Students at Warren Central Junior High School and Vicksburg Junior High School don’t need to worry about scrapes and scuffs; they’ve got one of the best nurses around.

Sharon Caldwell, R.N., was recently named West Mississippi School Nurse of the Year by the Mississippi School Nurse Association.

“There’s north, south, east and west, and each region picks a nurse,” she said. “I was selected for the west region. I was nominated by my peers, the other school nurses.”

The organization meets four times a year, said Caldwell, who is the secretary and publicity chairperson for the west region.

“As a nurse I strive to help people,” she said. “I hope that one day something that I’ve done or something that I’ve said will touch a child and inspire someone to move forward in their life.”

Caldwell has been a nurse for 12 years, and been a school nurse since 2008.

“Whether it’s the way that I listen or just something that I said, maybe it will inspire them to become a nurse one day themselves,” she said. “I hope something I’ve done will encourage them or help them through a situation.”

Caldwell administers medications daily along with a list of other duties.

“I have students with chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes that I see after,” she said. “I give them their medication or whatever is required by them at the time, whether it’s checking their blood sugar or helping them with their inhaler.”

Caldwell said she’s also a liaison between students and their parents.

“When kids have a complaint I communicate with parents,” she said. “If I feel they need further care I advise the parent they may want to follow up with their primary care adviser for further evaluation.”

Caldwell also coordinates different events at the schools with the teachers.

“This week is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, so (Thursday) we’re going to wear green,” she said. “We’re doing green ribbons also.”

The most rewarding part of the job is helping the children, Caldwell said.

“If I’m able to encourage the child to stay here at school if they’re healthy enough to stay in the classroom, that is what I strive to do,” she said. “Sometimes they just need someone to listen to them.”