Jennifer Bowdish, BSN, RN, NCSN, is the Education and Public Relations Chair for the Maine Association of School Nurses.

You may not realize it’s happening, but there is someone in your child’s school who has the largest ratio of all. They sit, often in remodeled closets, an essential accessory to your child’s learning, always ready for action and prepared for whatever walks through the door.

The school nurses in your community are there, waiting to serve you and your children. Sometimes it’s an emergency, sometimes it’s reassurance and, often, it’s allowing students with chronic illnesses to access their education alongside their peers. School nursing is a nursing specialty that provides a bridge between education and healthcare.

School nurse visits are at an all-time high. At times, our offices, mostly run by one person, see upward of 60 students per day. Administering first aid, delivering medications, reassuring children as they navigate the complex world we live in, our school nurses keep children in school and allow parents to continue working, often contributing to our communities in essential but unseen ways.

For many students, the school nurse is the only healthcare professional they see regularly. In an era where chronic conditions like asthma, life-threatening allergies and Type 1 diabetes are prevalent in classrooms, the school nurse provides the specialized care that allows these children to stay in school safely. They manage complex medical regimens, coordinate with primary care physicians and act as first responders during emergencies.

Nowhere is the profound impact of this profession more evident than in the life and legacy of Amanda Rowe. A dedicated school nurse from Portland, Maine, Amanda served her community with a level of compassion and tenacity that redefined the role. For over 20 years, she was the heart of the Hall Elementary School community.

Amanda didn’t just treat symptoms; she championed the “whole child.” She understood that a child cannot learn if they are hungry, cold or frightened. She was known for her tireless advocacy, often working behind the scenes to secure clothing, food or medical resources for families in need. Her commitment to social justice and public health was so transformative that following her passing in 2013, the city of Portland took the rare and moving step of naming a school in her honor: the Amanda C. Rowe Elementary School.

The work school nurses do is constantly evolving. What exactly is it we do? How do we fit into the puzzle of school life? The answer is not simple and is always changing. This is why the Maine Association of School Nurses has created the Amanda Rowe School Nurse scholarship.

This scholarship honors the legacy of Amanda Rowe and allows school nurses to access education so that they keep up with best practices, become nationally certified in their specialized field and are able to practice with competence in the ever evolving landscape of pediatric care. This fund helps to send nurses to conferences, attend classes for advanced degrees and take specialty training to continue our educational opportunities.

As independent practitioners, it is essential that we are constantly learning and enhancing our practices to provide the best possible care. In honor of National School Nurses Day, May 6, we ask you to consider making a contribution to our essential and independent continued education scholarship fund.

To learn more about school nursing, visit the National Association of School Nurses website.