Mary Beth Abate, nurse at Assumption Regional School in Galloway, does a temperature check on a student at the beginning of the day. For Abate and other school nurses throughout the Diocese of Camden, the job is no longer defined by school hours. (Dave Hernandez)
Mary Beth Abate, school nurse at Assumption Regional Catholic School in Galloway, likes the morning temperature check.
“I get to see them when they’re healthy,” says Abate as she greets second, third and fourth graders at their assigned entrance during morning drop off. Students stop at a face-recognition kiosk that screens their temperature. With Mrs. Abate’s all clear and a friendly wish for a good day, they head to class.
“They’re happy to be in school. They don’t want to go home,” she says.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most of Abate’s interaction with students was in her office, limited to those who felt unwell, needed a bandage or ice pack, or came for physician-authorized medication. Students still come to Abate with these needs, but the responsibility for health and safety during a pandemic has added a dimension to school nursing that was unimaginable not so long ago.
For Abate, like school nurses throughout the Diocese of Camden, the job is no longer defined by school hours.
“COVID doesn’t rest on the weekends,” said Abate, who often speaks with parents in the evenings and on weekends, and is in constant contact with the local health department. Much of her time is spent navigating quarantine guidelines and identifying individuals who may need to quarantine if a COVID-19 case is reported.
Abate has served the Assumption community for 13 years, following an earlier career as a pediatric rehabilitation nurse. She said her early apprehensions about returning to school in person were replaced with confidence in the school’s safety protocols. She was also grateful to be part of the planning process throughout the summer of 2020.
“Whatever I had to do to keep the kids safe, that’s what I was going to do,” she said. She credits parents, teachers and students for doing their part to keep the virus from spreading in school.
In a recent episode of the Diocese of Camden’s “Talking Catholic” podcast, school nurses Cele Walter and Shayna Benson shared similar experiences.
After 20 years at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, Walter is currently in her 15th year at Paul VI High School in Haddonfield.
“I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to stay open. … We have a school of almost 1,000 kids,” said Walter.
About 100 Paul VI students initially chose remote learning, but many have returned in person.
“There’s been no spread inside the building, which I think is a testament to any school [where] you follow the rules. You can stay open,” Walter said.
Walter said she believes the school is safer than many other places and attributes the success to the way administration, students, faculty and parents have worked together — a partnership she describes as “absolutely astounding.”
Benson, who began her nursing career at Saint Margaret Regional School in Woodbury Heights, is in her third year as a school nurse.
“Students and staff here are very resilient. I’m amazed by just how well everyone has been really rolling with COVID-19.” she said.
All three nurses noted substantial changes in their roles with the presence of COVID-19, among them: more collaboration with school guidance counselors; extensive, ongoing communication with families; steady exchange with local health departments; requests for advice from faculty; and a “seat at the table” in nearly all aspects of planning.
The efforts of school nurses have not gone unnoticed. With cards, signs and social media posts, school communities celebrated their nurses during recent National Nurse Appreciation Week. The walls of Abate’s office are covered with hand-made cards from every Assumption student. One reads, “Thank you for saving my life.”