School Nurse

                One of the more entertaining parts of my job at MOHI is my role as school nurse. Being the school nurse means Band-Aids and antibiotic cream for skinned knees. It means reminding students daily that they really are required to produce the clinic pass from the school director in order to be seen (so that I know they have permission to be out of class). It is sharing a smile with a preschool teacher over her student’s vocal need for a Band-Aid for the minute scratch on their leg. It’s saying over and over and over “go drink water” in response to a variety of ailments and then laughter when students gives me the same instructions. It is surprising myself by shouting across the yard “Don’t put that in your mouth! You’re going to get cholera!” It is counseling high school students about their acne. It is a six year old with a toothless grin announcing that last week’s injury feels much better now. It is wrestling to keep a straight face as fourth graders dance at my doorstep when they are supposed to be going back to class.

                  Lately, it is seizure precautions and ushering gawking students out of a room.  It is conversations with another student where I tell them that, as happy as I am to see them, they cannot in fact come to the clinic again today because they were here yesterday, every day last week and three days the week before. It is preschoolers peeking in the clinic, curious about what's going on. It is a happy dance in the office when the health department comes and immunizes our students for tetanus. It is pausing on an errand to watch the youngest preschool class dancing in their classroom, or listen to them recite a lesson. It is quiet rejoicing as kids outgrow school uniforms. It is a little boy with a tummy ache, legs swinging as he perches in the chair, telling me that the only time he ate was at school yesterday. It is joy and heartache, and I wouldn't have it any other way.