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CAREERS IN NURSING
Registered Nurse Spotlight
Marie Budden
Marie Budden is a school health nurse working in Stephenville. She brings her expertise as a registered nurse to students from kindergarten to Grade 12. For Marie, however, promoting healthy living also expands far beyond the classroom walls to families and the community.
Why is it important to have a health care presence in schools?
Health promotion with children and youth is huge. When you teach about healthy living at a young age, you not only get students, they bring it home and pass that learning on. They’ll say things like “Well, mom, I think I’d like to have an apple today because on Canada’s Food Guide….” or “Nan or Pop, you really shouldn’t have a cigarette because….” It’s amazing how much children know. They are like sponges.
What kind of supports to you provide in the school?
I coordinate a range of school health initiatives and depending on the grade level there is a different focus in the education. I cover everything from nutrition, chronic illness, diabetes, injury prevention, to tobacco reduction. I work with the guidance counsellor to teach anti-bullying. I’ve held wellness days, which are a full day of education for the whole school. As a school health nurse, I also team up with other community leaders like addiction counsellors and the RCMP to teach drug and alcohol awareness.
What kind of approach do you take when working with students?
It’s important to make it fun and interesting. Reaching those in their life is also very important. I have a health promotion bulletin board that I update every month. It’s always a new topic and the students know where to find it. I make sure the families can too. I have the bulletin board in a place where their families can access it when they come in the school.
When working with students, I guess it’s very important to reach families as well?
I’m always available to the families. My email and phone number are there for families to use. I work with parents on many issues, whether it’s dealing with lice or providing support to a student who is having difficulty in school. As a school health nurse you have to be out in the community. Youth of our community have gotten to know me. Even when they finish school they call me with questions or leave a note.
What do you find rewarding about your work?
The fact is the youth are our future. They are ones who will grow up to lead our communities and take care of us. So by having a positive influence on them, you have a positive influence on where they go.
What is it about your education and experience as a registered nurse that you think brings value to your position?
As a registered nurse, you learn about the importance of empowering populations and health promotion. It’s also our ability to fully assess situations. It’s walking into a school and seeing a grandmother who is looking at you because her grandson was taken away and being able to offer support. It’s thinking at a critical level and realizing what is an emergency and what is an everyday occurrence. Taking a step back to say this is what we need to look at.
You’ve talked about having an impact on students, what is something else you enjoy about your job?
One of the best things I like about my job is nothing stays the same. There is constant change, constant learning. You can’t get complacent. I recommend all registered nurses pursue certification in their speciality area. I completed mine a couple years ago and now I act for a mentor for the Canadian Nurses Association for registered nurses completing certification in community health. Continuing education is important for personal growth, but also for giving back to your community.
View all Nurse Spotlights
Marie Budden
Marie Budden is a school health nurse working in Stephenville. She brings her expertise as a registered nurse to students from kindergarten to Grade 12. For Marie, however, promoting healthy living also expands far beyond the classroom walls to families and the community.
Why is it important to have a health care presence in schools?
Health promotion with children and youth is huge. When you teach about healthy living at a young age, you not only get students, they bring it home and pass that learning on. They’ll say things like “Well, mom, I think I’d like to have an apple today because on Canada’s Food Guide….” or “Nan or Pop, you really shouldn’t have a cigarette because….” It’s amazing how much children know. They are like sponges.
What kind of supports to you provide in the school?
I coordinate a range of school health initiatives and depending on the grade level there is a different focus in the education. I cover everything from nutrition, chronic illness, diabetes, injury prevention, to tobacco reduction. I work with the guidance counsellor to teach anti-bullying. I’ve held wellness days, which are a full day of education for the whole school. As a school health nurse, I also team up with other community leaders like addiction counsellors and the RCMP to teach drug and alcohol awareness.
What kind of approach do you take when working with students?
It’s important to make it fun and interesting. Reaching those in their life is also very important. I have a health promotion bulletin board that I update every month. It’s always a new topic and the students know where to find it. I make sure the families can too. I have the bulletin board in a place where their families can access it when they come in the school.
When working with students, I guess it’s very important to reach families as well?
I’m always available to the families. My email and phone number are there for families to use. I work with parents on many issues, whether it’s dealing with lice or providing support to a student who is having difficulty in school. As a school health nurse you have to be out in the community. Youth of our community have gotten to know me. Even when they finish school they call me with questions or leave a note.
What do you find rewarding about your work?
The fact is the youth are our future. They are ones who will grow up to lead our communities and take care of us. So by having a positive influence on them, you have a positive influence on where they go.
What is it about your education and experience as a registered nurse that you think brings value to your position?
As a registered nurse, you learn about the importance of empowering populations and health promotion. It’s also our ability to fully assess situations. It’s walking into a school and seeing a grandmother who is looking at you because her grandson was taken away and being able to offer support. It’s thinking at a critical level and realizing what is an emergency and what is an everyday occurrence. Taking a step back to say this is what we need to look at.
You’ve talked about having an impact on students, what is something else you enjoy about your job?
One of the best things I like about my job is nothing stays the same. There is constant change, constant learning. You can’t get complacent. I recommend all registered nurses pursue certification in their speciality area. I completed mine a couple years ago and now I act for a mentor for the Canadian Nurses Association for registered nurses completing certification in community health. Continuing education is important for personal growth, but also for giving back to your community.
View all Nurse Spotlights
