School Nurses: Keeping Children Well

Presented by Moses Taylor Foundation

Through studies like the NEPA School Nurse Needs Assessment, the foundation hopes to address these issues and help school nurses better serve the students in their care.

Aired Monday, November 22nd

A school nurse’s day includes far more than bandaging playground bumps and bruises.

For some students, the nurse serving their school becomes their most regular health provider. The National Association of School Nurses reports that nurses help students manage chronic diseases, connect families with health resources and screen children for all manner of health concerns.

In Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Moses Taylor Foundation found local school nurses face understaffing and a lack of resources and development opportunities like communities throughout the country.

Through studies like the NEPA School Nurse Needs Assessment, the foundation hopes to address these issues and help school nurses better serve the students in their care.

Panelists

Tracey Glynn-Roulinavage

Certified School Nurse
Heights Murray Elementary, Wilkes-Barre

Erin Keating

Superintendent, Old Forge School District

Kathy Verbel

Certified School Nurse, Stroudsburg Area School District

Previous Episodes

About the Show

Healthcare is constantly changing as technology finds new and better ways to help people live longer, healthier lives. Host Tonyehn Verkitus will address the issues that are important to the people in our community, including the ongoing pandemic, concerns about vaccines, food deserts, childhood trauma and child abuse, mental health, environmental issues, and the rising cost of staying healthy with leaders and experts who are positively moving the needle in our region. Tonyehn's work as the Executive Director of the Lackawanna and Luzerne County Medical Societies, a wholistic life coach, and founding member of the Africa Community Exchange will help her educate the community on health and food, community activism, and healing through self-care.

About the Host

Tonyehn Verkitus

Tonyehn Verkitus is the Executive Director of the Lackawanna and Luzerne County Medical Societies. Her work in the nonprofit world has mostly centered on health and food though she also spent many years training organizations and communities on fundraising and telling their mission-based stories.

In 2007, Tonyehn along with other family members and friends started Africa Community Exchange, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support an effective model of education for youth and educators. Currently their work centers in Liberia with plans to expand to neighboring countries. Tonyehn also sits on the boards of the Lackawanna County Arts, Culture and Education Department; WVIA Community Advisory Board; and leads professional education programs for the Luzerne County Opioid Task Force through the District Attorney’s Office.

As a Wholistic Life Coach and writer, Tonyehn is interested in the intersection between personal stories and community activism. As a person with many personal stories that shatter and empower she has developed and facilitated workshops on healing and reducing personal trauma through self-care and shared stories.