If you walk into a medical room at any Prescott School District campus, you’ll find more than just thermometers and ice packs. You’ll find a dedicated team of women who view their high-volume workload not as a burden, but as a calling.
In honor of Nurse Appreciation Week and School Nurse Day, SWARK.Today is celebrating the three frontline healthcare providers for Prescott School District: Candy Rogers (Elementary), Faye Williams (Junior High), and Vanessa Rodgers (High School). While the "School Nurse Snapshot" for the current school year shows a staggering 9,903 total visits and 5,720 scheduled medications administered, the nurses say the most important work they do happens between the data points.
Though they serve three different campuses, the nurses operate as a tight-knit unit. Faye Williams, who has been a nurse for 13 years, says the bond among them is vital to their success. "I love them,” Faye says, referring to the other two nurses. “We call each other all the time; we’re just a family.” Vanessa echoed that sentiment, noting the shared responsibility of their roles: "When one nurse misses, we all feel it."
That sense of teamwork allows them to manage a workload that Candy Rogers describes as high-intensity. "I always say we’re working in an ER with one person," Candy noted. “We don’t have extra doctors or x-rays on hand if needed. We have to make the best decision we can in each situation with the resources we have available.” Despite the responsibilities, Candy finds immense joy in the younger students she serves. "I love it. We all three have a natural tendency to be nurturers and we can do a great deal of that here.”
The nurses’ office often serves as a refuge for students who need more than physical care, so their office has become a staple of the local school environment. "It’s a blessing to be able to nurture these kids,” Vanessa said. “Sometimes it feels like we’re also their counselor. They know they will receive kindness with us; so, for some, it’s a safe space.” She believes their presence on campus is intentional, stating, “I think God placed us here for a reason."
Faye Williams explained that her approach to the job is simple: she treats every student like her own. "I try to treat the kids the way I would want my children to be treated. If you just treat people like that in general, you’ll do a good job," Faye said.
The technical side of their job is equally demanding. In addition to treating 667 headaches, 385 stomachaches, and 109 lost teeth so far this year, the nurses manage a massive list of other duties that make it easy to understand why having a school nurse is an integral component of the school culture now. Some of these duties include (but are not limited to) the following:
Reviewing immunizations and health action plans.
Conducting vision, hearing, BMI, and scoliosis screenings.
Managing diabetic care, including 756 blood sugar checks.
Handling 132 loads of laundry and distributing 532 ice packs.
Providing ongoing health support for the district's teachers and staff.
Flu shot clinic, dental clinic, and CPR training.
As they move through Nurse Appreciation Week, the trio remains focused on their primary goal: the well-being of the children. Candy, Faye, and Vanessa are all three described with terms like “nurturer,” “carer,” and “fixer.” So for the students of Prescott, having three nurturing, caring fixers who provide a safe space of kindness and well-being is certainly something to celebrate.
