Nurses Show School Spirit

Teachers, students, principals, and parents were not the only parade-goers at the recent Harlem School Pride Parade and Fair on April 25. Invited by the event’s master of ceremonies, UFT District 5 Representative Dwayne Clark, Federation of Nurses/UFT Special Representative Anne Goldman and a delegation of nurses were on hand providing complimentary general health screening to attendees in the schoolyard at PS 92.

A cheerleader helps to keep spirits high at the Harlem
School Pride Parade and Fair.

“The purpose of the event was to showcase the great public schools in Harlem,” Goldman said, “and we know that a healthy school is a happy school.”

In addition to basic screenings, the nurses also measured patients’ blood pressure and provided useful medical information. At least one UFT staffer, feeling faint, was brought to the nurses’ station – her blood sugar had dropped. A snack and some time in the shade did the trick.

Apprised of the incident, Clark had only the highest praise for the nurses. “It was great to have the nurses there because they are always on call. This isn’t the first time they have leapt into action at a UFT event,” he said. “They’re very quick and I applaud them for that.”

With swine flu spreading in the public school system, collaboration between healthcare professionals and educators is more important than ever. Collaboration with school nurses, on the front line against swine flu, is also critical. Visiting Nurse Service (VNS) Chapter Chair Cora Shillingford spoke to the day’s spirit of collaboration.

“It was a great experience for all involved – to collaborate with educators and healthcare providers,” Shillingford said. “We’re all in this together, for the good of our patients and our kids.”

Many nurses work weekends so it was a sacrifice for them to attend, Goldman noted. “It makes me happy to see people who care,” she said. “This is what real public health looks like – when you’re in the community helping people.”