Since joining the Health Office staff in September, Amy Antilla, a licensed nurse, says she “loves the job and every part of the job.” Working with students remains her favorite part, as–unlike in a hospital setting, where nurses don’t spend long periods with families–she can work with the same families over several years.
Antilla tells the story of her daughter, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in kindergarten. “Her school nurse was amazing,” Antilla says. “I saw what a difference that school made in our lives, and it made me change my focus.” Rather than work in a hospital, which she initially believed she might, she became a school nurse.
After making her career decision, Antilla spent eight years in another district’s elementary school before working for two years in a high school and finally starting her eleventh year nursing in the MHS Health Office. “I love working with high school kids, because high school kids are so great at telling you what’s going on,” Antilla says.
Antilla works alongside Rhonda Kullman, the licensed practical nurse students can find manning the Health Office Front Desk. For students with run-of-the-mill issues, such as headaches, Kullman can solve most ailments and, therefore, deals with most people entering the office, while Antilla steps in when more privacy or deeper conversations are needed. Though both nurses can trade tasks, Antilla typically talks to other staff, such as counselors, principals, or psychologists. “We want to make sure we’re providing privacy to all students,” Antilla says, using her office to make private phone calls and have conversations they don’t want to broadcast to the rest of the Health Office.
In addition to preserving the privacy of the students who walk through her door, Antilla highlights the importance of prioritizing students’ health. She understands the many commitments that students may have but says,“It’s such a busy time in high school, but if you can set up some good habits, they can really help you in your whole life.”
