SCHOOL NURSE OF THE YEAR 2019:
NANCY TSURUMAKI

OSHNA is proud to announce that Nancy Tsurumaki has been selected as its 2019 School Nurse of the Year. Nancy has been a School Nurse since 2001 and currently works at Nishimachi International School in Japan which serves the children of international business persons and embassy staff. Her students hail from 37 different countries.
Nancy is a leader in the foreign nursing community in the greater Tokyo area as one of the founders of the Foreign Nurses Association of Japan (FNAJ) which holds quarterly meetings to offer foreign nurses the opportunity to network, provide presentations by guest speakers on relevant health topics, and be a part of the nursing community at large in Tokyo.
Nancy served on the OSHNA board as secretary and is currently OSHNA’s community listerv monitor. She was a presenter at the 2013 NASN Annual Conference and co-authored the article, "U.S. Licensed School Nurses Working in an International Setting" which was published in The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing.
She is a passionate teacher as evidenced by her broad background. According to her supervisor, “In regard to health promotion and health education, Nancy is often the catalyst for various health promotions and campaigns. She is also the conduit for the various health initiatives organized by our local government organization. Nancy is an integral part of our health education program, regularly teaching students, particularly in our Middle school.”
After 18 years of school nursing, Nancy states, “I feel that I wake up every morning, excited to start another day at school, anticipating what adventures and/or demands it will bring, and challenging me to meet each student's needs to the best of my ability, to contribute to their happiness, wellness, and success in school.”
Every student deserves a school nurse this mindful, professional, and aware of their potential.
Nancy is a leader in the foreign nursing community in the greater Tokyo area as one of the founders of the Foreign Nurses Association of Japan (FNAJ) which holds quarterly meetings to offer foreign nurses the opportunity to network, provide presentations by guest speakers on relevant health topics, and be a part of the nursing community at large in Tokyo.
Nancy served on the OSHNA board as secretary and is currently OSHNA’s community listerv monitor. She was a presenter at the 2013 NASN Annual Conference and co-authored the article, "U.S. Licensed School Nurses Working in an International Setting" which was published in The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing.
She is a passionate teacher as evidenced by her broad background. According to her supervisor, “In regard to health promotion and health education, Nancy is often the catalyst for various health promotions and campaigns. She is also the conduit for the various health initiatives organized by our local government organization. Nancy is an integral part of our health education program, regularly teaching students, particularly in our Middle school.”
After 18 years of school nursing, Nancy states, “I feel that I wake up every morning, excited to start another day at school, anticipating what adventures and/or demands it will bring, and challenging me to meet each student's needs to the best of my ability, to contribute to their happiness, wellness, and success in school.”
Every student deserves a school nurse this mindful, professional, and aware of their potential.
OSHNA Member
NCSN Certification Award Recipient

Congratulations to Miyoung Cho for earning her National Certification in School Nursing!
The Nationally Certified School Nurse credential reflects competence and professionalism. To earn the NCSN a nurse must demonstrate a high level of education, clinical practice experience and knowledge. The rigorous credentialling sets the professional standard for school nursing.
As an OSHNA Member, Miyoung received a check for $100 toward the cost of her certification.
"What, exactly, does a School Nurse do?"
from Laura Bauernfeind, OSHNA President 1987
from Laura Bauernfeind, OSHNA President 1987
U.S. Licensed School Nurses Working in an International Setting
Abstract
There are many similarities between school nursing abroad and school nursing in the United States. However, there are also some major differences in school governance, parents, students, school dynamics, and school personnel. This article offers insights from two nurses working overseas in Japan as school nurses, one at a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school in Okinawa and one in an international school in Tokyo. The authors offer an overview comparison of these types of overseas schools in areas such as history; funding and governance; and families. They present student challenges and experiences encountered while providing school nursing overseas. Implications for practice are offered in the context of working with Third Culture Kids, or those students who return to schools in the United States after an international experience that, even if positive, may affect their reintegration into American culture. Citation: Hudson, J., Tsurumaki, N.S., (September 30, 2017) "U.S. Licensed School Nurses Working in an International Setting" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in NursingVol. 22, No. 3, Manuscript 5. |