When pandemic-related funds ran dry, some school districts across the country started cutting positions where they needed them most – in the school nurse’s office. In Las Cruces Public Schools, nurses are still taking charge, and the district still boasts a rare distinction: LCPS is one of the few school districts across the country with a registered nurse in every school. “Right now, we have 47 nurses on staff and 27 health assistants,” noted Shawna Bailey, Director of Health Services for LCPS. Bailey leads a team of nurses who ensure all school buildings are staffed with RNs to care for the daily needs of students, assist with medically fragile students, or connect families with needed resources. Nicole Chavarria is one of the 47 registered nurses in LCPS and is celebrating her fifth year as the school nurse at Organ Mountain High School. Overall, she has been with the district for 11 years and has held positions at Alameda Elementary School and Picacho Middle School. “The most rewarding part of being the school nurse is making a difference,” said Chavarria. “Every opportunity is a teachable moment, from washing your hands to staying properly hydrated.” Chavarria says the exciting part of the job is not knowing what situation might walk in her door at any given moment. “We get the typical bumps and scrapes,” she adds. “And then there are the more urgent matters, like when we had a student in the construction trades class come in with a nail puncture in his thumb.” Chavarria says working in a field where she could help people was always on her mind, and at one point she thought about being a doctor. “But nursing is a much more versatile field, especially for a working mom with a family.” After graduating from New Mexico State University, Chavarria took a position at Mesilla Valley Hospital. She also spent 11 years at the Student Health Center at NMSU. Prior to that, she was part of the float pool at Memorial Medical Center. “You got to work in all areas of the hospital,” she says of her time at MMC. “It was a good opportunity to get a wide variety of experience. In some ways, that’s what my job is as the school nurse – there are a variety of challenges each day. After 11 years in the district, there is still so much to learn.” National School Nurse Appreciation Day is May 8. For more information on joining the Health Services team at LCPS, click here.

A Registered Nurse in Every School: LCPS Celebrates Rare Distinction Ahead of Appreciation Day — National School Nurse Appreciation Day is May 8

Kelly Jameson

May 7, 2024

When pandemic-related funds ran dry, some school districts across the country started cutting positions where they needed them most – in the school nurse’s office. In Las Cruces Public Schools, nurses are still taking charge, and the district still boasts a rare distinction: LCPS is one of the few school districts across the country with a registered nurse in every school.  

“Right now, we have 47 nurses on staff and 27 health assistants,” noted Shawna Bailey, Director of Health Services for LCPS. Bailey leads a team of nurses who ensure all school buildings are staffed with RNs to care for the daily needs of students, assist with medically fragile students, or connect families with needed resources.  

Nicole Chavarria is one of the 47 registered nurses in LCPS and is celebrating her fifth year as the school nurse at Organ Mountain High School. Overall, she has been with the district for 11 years and has held positions at Alameda Elementary School and Picacho Middle School.  

“The most rewarding part of being the school nurse is making a difference,” said Chavarria. “Every opportunity is a teachable moment, from washing your hands to staying properly hydrated.”  

Chavarria says the exciting part of the job is not knowing what situation might walk in her door at any given moment.  

“We get the typical bumps and scrapes,” she adds. “And then there are the more urgent matters, like when we had a student in the construction trades class come in with a nail puncture in his thumb.”  

Chavarria says working in a field where she could help people was always on her mind, and at one point she thought about being a doctor.  

“But nursing is a much more versatile field, especially for a working mom with a family.”  

After graduating from New Mexico State University, Chavarria took a position at Mesilla Valley Hospital. She also spent 11 years at the Student Health Center at NMSU. Prior to that, she was part of the float pool at Memorial Medical Center.  

“You got to work in all areas of the hospital,” she says of her time at MMC. “It was a good opportunity to get a wide variety of experience. In some ways, that’s what my job is as the school nurse – there are a variety of challenges each day. After 11 years in the district, there is still so much to learn.” 

National School Nurse Appreciation Day is May 8. For more information on joining the Health Services team at LCPS, click here.  

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