Phyllis Yoder wasn\u2019t born in Huron County, but she has been a big hit in this area for the past 25-30 years.<\/p>\n
Yoder is a registered nurse who works for the Huron Intermediate School District. She was honored with the title of Michigan School Nurse of the Year this past week.<\/p>\n
The nurse is originally from Virginia. She moved to the area when she married Dale Yoder. Together they have four children, aging from 19 to 25 years old.<\/p>\n
Previously, she worked at Scheurer Hospital for 15 years.<\/p>\n
Yoder was presented with her award at the Michigan Association of School Nurses (MASA) Conference in Dearborn. Besides the award presentation, the conference involved two long days of classes and information sharing. She was accompanied by ISD administrators Joseph Murphy, Jill Iskow and Carol Brown.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a very good conference,\u201d Yoder said. The classes covered numerous topics including legal issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach day of the conference was long and intense, but it was very good,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Yoder was recommended for the award by the ISD. According to MASN rules, only a school\u2019s administration is eligible to recommend a nurse. The annual award is given to only one school nurse in the state. As far as she knows, Yoder is the only full time, registered school nurse in Huron County.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel very honored,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are a lot of nurses that deserve it as much as I. … I feel very blessed to work for the HISD.\u201d<\/p>\n
There were about 130 school nurses attending the event. That represents about 60 percent of all school nurses in the state. Michigan is rated lowest in the nation in ratio of nurses to students.<\/p>\n
Financial constraints is the main reason for the low percentage. A School Nurse Task Force has been formed to rectify this problem. It was created by the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Michigan Department of Education.<\/p>\n
As part of the award presentation, Yoder was asked to discuss her job. She created a power point presentation and showed it on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Part of her power point presentation stated, \u201cSome of the other things I do as the school nurse is to teach CPR and First Aid annually for staff. I provide teachers with needed health information about their students. I communicate with parents and health care providers regarding health concerns. I educate staff members on health conditions, medications, and medical procedures that they encounter with their students.<\/p>\n
At the award presentation, the Michigan Association of School Nurses gave a brochure describing Yoder and some of her accomplishments.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuperintendent Joseph Murphy of Huron ISD describes Phyllis as a leader with initiative, positive attitude and a guiding example of the role a school nurse should play in a school setting. Other school administrators used words like competency, trustworthy, excellent communicator and positive role mode.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a recipient of the very prestigious award of School Nurse of the Year, Phyllis has demonstrated through her school nursing skills and abilities that she is very worthy of this honor.\u201d<\/p>\n