School nurses from across the region gathered at Southeast Missouri State University for a one-day workshop designed to equip them with tools to address today’s complex health challenges in schools—from mental health to emergency preparedness.
Hosted by SEMO’s Department of Nursing, the Regional School Nurse Workshop returned for the fifth time this spring. The event brought together practicing nurses, educators, and state health officials to discuss timely issues such as human trafficking, cardiac emergency response plans, and skin infections in student athletes.
"This is a free opportunity to learn about topics that are pertinent to daily practice," said Elissa Brueggemann, an elementary school nurse and president-elect of the Missouri Association of School Nurses. “It’s also a great way for school nurses to network, share best practices and connect with others who understand the challenges we face—especially those who work in more rural or isolated areas.”
Brueggemann, who serves 400 students at Kellison Elementary in Rockwood School District, presented at the workshop and emphasized the importance of continued professional development.
“We are professional nurses, and school nursing is becoming its own specialty. We’re not just Band-Aids and icepacks—we are delivering comprehensive care and supporting students’ academic success through health and wellness.”
Kelly Vaugh, school nurse specialist for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, presented on the state’s new legislation requiring schools to implement cardiac emergency response plans.
“It’s not just about having an AED,” Vaugh said. “Schools must have a plan in place, a trained team and coordination with local EMS. This kind of preparedness saves lives.”
Vaugh also noted an increasing emphasis on early mental health intervention and abuse prevention, including training on identifying signs of human trafficking.
“We often see kids more than their parents do. We’re in a unique position to catch things early and advocate for those who can’t always speak up.”
Both Vaugh and Brueggemann pointed to growing pressures facing school nurses in Missouri, including staffing shortages, burnout and lack of understanding from communities about the scope of their responsibilities.
“After COVID-19, many school nurses felt overwhelmed and undervalued,” Vaugh said. “We’re not only dealing with chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes every day, but also providing vision and hearing screenings, dental referrals and addressing mental health—often without the support you would have working on a hospital team.”
Despite these challenges, the pandemic also brought a silver lining.
“All eyes turned to school nurses during COVID,” Brueggemann said. “People began to realize how essential we are. The communities we serve learned that their school nurse is an excellent resource, a guiding hand and shoulder to lean on.”
The workshop began in 2016 and is part of SEMO’s broader commitment to public health, professional development and community outreach. The event is partially supported by an endowment from Margaret Woods Allen, a nurse from Sikeston who designated funding specifically for addiction and recovery education in nursing.
“We specifically targeted school nurses because they’re often the only healthcare provider that interacts with every student in a school setting,” said Dr. Linda Garner, professor of nursing at SEMO and event organizer. “Nearly every school represented at the workshop also serves as clinical sites for our students, so it’s important that we support the nurses who mentor them.”
SEMO nursing students and faculty participated in the workshop as part of their coursework in pediatrics and mental health. Garner said there are also plans to expand access to the workshop through virtual options and recorded presentations for broader reach.
Events like this, Vaugh added, offer more than just knowledge—they create a sense of community.
“It’s invaluable for rural school nurses to come together and realize they’re not alone. SEMO is providing education and camaraderie that can help them thrive in their roles.”
For more information about the Missouri Association of School Nurses, visit missourischoolnurses.org.
To learn more about nursing at SEMO, visit semo.edu/nursing.