BANDON – Imagine a school day where every child, from a scraped knee to a chronic condition, has a trusted health advocate on site. That’s the vision brought to life by the Bandon School District School Nurse Program, a vital partnership between the Bandon School District and Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center (SCHHC), championed by the Southern Coos Health Foundation.

For over four years, this program has provided essential healthcare access directly within Bandon’s schools.

“Our goal is to work toward becoming an Oregon Certified School-Based Health Center in the coming years,” explained Alix McGinley, Executive Director of the Southern Coos Health Foundation. “We believe every child deserves access to quality healthcare.”

The Power of Two: Meeting Daily Needs, Expanding Reach

Until last year, full-time Registered Nurse Liz Deters covered Ocean Crest Elementary, Harbor Lights Middle School, and Bandon High School.

“Since the addition of a second school nurse a year ago, our ability to serve the health and wellness needs of students has improved significantly,” shared Deters.

That second nurse is Lena Hawthorne, RN. Her arrival has transformed their

 capacity.

“We’re now able to increase parent outreach, support students during lunch, and dedicate time to critical case management and professional relationships with external support agencies,” said Deters.

This expanded support even allows Deters to accompany students with chronic conditions, like juvenile diabetes, to off-site school activities – a true game-changer for their participation and safety.

“I want the community to know that the relationship that we build bridges families and the schools together,” Deters said.

“It’s good that we’re kind of the ‘middle man’ in the community,” Hawthorne echoed. “There aren’t many places where families can learn about all the resources and connections available to them.”

Daily, their work is dynamic and crucial:

• Acute Care: Addressing sudden illnesses and injuries, especially during recess.
• Morning Support: Offering comfort, warm peppermint tea, and snacks to students arriving without breakfast due to fatigue or upset stomachs.
• Medication Management: Administering daily medications and closely monitoring diabetic students.
• Urgent Response: Handling complex calls from middle school and urgent injuries from the high school, from concussions to lacerations.

Together, Liz and Lena average 35-40 student interactions per day across the schools, providing immediate care, building trust with families, and ensuring consistent health support.

“Our school nurses are truly the heart of our campus community,” said Ocean Crest Principal Courtney Wehner. “Their unwavering dedication to the well-being of both students and staff goes far beyond the expected scope of their roles.”

“Each day, they provide not only essential medical care, but also compassion, reassurance, and a safe space for those in need,” Wehner added. “Their commitment to supporting both physical and mental health makes a lasting difference in the lives of everyone they serve. We are deeply grateful for their tireless efforts, professionalism, and the genuine care they bring to our schools. They are nothing short of extraordinary.”

A Growing Impact: Beyond the Band-Aid

Beyond daily care, the school nurses are shaping a healthier future for Bandon’s youth:

• Coordinated Care: Successfully connecting students who might otherwise lack access to pediatric care with Dr. Jennifer Webster at the SCHHC Multi-Specialty Clinic.
• Health Education: Developing comprehensive initiatives for the 2026-27 school year, covering hygiene, vaping prevention, basic nutrition, age-appropriate sexual health, and mental health first aid.

“It’s imperative for us to stay in our roles because of the high acuity of kids with chronic conditions,” Deters said. “I can’t imagine not having a nurse to help care for these kids. Without that care, it leaves families uneasy about sending their kids to school. We’re constantly told they know their kids are being taken care of because we’re here.”

“We are deeply grateful for the Foundation’s ongoing support,” Deters added. “This investment has already translated into safer, healthier school environments — and we’re just getting started.”

How You Can Help Us Grow!

The Bandon School Nurse Program relies on support from the Southern Coos Health Foundation, Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center, the Bandon School District, and generous community donors.

“Not long ago, school nurses were becoming a thing of the past in many districts, including Bandon, due to budget cuts,” said McGinley. “Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center and the Southern Coos Health Foundation stepped up to fund this vital program. Our hope and goal was to have both RNs employed full-time, taking care of the health needs of all our precious children. Thanks to generous grants and ongoing donations we’ve been able to do that.”

Your donation, large or small, directly impacts over 600 students in the Bandon School District and their families, bringing them essential healthcare, education, and support.

Our Wish List: Make a Tangible Difference

To expand their reach and enhance student well-being, our school nurses have identified key needs:

• Giving Garden:
  • Choose items from an Amazon Wish List that is frequently updated by the school nurses based on current needs. Your donation will be delivered and shared with students in the Bandon School District. This is a simple way for the community to support students. Link to Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XHEEN48KO0R

• Hygiene Support:
  • Washer and Dryer for Ocean Crest Elementary: To provide clean clothing for students in need, ensuring comfort and dignity.
  • Private Hygiene Facilities: Creating a discreet space for students and families to shower and do laundry, along with providing hygiene and puberty kits.
• Comfort & Connection:
  • Sundries: Funds for essentials like cough drops, tea, Chapstick, lotion, and honey – small comforts that build trust.
  • Hygiene Kits for 4th Graders: Empowering students with personal care skills as they transition to middle school.
• Tools for Enhanced Care:
  • Dedicated Nursing Phone: Essential for managing diabetic students via app data and for safe travel between schools.
• Professional Growth:
  • Professional Development: Opportunities for Certified School Nurse certification, conferences, and workshops.
• Increased Staffing: Expanding their team to:
  • Provide more age-appropriate health education (puberty, vaping, mental health, chronic illness management).
  • Meet the acute needs of Bandon High School students beyond emergencies.
  • Offer closer follow-up for students with chronic conditions (asthma, GI disorders).
  • Assist families in navigating the healthcare system and establishing primary care.
  • Increase family contact and provide trauma-informed care.

Please consider supporting the Bandon School District School Nurse Program. Your contribution will help us ensure every child in our community has the care they need to thrive.

Visit SouthernCoos.org/Foundation to make your donation today!

Donations can also be sent to: Southern Coos Health Foundation, 900 11th St. SE, Bandon, OR 97411 in care of Bandon School Nurse Program. For more information, call Alix McGinley at 520-241-4171.

Meet Our Dedicated School Nurses

Liz Deters, RN (Bandon School District School Nurse) Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Liz began

her nursing career in pediatric trauma and emergency care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in 2006. She moved to Bandon 13 years ago, falling in love with the area. After working in postpartum and the NICU at Bay Area Hospital, where she met Lena and discovered a passion for supporting moms and babies, Liz embarked on her own motherhood journey. As her two children grew and started school, becoming the school nurse felt like the perfect next step. Liz connects deeply with students and families, navigating challenges with a blend of laughter, comfort, and resilience. She values Lena’s expertise in community outreach and addressing systemic challenges and feels incredibly fortunate to work with a dedicated school district team committed to making a difference.

Lena Hawthorne, RN (Bandon School District School Nurse) Born and raised on Sixes River, Lena has been fortunate to call this area home for most of her life. After graduating from Pacific High School, she earned a degree in Interior Architecture from the University of Oregon, where designing a birth center sparked her passion for maternity care. She pursued nursing, beginning her career at Bay Area Hospital’s Family Birth Center (where she met Liz!). This led her to rewarding home birth work with Certified Nurse Midwife Shilo McKenzie. After having her own children (proud seventh-generation Coos/Curry County natives!), Lena transitioned to developing School-Based Health Centers with Coast Community Health, a natural fit for her current role. She finds the work challenging and rewarding, constantly thinking creatively to support students. Lena feels lucky to work alongside Liz, appreciating their complementary skills and the opportunity to directly connect with the community, playing a role in shaping the future of Bandon’s young people.

News Source : https://southerncoos.org/healthy-kids-thriving-community-supporting-bandons-school-nurses/