Kelli Haynes went back to school.
But instead of attending classes and doing homework, Haynes is coordinating healthcare for the 1,200 students in the Springfield Platteview school district. In her role as district nurse, she is responsible for the care of the students and staff at the districts high school, junior high school, two elementary schools and two preschools. Being the only nurse on full-time duty, Haynes has established strong relationships with the community’s paramedics, who serve as her back-up in emergencies. Each district school also has an emergency response team composed of a Sheriff Resource Officer, health paras, assigned teachers and staff who are all trained in CPR and can lend a hand when needed.
“If you would have told me when I was in nursing school that I would become a school nurse, I would have said, ‘never in a million years,’ and yet, here I am and loving every single second of it,” said Haynes, MSN, RN, NCSN. “I think every nursing student wants the adrenaline rush of working in the ICU or the ER when they first get out. You just want to be where all the action is.”
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After 15 years working in that environment at area hospitals and clinics, the idea of working in the same district where her children attend school was extremely enticing.
“And you know what I found out?” she said. “I have to laugh when I say I’m an adrenaline junkie but, in my time here, we’ve had to deal with cardiac arrest, broken bones, anaphylactic shock, one pandemic and the mental health issues from that, and so much more. So, basically, none of the adrenaline has gone away, but now I’m responding to events without another medical professional by my side. It’s me and the paramedics I can call — and I absolutely love it.”
One of her colleagues pulled her aside a few weeks ago to tell her he had nominated her for the Nurses – Heart of Healthcare award for her dedication and commitment to the job and the manner in which she executes it — with humor, empathy and passion. Soon after, she was notified that she was one of the winners. Nominees underwent a voting process by a committee of nursing administration and faculty members at Clarkson College.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to know that my peers think enough of my abilities to think I am worthy of an award,” she said.
Since joining the district in 2017, Haynes has definitely seen her share of emergencies and events play out. “Sometimes I’ll just look at the student and have to say, ‘You did what?’” she said. “Nothing is off the table with these kids. We certainly get an earful from them. Sometimes they are so hilarious, especially the younger ones.”
Haynes said on any given day there might be one hour in which her office is empty. A few minutes later, there could be multiple students clamoring for assistance. Broken bones from climbing on things outside the school play yard, fingers stuck in odd things, burns from shop class, bumps and bruises from gym class. “You name it, we’ve seen it,” she said.
Haynes credits the support of the district staff, teachers and community health advocates for her success on campus. “I have wonderful health paras at my schools who are the initial line of defense with the kids. I could not do my job effectively without these ladies,” she said. “They are wonderful communicators and caring individuals who help keep the schools running.”
Haynes also routinely schedules on-site clinics for flu shots, CPR training for students and teachers, and emergency response classes at the beginning of the school year. During the pandemic, she was in daily contact with the health department to ensure the school was following the guidelines in terms of masks, social distancing and off- and on-site classes.
“We work very cohesively and I really appreciate that. Because in a school building, everyone knows the purpose of a teacher. The nurse is ancillary side staff and sometimes just out there, but here, I feel part of the team. The teachers keep me in the loop and because of this, we are able to better work together to help any student who might be having an issue.”
As for the adrenaline rush, Haynes said she feels as if she’s in the center of the action. Right where she wants to be.