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For Release Monday,
29th April, 2002 |
CONTACT: TIM O’CONNOR
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PHONE:561-355-3576
FAX:561- 355-3038
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PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL—School nurses received a helping hand this year as the volunteer nurse program continued to grow. During its first full year 31 volunteer nurses provided almost 7,000 health services to Palm Beach County students.
Volunteer school nurses work side by side with the regular school nurses to provide care and treatment to ill and injured students. Ann Kist, Volunteer Nurse Coordinator, in the School Health Division of the Health Department, said, “Our goal is to increase student access to professional nursing services and to support and supplement the current school Health Program in Florida.”
Following training, volunteer nurses are placed in a county school. They then administer school health programs like dispensing medication, treatment for illness, vision/hearing/scoliosis screenings, and overall growth and development monitoring. Some have also begun venturing into elementary classrooms to give nutrition and hygiene presentations to the students. Kist commented, “We are proud of the work these people are doing as they have far exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
The school nurse program began in six counties, with funding through the Florida Department of Health, to develop professional volunteer school nurses. Palm Beach County was part of this initial group and in the first year exceeded the recruitment goal of 25 within the first 10 months. Since inception, the State has expanded the opportunity to eight additional counties bringing the total to 14.
Registered nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and retired nurses are all eligible to become a volunteer. Interested individuals can contact Kist at 561-355-3158 Ext. 1109.
National Nurses week is May 6-12, 2002 and is a good opportunity for people to stop and thank a nurse for the many hours of caring about their good health. In the Palm Beach County Health Department nurses serve in numerous capacities from offering immunization to epidemiological investigation, in addition to clinical care and educational programs.
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