Staff Members Nominated for State Awards

Everyday Fayette’s school clinics help students and teachers perform at their personal best by protecting their health through prevention, maintenance and education.

The Fayette County School System is fortunate to have staffed clinics in all of its 27 schools. Each clinic cares for 25-100 students per day with illnesses, chronic health conditions and injuries. Approximately 25-50 students receive medication daily at each school clinic. Just this year alone, school clinics have seen over 145,000 students combined.

In addition to administering medications and treating illnesses, clinic members also conduct health classes for students on a variety of topics such as hand washing, germ control and drug, alcohol and tobacco use.

Given all the benefits and services that Fayette’s clinic staff provides to students and employees, it is no wonder that three of them have been selected by the Georgia Association of School Nurses as contenders for several top awards.

School Health Services Coordinator Debbie King, RN, BSN, has been nominated for the Georgia School Nurse Administrator Award. King began Fayette’s School Health Services program six years ago. She coordinates all of the clinic staff as well as serves as a resource to staff, parents, students and the community. In the development of the program, she created the School Health Services Manual, developed guidelines and policies, initiated healthcare plans, implemented training, staff development and electronic clinic documentation.

King has also been instrumental in a campaign to place automated external defibrillators (AED) at all schools and county offices as well as developing an infection control program and countywide CPR training program. Additionally, she serves on the Medical Reserve Corps of West Georgia Steering Committee, a volunteer support group for emergency response in a 12 county area, and the Fayette County Emergency Planning Committee.

Peachtree City Elementary school nurse Lori Langbehn, RN, has been nominated for the Georgia School Nurse of the Year Award. She has been a school nurse in Fayette for 14 years and a RN for 27 years.

At Peachtree City, Langbehn cares for over 600 students and staff. Last year she was the first non-teacher to receive a minigrant from the Fayette County Education Foundation for a project focusing on childhood obesity and healthy hand washing habits. She is currently enrolled as a student in the RN to BSN program at Jacksonville University to advance her professional licensure.

Sara Harp Minter school nurse Bonita Powers, LPN, has been nominated for the Georgia School LPN of the Year Award. She has been a school nurse for six years in Fayette and a LPN for 25 years. Daily she cares for 700 students and staff at Sara Harp Minter.

Last year, Powers became an American Heart BLS (Basic Life Support) instructor to assist in CPR, AED and first aid training in her school and other schools in the county. She also joined the Medical Reserve Corps of West Georgia and is currently pursuing her Registered Nursing degree to advance her professional licensure.

In order to be considered for these awards, a member of the Georgia Association of School Nurses must submit a nomination letter, which has to be accepted by the association. Once, accepted, the nominee must complete an application and provide letters of references from their supervisors, parents and other colleagues.

Applicants for School Nurse and LPN of the year are evaluated on quality of care, ethics, education, collegiality, collaboration, research, resource utilization, communication, program management and health education.

Applicants for School Nurse Administrator of the Year are evaluated on clinical practice leadership, administrative leadership, professional development, professional advocacy activity, community involvement and research.

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