The role of school nurse has evolved to treat much more than scraped knees and stomachaches.
“From illness and injury to medication administration. We do a lot with chronic health conditions and managing those as well as mental health concerns.”
Jennifer Yoder would know.
She’s the nationally certified nurse serving Hamilton Community Schools and was just named the 2025 School Nurse of the Year for Michigan, honored for her commitment to education, training and innovative programs.
“I was in three different classrooms talking about handwashing. We read a story and then used a black light to look at germs on our hands and then had them wash their hands and see how good a job they did with that.”
It’s the second year a Holland Hospital school nurse has received the honor.
The program provides onsite medical support to over 13 000 students across lakeshore communities.
Manager of the Holland Hospital School Nurse and School Mental Health Program Hendrina Cupery says training has changed over the last 20 years to meet changing student needs and includes recognizing chronic health conditions, making referrals for families and recommendations for staff.
“Our job is to not only walk alongside the family but to walk alongside the staff, to help them, train them, for the safety of the student.”
Holland Hospital’s School Nurse program serves all grades in 29 schools in the greater Holland area.
