Evie Joyce said she has a heart condition which causes her to feel faint and sometimes pass out. Evie said that when this happens at school, she knows just what to do – to go to Mrs. Scandrett where she gets the help she needs.
“She understands me well and not a lot of other nurses understood it at first but when I go there and say I need a snack, she’ll make sure that I have it immediately,” she said. “She’s really kind when you’re there, even if you go in too much.”
Scandrett is just finishing her first year as the school nurse at Norwalk High School. Some students and staff said that she has been a great addition to the school.
“It’s been great,” Scandrett said. “Everyone has been very welcoming, and I haven’t really had any concerns or issues of not feeling accepted. Students have been great.”
Scandrett said that she used to work at many elementary schools as a teacher and later decided to become a school nurse.
“I was interested in health professions but decided to try the teaching route, and then I was wanting to try that so I went back to school and got my nursing degree,” she said.
She said that she heard from lots of people about the position here in Norwalk, and since she had lived here for 11 years and her kids have grown up here, she decided to apply for the job.
“It’s a nice short commute, which is nice, and it’s just a good community, and I knew it was a good school district from having my daughters come up through the school system,” she said.
Scandrett said that it has been really fun being here helping everyone, which is what inspired her to become a nurse in the beginning.
“I just really like being around people…and helping them,” she said.
Scandrett said that at first it was kind of hard getting used to the school, but she was able to do just fine.
“It was a lot to learn, where all the classrooms are and what were everyone’s names and all that,” she said. “It was a big learning experience, but after a year under my belt here, I’m happy I came.”
Mr. Basinger, principal, said that Mrs. Scandrett has done a great job making sure the kids at Norwalk High School get the help they need.
“I think she’s been a really good addition to our school,” Basinger said.
Basinger said that being a school nurse can be a big job, but Scandrett has done a great job with all the responsibilities, like teaching EpiPen procedures to help allergic reactions as well as helping spread out information when a contagious illness breaks out like the flu.
“She’s done a great job and we’re glad we hired her,” he said.
Evie Joyce said that at other schools, nurses didn’t know what to do, like that they needed to check her vitals to make sure she wouldn’t faint during class. Evie said she feels more confident at Norwalk, where Mrs. Scandrett does everything to make sure she is OK.
“It makes me feel more safe at school because I get scared at school of passing out, and the fear has led to panic attacks,” she said. “But knowing that I can go to her when I need to without questions being asked, I feel more safe.”
