As you step into the welcome center, an open door to your right invites you, letting you into the office of KSD’s head nurse. A desk with a gifted flower basket greets you as you arrive, hiding glass containers filled with band-aids, cotton swabs and cough drops. Nurse’s offices are thought to be the place where you can get a bag of ice or saltines, but the nurses at KHS hope to be something different.
The nurse’s office can be found in the Welcome Center off Dougherty Ferry. The newly refurbished office is home to Julie Tadros, KSD head nurse, and Tracey Ludbrook and Erin Rimkus, KHS nurses.
“The way we treat kids teaches them how the healthcare community will receive them,” Tadros said. “You should listen with an open and sincere heart to what kids are telling you, because you’re building their expectations of how the healthcare community will [help] them all their life.”
Tadros started her career in critical care before transitioning to school nursing, finding a job opening through their children’s attendance of KSD schools. After working at KHS for over seven years, Tadros said her favorite memory of the job is the traditions, like Turkey Day and school performances.
“Our kids are so talented,” Tadros said. “[I love when] kids come in really apprehensive or afraid, and then by graduation, [they’ve] found themselves. They’re empowered to go out into the world and do big things.”
Tadros said she loves working with Ludbrook and Rimkus, and finds the environment very cooperative and open. She said she thinks that the best thing about KSD is their support systems for the nurses to connect with stressed students and families. Sarah Hainline, junior, says that she appreciates the little things the nurses do for the students.
“They do so much good work for kids,” Hainline said. “Anytime a kid is coming in, they’re always so attentive and so helpful for anyone that’s there. They really do care about you, they want to make sure you’re okay.”
Ludbrook said her fondest memories are of watching her patients grow up. She said last year, frequent senior visitors came to the nurse’s office for one last goodbye.
“[We] get a little emotional because we’re gonna miss them,” Ludbrook said. “[And] they’re gonna miss us.”
Tadros and Ludbrook said that the work-life balance as a nurse is amazing. Although, both agreed that their favorite part of the job is the relationships with their students.
“[I love] seeing students in their own environment, rather than having them plucked away in a healthcare setting like a hospital or doctor’s office,” Tadros said. “[It] is really helpful to be able to put the whole picture together. I love to see kids learn and grow, and [working] with whole family groups together. It’s fantastic. It’s fun.”
