The scene is the same in the five nurses' offices at Brockport Central School District: students stopping in to get first aid, ask a question, take their medication, or just talk, sometimes all at once. There to help are well-trained, sensitive professionals - the school nurses. In addition to their credentials as registered nurses, these professionals are experts at another skill - multi-tasking.

A school nurse's job goes beyond providing first aid and giving medications. "A lot of kids come in for the attention. Sometimes there are other things going on besides the 'stomach ache' they are complaining of," said Judy Depferd, school nurse at the Hill Elementary School. "A student may be worried because they don't have their homework done or they spilled something on their clothes."

"We do not judge, students can talk to us about anything and we will listen," added Joan Harradine, school nurse at the middle school.

"The school nurses are an integral part of our K-12 school community," said Steve Passero, Director of Pupil Services. "The services and support they provide for our students, staff and families are tremendous. We also want to show our appreciation to our school nurse's aides for their dedication and commitment to assisting the building nurses."

January 24 is National School Nurse Appreciation Day and the Brockport Central School District is saying thanks.

The school nurses at Brockport are: Cherie Rockow, Ginther Primary School; Debbie Wahl, Barclay Elementary School; Judy Depferd, Hill Elementary School; Joan Harradine, A.D. Oliver Middle School; Linda O'Laughlin and Suzanne Hullfish, High School. Nurse's aides are: Susan Funk, Ginther Primary School; Shari Knapp and Katherine Sloan, Barclay Elementary School; Kathleen Anger and Barbara Pratt, Hill Elementary School; and Linda Clark, Oliver Middle School.

The school nurses wear many hats. They conduct state-mandated hearing, vision, and scoliosis screenings. They train staff in health related skills such as the Heimlich Maneuver and infection control. In addition, the nurses' offices at Brockport Central are computerized and every office visit and medication administered is logged in to the computer. The nurses call students' homes when there is a problem or concern and follow up with the appropriate paper work and phone calls to staff or physicians.