[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 23, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING GUAM DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NURSES IN HONOR OF NATIONAL 
                           SCHOOL NURSES DAY

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2017

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate 
nurses and school nurse support staff of the Guam Department of 
Education (GDOE) in honor of National Nurses Week and National School 
Nurses Day. There are currently 44 Registered Nurses and 3 Licensed 
Practical Nurses serving the students of the Guam Department of 
Education. These nurses take on the daunting task of caring for the 
Guam Department of Education's more than 30,000 students and nearly 
4,000 employees of the Guam Department of Education. These school 
nurses work day in and day out to ensure the health of our island's 
children so they can continue their education in the classroom.
  Guam Department of Education nurses join the National Association of 
School Nurses in celebrating the theme of this year's School Nurses 
Day: Healthy Nurse. Healthy Students. They also join the American 
Nurses Association in celebrating the 2017 Nurses Week: The Balance of 
Mind, Body, and Spirit! GDOE nurses have chosen to celebrate National 
School Nurses Day by teaching students how to conduct hands only CPR or 
heart health activities.
  Every year the GDOE nurses serve a critical role in providing a safe 
and healthy learning environment for students throughout Guam's public 
elementary, middle, and high schools. GDOE nurses provide frontline, 
critical care for the most fragile children in our community and are 
members of health teams that support both educational and response 
initiatives dedicated to improving public health. Additionally, school 
nurses are liaisons to the school administrators, parents and 
healthcare providers when it comes to attending to the physical health 
of our island's students.
  Every school year is different and challenging for the GDOE nurses. 
In April 2016, the school nurses received a call from the Department of 
Public Health and Social Services asking them to administer 5,000 doses 
of TB skin test solution to GDOE students and staff who need updates. 
The school nurses embraced the challenge and were able to host TB 
clinics in almost every GDOE school for students and staff. Despite 
these challenges, our island's school nurses have responded to these 
needs with professionalism and passion for the school communities they 
serve.
  I commend and congratulate nurses and school nurse support staff of 
the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) as they celebrate the 2017 
National School Nurses Day and On a successful school year. I join the 
people of Guam in expressing our appreciation for their contributions 
to Guam's school communities.

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