On a typical day at KHS, more than 500 students pass through hallways, use keyboards, and touch surfaces containing thousands of bacterial colonies. With an average water fountain spigot containing more bacteria than a toilet seat, it is remarkable that the health of hundreds of students rests on only one person: the school nurse.
While some students may see the nurse’s office as a place for short-term care, KHS Nurse Katie Mahler handles health concerns from illness to injury.
Mahler began with a background in counseling and psychology, and later returned to school to become a nurse. “As I progressed through my career, I started working with kids, then I went back to school to become a nurse to educate more, which led me to working in schools,” said Mahler. She previously worked in the Fair Lawn School District and is entering her fifth year in the Kinnelon District.
School nurses play a crucial role in protecting student health. The National Association of School Nurses lists key duties such as assessing severity of illness or injury, distributing medications, and preventing the spread of communicable diseases.
The numerous responsibilities and constantly changing school environment mean that for Mahler, there is no “typical day” as a school nurse. “I can do anything from a small cut to a bloody nose, to an emergency where you have to call an ambulance. Every day is different, so I’m just prepared for anything,” she said.
The scope of Mahler’s responsibilities goes beyond immediate care. According to Physical Education and Health teacher Stephanie Manco, Mahler makes sure every student is cleared health wise to play their sport. This includes conducting regular health screenings and organizing physical reports for each student athlete.
Additionally, Mahler assists injured students during emergency drills. “I go through my list and make sure I’m catching anyone who’s on crutches or has mobility issues. For the reunification drill, I have to get them on the bus and get them over to the DPW recycling center,” she said.
School nurses are also equipped to help with students’ mental health. Twenty-three percent of children aged 3–17 are diagnosed with behavioral or mental health conditions. School nurses are often the first ones to see and address these conditions to better students’ well-being.
Mahler works with the guidance department, specifically Student Assistance Counselor Danielle Wysocki, very closely. “Students may come to me with physical symptoms of anxiety. We’ll talk about it, and then I’ll refer them to Mrs. Wysocki. We are a team to make sure everybody gets what they need,” she said.
Only 65.7% of public schools in the U.S. have access to a full-time school nurse. Although the Kinnelon Public School District has multiple nurses, Mahler is the only medical professional at KHS. “You’re on an island. I can’t really go to anyone in the building with a medical question,” she said.
However, Mahler has always worked in high schools and enjoys it. “I feel like the students can participate in their treatment. They have an understanding of what’s going on, so they can tell me what’s wrong, and we can talk about it,” she said.
Both students and teachers alike describe Mahler as caring and approachable. “I usually go to Mrs. Mahler for my allergies or my migraines. Or, if my stomach hurts, she’ll let me rest and call my mom,” said junior Carly Draudt.
Manco expressed a similar perspective, noting Mahler is “welcoming and knowledgeable in many different aspects, from the physical part of being injured to the mental health side. She’s a great person for kids to go to if they need somebody, and her door is always open.”
Although Mahler responds to student health issues as they arise, she is an advocate for long-term health, specifically for preventive care, which aims to prevent or delay the development of illness, disease, or other medical problems.
Preventive care includes getting vaccinated and getting screened for possible health issues. “Getting vaccinated and getting enough sleep is super important from a health and nursing perspective. I think sleep deprivation is an epidemic in the United States. I wish [students] could follow better preventive care so we could send them off to college as whole people,” said Mahler.
