching and advocating for families, so I felt school nursing was another avenue to pursue that passion. I also had an interest in impacting the lives of children growing up in a world full of change and instability. My own children are grown and I knew the issues that they faced as they went through school and my hope was to help children address some of those issues so that children can have every opportunity to be successful. Healthy children learn better!

What do you plan to do with your award?
I plan to use the award to cover the cost of professional development courses so that I can be informed of the most current research and practices.

What is the most common misperception about being a school nurse?
I think many people think the school nurse simply passes out Band-Aids. School nursing is a very challenging position because the nurse addresses physical, emotional and social needs. Every day is different, it is often filled with the challenge of determining the exact issue that brings a student into the office. It also includes collaborating with teachers, parents and the community to meet the unique needs of each student.

Maureen Mahoney

Maureen Mahoney, RN, CSN
Certified School Nurse, Lackawanna Trail Elementary Center

What encouraged you to want to become a school nurse?
Being a nurse was my life goal. I worked in pediatrics for many years, both in hospital and out-patient settings. After being asked to sub at my kid's school, a position opened up and I was lucky enough to get my present position.

What do you plan to do with your award?
Treasure it! Nurses are usually in the background and are rarely recognized. The monetary portion will be very helpful with budget cuts. There are some good conferences for nurses.

What is the most common misperception about being a school nurse?
School nurses do nothing except give out Band-Aids.

 

 

Joyce Cotroneo

Joyce A. Cotroneo, RN, BSN
Early Childhood Department School Nurse, Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children

What encouraged you to want to become a school nurse?
Nursing became an interest to me as a teenager when my mother had a surgical procedure. Watching the nurses take care of her was inspiring and fascinating to me. Once I became a nurse, I worked in several hospitals, primarily in the pediatric departments. Several of my co-workers became school nurses and began working at schools and loving it. I was informed about a position at Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children by a relative of a patient I was caring for. With the encouragement of friends, it was the best job choice of my nursing career.

What do you plan to do with your award?
To purchase equipment and supplies for the school's Health Services department, which will help nursing staff provide accurate and up to date nursing assessments for our students.

What is the most common misperception about being a school nurse?
Nurses were viewed as staying in the health office all day and handing out Tylenol. However, I believe the opinion of school nurses, as well as all nurses, has changed over the years. I feel the community is more aware of the importance and the contribution to health care that nurses make, wherever they work.

Bethany Kilinsky

Bethany Kilinsky, RN, BSN
Certified School Nurse, Elizabeth Forward School District

Recipient Q&A not available at time of publication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charity  Istone

Charity Istone, MSN, CRNP, CSN
Certified School Nurse, North Allegheny Intermediate High School

What encouraged you to want to become a school nurse?
The only thing I ever wanted to be was a pediatric nurse. When I was working at Children's Hospital North, we started an informal program to provide education for school nurses in the area. Meeting them and hearing about what they do, I thought it would be a great fit for my interest in health education and pediatrics. Turned out to be a perfect fit!

What do you plan to do with your award?
I will be planning a conference for the fall with nurses from my district and the Allegheny County Certified School Nurse Association. This money will help to provide speakers fees.

What is the most common misperception about being a school nurse?
The most common is that we just give out medication.

Ellen Danowski

Ellen Danowski
Certified School Nurse, The Barber National Institute Elizabeth Lee Black School

What encouraged you to want to become a school nurse?
I can't recall a specific event that made me want to become a school nurse, but the power to make a difference in a child's life is what drove me to become one.

What do you plan to do with your award?
I plan to use it towards my professional development by completing my last college course.

What is the most common misperception about being a school nurse?
The thought that we just apply Band-Aids and icepacks.