City of Waterbury, Connecticut Celebrates 112 Years of School Nursing

According to William J. Pape’s 1918 book “History of Waterbury and Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut,” the City of Waterbury inaugurated the medical inspection of pupils by school nurses in 1904, making them an early adopter of the school nursing revolution. By 1913, the Medical Inspector of Schools had designated a central room to be used as a clinic for the nurses to examine and treat students.

A 1919 City of Waterbury Health Department Report cited that the school was using 5 school nurses to examine each child for contagious and infectious diseases. Infections were given prompt treatments when necessary, and followed up on by the school nurses to accomplish better health and sanitation for students. The 1920s and 30s brought in new standards to differentiate between medical care and school nurses, designating school nurses to tend to first aid, health screenings, and disease prevention. By that time, the Waterbury School Nurses had already pioneered the practice of school nursing, contributing greatly to the health and wellbeing of the city’s school children.[et_bloom_inline optin_id=optin_17]

Today, school nursing is considered a specialty that requires advanced education and professional emergency care experience. School nurses promote health and safety practices, providing interventions to actual and potential health problems including acute injuries and managing chronic conditions like food allergies and asthma. For 112 years, Waterbury School Nurses have pioneered and specialized the practice of school of nursing, treating over two million pupils in that time. You can learn more about the School Nurses of Waterbury in their full report here.