Due to growing demand for student health services, the Fair Grove School District has introduced a new health aid position. This role has been taken on by April Davis, who assists both the elementary and middle/high school nurses.
According to the elementary nurse, Mandy Miller, she sees an average of 30 to 50 plus kids in her office each day. Miller noted that the addition of a health aid was brought on out of necessity. She, along with the middle/high school nurse, Lyndsey Choate, approached the superintendent, Christian Overstreet, with the request to add a position to the health services department. Their hope was that the new position would help with their three main goals: ensuring safe and effective care, maintaining consistent health office coverage, and aligning the district’s health services with comparable school districts.
Davis is responsible for helping with a range of duties under the supervision of the school nurses. These include assessing and monitoring students for signs of illness, administering first aid, managing daily and as needed medications, and maintaining records in the district’s health documentation system. She also assists with chronic condition monitoring and hygienic needs.
Davis’ time is split evenly between both the elementary and middle/high school health offices. Her presence alone allows the school nurses to attend meetings, complete state reports, manage immunization compliance, and coordinate health related programs such as vision screenings, flu clinics, and dental events. Miller explained that the added support Davis brings has made a significant difference in the delivery of health services throughout the district.
Miller shared, “Mrs. April has been a tremendous help! Having a health aid has allowed me to have a better balance between direct care of students and care coordination/nursing process.” She continued, “She has been an absolute blessing to work with. She is fun, she is a fast learner who takes initiative, and most importantly, she treats the students with kindness and compassion.”
Both the school nurses along with Davis expressed hope that the health aid role will continue in the coming years. With a growing student population and increasing health needs, the position has become a key component in ensuring the well being of the Fair Grove students. Davis shared, “I hope the district continues to keep this support position in place, I love my job and have no plans of leaving.”
