News Detail

Nurse Keneally Earns National Certification

For close to a decade, Shelley Keneally has been caring for students on the Potomac Village campus as the Lower School nurse.
Despite providing extraordinary care to preschoolers through second and third graders, she wasn’t satisfied with her everyday measures of going above and beyond. So this past summer, Keneally took, and passed, the rigorous National Certification Examination for School Nurses.
 
“A school like St. Andrew’s, the community should know that they have a person committed to their students and their families and have that level of reassurance,” Keneally said. “That the person you have is nationally recognized for the job they do at St. Andrew’s.”
 
The National Certification Examination, while not mandatory, provides school nurses with a level of training and knowledge which is unsurpassed. It requires staying current on all the latest literature and research in the field and culminates with a 300-question exam. But passing it is only the first step. School nurses must compile 60 hours of continuing education credits relating to their field over the next five years and submit that information in order to renew their certification.
 
“I think it’s important to not get complacent in your job and show that you’re keeping up on the newest information and standards of care,” Keneally said “There are different ways of doing it and I didn’t want to go the path of getting an advanced degree in an (adjacent field). This is the one certification that lets you know that you are the subject matter expert in this school nursing niche.”
 
Lower School families will certainly appreciate Keneally adding this certification to her c.v., but they certainly didn’t need it to know her dedication and care for their children.
 
“Her instincts are extraordinary, and she knows just what to say and how to say it to put every child who enters the health suite at ease,” said Jordan Love, Head of Lower School. “She has the uncanny ability to soothe and calm a child who is feeling sick or hurt when they are at the peak of apprehension.”
 
Not surprisingly, working with students every day is Keneally’s favorite part of being a school nurse.
 
“Whether it’s in a time of critical need or just watching them grow along the years and empowering them to take care of themselves or speak up for themselves,” Keneally said. “It’s allowing the students to feel comfortable to come and tell you anything or come to you with any concerns. Getting to know the parents and know what they need and what’s going on in their lives that could affect their student while they are at school, and they feel comfortable enough to tell you so you can be a conduit of information between parents and teacher if necessary.”
 
Connor Jacobs ‘27 was a student at the Lower School for six years before stepping up to the Intermediate School this year. His mother, Lisa Jacobs, knows firsthand how important it is to have someone like Keneally as a school nurse.
 
“When you have a child who has medical issues, you are concerned about what kind of care they will receive when they are at school and out of your presence,” Jacobs said. “We were always grateful to Shelley for her understanding of our child’s medical conditions, the warmth and effectiveness that she provided when treating him, and her willingness to offer sage advice and reassurance.  Connor said it best, ‘When you walk into Nurse Keneally’s office hurt, you always walk out happy.’”
 
Second grade teacher Jenny Olin has also benefited from having a co-worker like Keneally who helps support her and her students.
 
“Shelley is a blessing to every child and adult in the Lower School,” Olin said. “She is a caring professional who is calm under pressure, which is an important trait when caring for young children. Shelley is an advocate for the children's welfare and easily communicates that to parents and teachers alike.”
 
Keneally’s dedication to her craft is especially evident when speaking with a peer like Diane Stewart, the Postoak Campus nurse.
 
“It is a pleasure to partner with a dedicated, compassionate and innovative nurse who has excellent nursing knowledge and skills,” Stewart said.
 
It’s clear that when it comes to Keneally, the St. Andrew’s community already knew they had a person committed to the students and their families.
Back
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is a private, coeducational college preparatory day school for students in preschool (Age 2) through grade 12, located in Potomac, Maryland.