As COVID-19 cases continuously increase around the United States and the rest of the world, our community has grown and adapted to ensure the safety of our students. The essential roles of healthcare workers have allowed us to be able to still function while taking precautions during the pandemic. These workers aren't just hospital workers and physicians. During these times everyone must expand their role and do what is best in order for us to function. In our Wooster community, these include parents, students, teachers, administrators, and our nurse Anna Jette. The role of the nurse in our school has always been vital. However, in the midst of a pandemic, it is important to understand and be grateful for the people who give their all to protect the little things, such as learning in-person.
The role of the nurse has always been to follow up on student or faculty illnesses and to establish the appropriate care when needed. This applied whether the illness was flu, mono, strep, etc. Be that as it may, COVID has taken this to an entirely new level. Spreading through respiratory droplets causes the need for mask-wearing and social distancing. Teaching and implementing infection control has always been a role for Nurse Jette. However, this year her presence around campus has brought with it lessons and reminders on staying safe throughout the school day.
When looking at the day-by-day actions taken by Nurse Jette to keep us safe it really is overwhelming to just listen about let alone do it. There is almost no way to keep track of the health of each other with the volume of our students and faculty. Examples include the Magnus Health we fill out each morning. Used to identify people with the illness and exposure to COVID-19, Magnus Health generates direction through either a "go" or "stop" sign and Nurse Jette follows up with anyone who receives the "stop" sign.
These are examples of a few of the questions we are asked to answer each morning, allowing Nurse Jette to see how we feel as we do our best to stay healthy during these dire times. This also allows our nurse to reach out to those who have been directly affected by the virus and make sure they are receiving the proper care. This care spreads not only for the ill but as well as the students and faculty who may have been asked to undergo a self-quarantine due to potential transmission through close contact.
Yet another stressor for Nurse Jette includes contact tracing. Each morning as she arrives at school she looks at the stop and go signs to see who and shouldn't be here. She reaches out and assesses what people's needs are, along with making sure they are getting the proper care. When a case occurs, Nurse Jette states that "instead of waiting if they are suspected we immediately notify the close contacts and ask them to quarantine to prevent further transmission." She continued with a simile saying "the spread is like tree branches, it keeps growing until cut off. Which is why the close contact quarantine is needed."
Nurse Jette has worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of the Wooster students. The appreciation should be overwhelming as one of the main reasons behind us learning in-person stems from our faculty members such as Nurse Jette. As we rush toward Thanksgiving break and cases rise rapidly staying safe continues to be a concern for all. Proper handwashing and social distancing must be implemented in hopes to continue our success at staying healthy. It must be a team effort and we appreciate everything being done to keep our students on campus. Happy Thanksgiving.