Interview with a School Nurse

 Entering the toddler’s classroom, I noticed that there was a nurse holding a 

child in the rocking chair. Before I asked teacher Norma if I could ask any

questions, I sat and observed the interaction between the nurse and child. I 

noticed that the nurse was saying, “You will be just fine, your mother will be 

coming to pick you up and she will be able to take you to see the doctor”. I 

noticed that the nurse asked teacher Norma if she had recorded the toddler’s 

temperature and teacher Norma  said,“Yes, I did record it at eleven in the 

morning, but the child was doing well. I did not know that she had a fever until the toddler began to cry.” The nurse said“How did you notice that the child had a fever?” Teacher Norma said, “Well, I 

touch her forehead and I realized that she was burning hot.” The nurse went on to ask Teacher Norma, “How high is this toddler temperature?” Teacher Norma said, “Well the last

time that I check it was, one hundred and two, but I do not know how high the
temperature is right now.” The nurse said, “Can you give me the thermometer so I
can re- check her temperature.” Teacher Norma went to the first aid kit and she
pulled out the thermometer. The nurse got up from the rocking chair and she went
straight to the changing table and she applied some examining gloves. While she
checked the child’s temperature, the nurse was talking to the toddler in the most
soothing words. I observed the child begin to stroke the nurse’s hand and the
toddler began to say, “Mamma, mamma.” The nurse in return said, “I will check your
temperature and I will make sure that I will call your mother in case you have a
fever, okay?” The toddler just smiled at the nurse. When the nurse finished taking
the toddler’s temperature, she said, Teacher Norma, can you give me the healthy
child checklist, so I can record this toddler temperature?” She then brought the
checklist down stairs to the administration office.
            The nurse returned and she said, “Well teacher Norma, Sandra from the
administration office called this toddler mom and she informed her that
she had taken her toddler to get some shots yesterday. The doctor had
cautioned mom that her child might develop some fever, but somehow mom
forgot to mention this information to you. Do not worry; mom is on her
way to give some Tylenol to reduce the fever. In the mean time, lets
take some clothes off from this toddler, and I will be here until mom
comes in.” 
            As soon as the mother came in, she along with the nurse gave the 

Tylenol to the toddler and the toddler went to sleep. Mom informed teacher Norma
how sorry she was for forgetting to tell her about the doctor visit. Mom
also informed Teacher Norma that if her child was not feeling any
better, to just let the administration office know and she would return
to pick the child up. Teacher Norma said, “Do not worry; I was just
concern when your toddler began to cry and I know that your child is not
the type of child who tends to cry at all. Your child is a very happy
child, go ahead and go back to work.”
As soon as the mother went back to work and everything was back to normal, I 

noticed that the nurse remained in the classroom for at least an hour. Before sheleft she informed teacher Norma that if she needed her, just to have her paged 

over the intercom. 
Before the nurse was out the door, I said, “Can I interview you, I would like to ask you some questions?” The nurse said, “Sure, but who are you?” I explained 

that I was a student from Kendall College and that I was doing my internship at 

El Hogar del Nino. She said, “What is your major?” I said, “I am planning to obtain my BA in early childhood with a concentration in special needs.” She said, 

“How much longer do you have to go, before you can get your BA?” I informed her that I just needed three more classes before I was able to graduate. The Nurse said, “Wow, I will be delighted to help you out.”
            
Q:What is your role in the toddlers program as a registered nurse?
A:I make sure that I assist the teachers, just in case a child gets sick and the
teachers are not able to diagnose a toddler who might be sick. I also conduct health
trainings for parents when we have our parents’ meetings. In this center, parents
meetings are conducted twice a month. I usually have at least one hundred parents
who show up for these important meetings. I also have monthly trainings depending on
the season, like it is almost is winter. At the end of this month, I will be talking
about Virus respiratory Syncitial. This virus affects infants as well as toddlers.
This virus affects the infants/toddlers respiratory system such as the lungs.
Parents have to be very cautious when their infants/toddlers have that raspy cough
with lots of phlegm secretions or mucus discharge. Some infants/toddlers are
affected when the parents smoke at home.
 
Q:What are some of the challenges that you encounter when you are interacting with
the toddlers? 
A:When I began to work a year and a half ago, the toddlers will cry, as soon as I
entered the classroom in my nurse uniform. I made it my priority to spend as much
time in the classroom so they can trust me. Now the toddlers had grown to trust me
and I really do enjoy every moment. The other challenge that I encounter is; we have
to understand that these toddlers are not able to tell me what is bothering them,
when they are sick. That is why I have teacher Norma to use her words and her sign
language abilities.  
            
Q:Do you do any screenings?
A: No, the teachers are responsible for conduction any developmental screenings. 
Hearing and vision testing is done by the doctors; however, I do screening for
depression for parents who may be going through tough times.
 
Q:What are your credentials? 
A: I have my BA in nursing that I obtained at North Park University. I worked at an
OB clinic for at least two years and I did my clinical hours at Children Memorial
Hospital. I am currently working here at El Hogar full time for the past year and a
half.