Deaf school nurses are much more

COUNCIL BLUFFS — The school year begins Monday for students at the Iowa School for the Deaf, and the school nurses are ready.

"We have 110 students, and we estimate between 80 and 85 will live in the dorms on campus," said Diane Knigge, director of nursing at the school. A registered nurse will be available around the clock.

Iowa School for the Deaf school nurses do more than dispense medication and apply bandages. They perform medical assessment and treatment, maintain health and immunization records, schedule consultations for audio, hearing aid and cochlear implant needs, offer accommodations to ill and recuperating students and set up yearly dental and vision screenings.

"We have students with asthma, seizure disorders and other conditions that can create an emergency," Knigge said.

School nurses Susie Livingston and Dee Willer said they also reach out to homesick students.

"It's hard on the little ones. They're away from home. The parents put a lot of trust in us. We become the child's second family," Willer said.

The school has its own care area with several beds. If a student needs a trip to the hospital, someone will accompany the child. School nurses must have some knowledge of American Sign Language

Knigge has worked as a nurse for Iowa School for the Deaf for 27 years, while Livingston and Willer have been there 21 years and 20 years, respectively. Another full-time nurse, Jan Lettner, has been there 10 years.

Knigge said turnover is rare. "We've all been here a long time."

Part-timers Barbara Berkes and Terry DeBenedictus and substitute Lori Green round out the nursing roster.