Member Spotlight!

To get to know more about your fellow members, keep reading!

Jill Foltz

How long in School Nursing: 33 years

How long as a NASN/NSNA member: 32 years

Why I am a member: As a professional school nurse I need the professional connection, whether it is the journal, the resources, the fellow school nurses.  In my younger years, I went to many, many national conventions and found the fellowship was awesome!  I truly cherish the fact that I was able to connect with so many school nurses across the state. So many, many fantastic memories. Our fellow school nurses are such a valuable resource.

Advice to younger nurses: This is the BEST job you could ever have....you are helping to shape the future health and lives of so many young people.  Those students you see every day do admire and trust you and you are making a difference in their lives and their future.  You NEED to become a member of NSNA/NASN to fully realize your potential.  You will never regret the money spent for the information received and the connections made.

JoDe Kinnaman

How long in School Nursing: I have been a school nurse since September 2002.  I initially began in Clay Center and was there only 2 half days a week.  After Clay Center consolidated with a nearby school district, I became full time and traveled to three different schools a day.

Practice location: I am School Nurse primarily in Preschool settings serving 6 counties through Head Start.  I also teach high school students Nursing Assistant and Medication Aide classes in their career academy classes.

How long as a NASN/NSNA member: approximately 8 years

Why I am a member: Being a member of our organization provides opportunity for networking and collaboration with your peers within a similar scope of practice.  I am always interested to see how we practice similarly in such different settings. 

Advice to new SNs: Welcome!  School Nursing is a very unique specialty nursing practice where often times other members in the Nursing practice do not understand fully what we do.  Keeping our children healthy so they can be at their best academically is such a small piece.  You will work with many community resources, school community and families to meet the needs of each student. You will find you have the largest family and feel a sense of “adoption” to all the kids in your school community.  Value and utilize your School Nurse peers, stay open minded and everyday will provide a new opportunity.  Become a member and get involved in volunteer opportunities with the NSNA and NASN as they are such a valuable resource. 

Becky Wetenkamp

How long in School Nursing: 25 years

Practice Location: Plattsmouth Community Schools

How long as a NASN/NSNA member: 24 years

Why I am a member: Professional Affiliation (looks good on your resume), Current Information (school nursing doesn't usually make the nightly news or Facebook. (However Gerry Brooks does a great job of informing folks of our working conditions!), Affordable Education (price for CEUs is unbeatable), Project Inspiration (Great Idea, I bet I could do that, too!) and Yearly Friend/Vacation to some lovely hotel in Nebraska where I meet dozens of lovely "mature" friends and make "fresh" new ones.

Advice to new SNs: Start every "uncomfortable' call or contact with something positive about the student. I know, sometimes you have to dig pretty deep, but conveying that you see the student as an individual and not as a "problem" takes a little sting out of what you might have to say. And when you are old like me, you have a suitcase full of experiences you can share that makes you seem more like an understandling (I just made up that word.) than as an authority. ie. When my 2- & 8-year-old grandchildren from Minnesota slept with me the night before my son's wedding and were "loaded" with headlice. I cried at the wedding, but not for the assumed "mother losing her son to another woman" reason.