A day in the life

By Samantha Scheeler, Contributing Writer 

​Being a school nurse is no easy feat as it requires not only medical knowledge, but also the ability to handle the diverse challenges that come with the responsibility of caring for students and staff.

 Balancing the health and well-being of many individuals each day is already a demanding task. However, for Mrs. Candice Day, the job becomes even more complex, as she takes on the added challenge of working at two different schools. 

Day serves as the school nurse for both Chester Boren Middle School (CBMS) and Centralia High School (CHS), managing the health needs of students at both locations. Her daily schedule is far from simple, as she navigates between these two campuses. A typical workday is from 7:30 a.m to 3:12 p.m. However, the job does not end at 3:12 p.m. and some days are even longer than others. 

Day is  constantly moving between the two schools because there is a shortage of school nurses in the district. The high demands of her job make each day unique and requires a great deal of organization, with administering medication, calling parents, checking temperatures and dedication to ensure the students’ well-being is always a top priority.

Daily tasks include giving prescribed meds & tube feedings, normal headaches, diabetic injections, band aids, verifying immunizations for new and current students, checking and maintaining inventory and making sure everything is documented and up to date. “I never know what the day holds being a school nurse, that’s what makes it interesting, you could have a slow day or be taking care of a seizure or a broken bone,” said Day. 

Nurses are a critical part of the public school system and often get overlooked.  We are thankful to have a nurse like Mrs. Day within our schools.