Vital Lessons: Recognizing the Role of School Nurses in Montana’s Future
As Montana communities continue to adapt to an ever-changing health landscape, one group of healthcare professionals remains steadfast in their commitment to protecting our youngest and most vulnerable: school nurses.
The “Vital Lessons” campaign, launched by Share My Lesson and partners, shines a national spotlight on school nurses and the critical role they play in bridging education and health. Here in Montana, that role is especially vital our school nurses are not just caregivers, they are educators, crisis responders, chronic illness managers, and trusted advocates for student well-being.
In rural and underserved areas across the state, school nurses often serve hundreds, sometimes thousands, of students across multiple campuses. They are the front line for mental health concerns, vaccine advocacy, substance use prevention, and ensuring students with chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes can safely thrive in the classroom. During emergencies, whether it’s a flu outbreak or the smoke-filled air of wildfire season, school nurses help keep doors open and learning possible.
The Vital Lessons campaign is also a valuable resource for Montana nurses, whether you’re working in schools, public health, or pediatric care. It offers downloadable lesson plans, toolkits, and training materials that support your work, encourage interprofessional collaboration, and empower you to advocate for the role of nurses in educational settings. These resources can help nurses across Montana amplify their voices and access the support they need to continue serving students and communities effectively.
At a time when healthcare staffing is stretched thin and public health issues continue to impact classrooms, the Montana Nurses Association stands in strong support of the “Vital Lessons” message: Every student deserves access to a full-time, licensed school nurse.
We encourage our members and community partners to:
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Advocate for increased funding for school nursing positions across Montana.
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Support legislation that strengthens the role of nurses in educational settings.
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Collaborate with educators and families to promote student health and safety.
Montana’s school nurses are teaching us all a vital lesson: healthy students are better learners, and strong school health programs build stronger communities.
Let’s invest in the future by supporting the nurses who care for it every single day. Check out this amazing resource, here: https://sharemylesson.com/vital-lessons