We all know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. During times like these, a nurse a day keeps COVID-19 at bay.
In March when public schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff nurses found themselves outside of their normal health offices but jumped into action to assist students, families, and their school districts. Across the state they juggled between their regular duties, such as ensuring high school seniors receive their college immunizations and coordinating annual physicals, while navigating entirely new ones.
For two Southington nurses, keeping up with the demand to provide proper medical support and plan for the upcoming school year has been a whirlwind.
“We’ve seen a lot, but never have we experienced something like this pandemic,” said AFSCME Local 1303-140 member Cathy O’Hara, a Southington Public Schools nursing supervisor who has been with the district for nearly two decades.
Lisa Meccariello, the union president and a Southington High School nurse, has also felt the magnitude of the unprecedented nature stemming from the pandemic. “Feels like it’s been forever because we keep going and going. Everyday we have new directions we need to concentrate on,” she said.
More than ever, Meccariello, O’Hara and their fellow Local 1303-140 members are an integral part of their school district. They function as a medical resource for teachers, students, and school support staff by guiding and answering questions, making referrals for families with health concerns, and gathering medical updates while lining up future medical services for some of the most medically fragile students.
As quickly as new COVID-19 developments and guidance emerge, O’Hara and Meccariello have been quick on their feet to absorb every facet of knowledge pertaining to the novel coronavirus.
Thinking outside the box is another requirement. One example is how they handled student medications left behind when schools closed.
“Each school nurse set up their own grab and go medication pick up,” said O’Hara. “Parents would drive up and call the nurse who would come out using proper protection and distribute their medications. Parents were really appreciative of that.”
Nurses also participated in their own school’s special reach out to uplift the spirits of students and families during “Stay Safe, Stay Home” orders.
“We worked with the school making videos and things for our seniors,” said Meccariello. “We got our message across and did the best we could [to spread cheer] during this time.”
Currently, they are working closely with school administrators to configure school reopening plans. There is no one size fits all approach; however their expertise, coupled with guidelines provided by their local health district, the CT Department of Public Health, CDC, and the State Department of Education, serve as a starting point. Both agree that social distancing and wearing masks will be of upmost importance.
“Those will be the two biggest things and everything else will be planned around that,” explained O’Hara. “Social distancing, it hurts to see everyone separate, but it works. And masks work. That is exactly what we are going to reinforce because that will be a part of the guidelines.”
Protecting the health and safety of staff and students is a never-ending challenge. Yet, even with a major public health crisis there exists silver linings. Along the way, two valuable things stand out for O’Hara and Meccariello: their union and the collaboration of their colleagues and school administration.
At the beginning of school closures, they said the union and the Southington Board of Education worked out a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which “gave our nurses and their families security so that we can continue doing what we do best.”
All support service staff including food service, custodians, paraprofessionals, social workers, teachers, and staff from psychological and guidance departments worked together and communicated through Zoom meetings. Planning for the unknown is far from easy, but everyone pitching in has helped lighten the load and brought hope.
“It’s the only way we can all be successful in planning for our students,” said O’Hara, “and making sure their health and well-being is the best it can be.”
Meccariello added, “We are here for our students, families, and staff. When we return, even if we have social distancing, we are still one group, one community and we all need to be there for each other.”
