Longtime Ossining School Nurse Recognized for Exemplary Service

Roosevelt School Nurse Dianne Thomas has received the New York State Association of School Nurses’ 2017 Award for Excellence in School Nursing for Westchester and Putnam counties.

Ms. Thomas was selected because she has shown exemplary practice in her school nurse practice in diagnosis, communication, leadership, education, diagnosis, outcomes identification, ethics and other areas. Her colleagues nominated her to receive the award, which she received at a dinner in Yorktown Heights Wednesday – National School Nurse Day. She was one of six school nurses statewide who received an Award for Excellence this week.

A school nurse for 27 years, Ms. Thomas currently practices at Roosevelt Elementary School and is also the nursing coordinator for the Ossining School District. She is one of only 37 nationally certified school nurses in New York, and she has been a member of this select group of professionals for 24 years.

Ms. Thomas said she was touched and got kind of emotional when she heard about the award because it’s great to be appreciated. “I’m very excited. I was tickled by it,” she said. “I don’t think you can get enough pats on the back.”

Ms. Thomas has also served as co-president of the Zone 4 chapter of the New York State Association of School Nurses (Westchester and Putnam counties); as zone representative; and as a member of the board of directors of the statewide organization.

“Her efforts were a significant reason that our 2017 NYSASN Fall Conference was a resounding success,” said Mary Beth Guyett, zone coordinator for the state association and Zone 4 representative.

School nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success and lifelong achievement and health of students.

“Recognizing ourselves as playing a critical role in improving the health and wellness of our students is an important part of realizing the contributions that school nurses make each day,” Betsy Williams, president of the statewide group, said in announcing the awards Wednesday. “It is with our knowledge and support that children with chronic conditions can have a successful school year by bridging the gap between home, medical providers and school.”

Ms. Thomas said she has worked throughout the school district during her tenure, including at Brookside, Claremont, Anne M. Dorner School, Roosevelt School when it was for pre-kindergarteners, and the First Steps/Primeros Pasos program for the community’s youngest children.

In addition to her work at Roosevelt School, she works with nurses throughout the district and serves as the liaison between the nurses and the district administration. She visits all the school buildings as needed, does all the scheduling and substitutes, and has other responsibilities.

“I love working with children. I just like the variety too and the challenges,” Ms. Thomas said, adding those include asthma, diabetes, food allergies and other health conditions.