Kimberly McClintick, MSN, RN, the children’s school health coordinator at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, embarked on a mission in 2018 to elevate the experience of school nurses across the state.
Through surveys and conversations, she discovered a crucial need for mentors, particularly in rural communities, where school nurses often find themselves as the sole healthcare provider for an entire district. The lack of support and guidance can leave these nurses feeling overwhelmed.
McClintick was determined to bridge this gap and revolutionize the support system for school nurses and teamed up with Andrea Riley, BSN, RN, children’s school health liaison, to create a groundbreaking initiative–the Nebraska School Nurse Mentor Program. The program pairs seasoned school nurse mentors with newer school nurses.
The CDC recently recognized the Nebraska School Nurse Mentor Program as a remarkable Healthy Schools Story of Achievement. Daily Nurse honors Kimberly McClintick as the Nurse of the Week for her work to enhance school health in rural communities and helping to increase new nurses’ confidence in their work with the 12,5000+ students in rural school districts in Nebraska.
Since its inception during the 2020-2021 school year, the School Nurse Mentor Program has seen resounding success. It has already made a significant impact with 83 mentees and 25 mentors from 70 school districts across the state. An impressive 76% of mentees reported a notable increase in confidence and proficiency, resulting in a heightened ability to fulfill their roles effectively.
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