K-12 School Nurses Trained in Mental Health First Aid

Pictured left to right: Betsy Looney (VASN President), Na-Keisha White (VDOE School Health Coordinator), Joanna Pitts (VDH School Health Nurse Consultant), Tammy Miller (School Nurse Coordinator, Westmoreland County Public Schools), Angela Knupp (Student Health Services Specialist, Harrisonburg City Public Schools), Lisa Coons (VDOE Superintendent), Shea Pugh (School Nurse, Isle of Wight County Public Schools), Tonishia Short (VDH School Health Special Projects Manager), Jillian Waller (Virginia Tech Program Coordinator), and Joseph Wharff (Director, VDOE Office of Behavioral Health and Wellness).

Each morning, Shea, a veteran school nurse, greets her ninth through twelfth-grade students. She listens to them share stories about their plans, activities, and recent accomplishments. The Isle of Wight County Public Schools nurse is known for inspiring her students. When Shea is not listening to her students’ stories, she is providing school health services, such as emergency first aid and daily medications.

Recently, Shea said she has been providing mental health support. The 15-year veteran says there has been an increase in students visiting her clinic with symptoms of anxiety. “When a student comes in holding their chest, hyperventilating, and saying their chest hurts, it is easy to start down the road of assessing cardiac issues,” said the nurse. “But what if there is more to assess?”

Shea partnered with experts from the Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (VA-AAP), the REACH Institute, registered school nurses, and the Virginia Department of Education, to develop a Mental Health Toolkit. The toolkit equips nurses with strategies to support students with social, emotional, and mental health needs.

During the annual Summer Institute for School Nursing (SISN) Conference, the Virginia Department of Health collaborated with the Virginia Department of Education, VA-AAP, and the REACH Institute to train 242 registered school nurses to use the newly created Mental Health Toolkit. The comprehensive resource is a unique tool for nurses. It will be added to school clinics during the 2024-2025 school year.

Shea has confidence that the Mental Health Toolkit will provide school nurses across the Commonwealth with the foundation they need to administer mental health first aid. Shea says it is a helpful and reliable tool.