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NURSING STUDENTS AND SPIRITS DURING

COVID-19

“Nurse Desi,” as students affectionately students who are out of date with their
call her, treats students and staff with high shots. Outbreaks of chickenpox or measles
medical protocols and standards. She’s are possible, which can be dangerous for
also well aware that a COVID-19 diagno- children under the age of one or pregnant
sis could lead to serious illness or death to women. I’m worried about that.”
family members.
Nurse Fernandez began her career at
Southside High School principal Ms. Deme- Southside ISD nearly 18 years ago working
tria Sance says, Nurse Desi is hardworking with special needs children at Heritage Ele-
and consistent yet, can automatically make mentary. She transferred to Southside High
life-saving decisions. “Nurse Fernandez’s School in 2010 and has been there since.
work is immeasurable. Not only does she “The district is growing, but it is still very
manage the needs of the high school days, family-oriented and family connected. I
but she has also provided much needed am grateful to be accepted by this commu-
support for other schools in the district” nity that I truly respect and love,” she said.
said Ms. Sance.
Southside High School nurse Desiree Fer- Southside ISD asks all to help us recognize
nandez charts daily the growing number If there’s one thing Nurse Desiree would all the school nurses and paraprofessionals
of COVID-19 cases impacting the district. do differently, she says, she would have be- who have been working nonstop to help
Twelve-hour days have become routine. come a nurse practitioner early in her ca- guide administrators, teachers, parents,
Her high school nurses office now acts as reer. She also says COVID-19 has impact- and students through these unprecedented
an urgent care center. “I miss the typical ed nurses everywhere. “It put the spotlight times. They are truly part of the frontline
days pre-COVID when sending kids home back on nurses and the importance of what and help us heal in more ways than we
with lice was a big deal.” Instead, South- we do.” could ever have imagined.
side ISD’s registered nurse finds herself ei-
ther glued to a computer documenting the As a medical professional, Nurse Desiree
coronavirus surge, charting cases affecting says it is important to keep away from oth-
students or staff, in addition to answering ers, wear your mask correctly, and take
questions from frantic parents, dispensing children to the doctor’s office for health
medications, performing medical proce- checkups and vaccines. If not, the conse-
dures, addressing mental health concerns, quences, she warns, can be dire. “There are
and making the occasional EMS call.
Nurse Fernandez conforting staff member.
Thank you to our nurses at Southside!

Adela Alvarado, RN - Heritage ES Mark Fuller, RN - Matthey MS
Norma Cruz, RN - Freedom ES Yvonne Leal, RN - Gallardo ES
Jennifer Farias, RN - Pearce ES Blanca Portillo, RN - Losoya MS
Desiree Fernandez, BSN, RN - SHS Heather Siebert, BSN, RN - Menchaca
Emilia Vara, CNA - SHS

6 www.southsideisd.org