Hello! My name is Catharine (Cat) and I am Lake Elementary’s School Nurse in Hartville, Ohio. My nursing career started 15 years ago in the emergency department at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. Three years ago, my daughter’s school was looking for nurses to sub in the clinic. For 3 years I subbed about 10-15 days each year. A full-time job was offered to me in the spring of 2019 and I accepted the position. I made the decision to go PRN in the ER while working in the school clinic. As difficult as it was starting my new position near the end of the school year and acclimating myself to a new nursing environment, I had a great mentor in our school nurse coordinator who was very helpful to me.
I have been married to Josh for 13 years. He is also a nurse and works in PACU. We have two children, Jocelyn who is 11 and Zachary who is 8. They are both involved in many activities, so we are always busy after the school day ends, running around! We also have a Siamese cat named Jasmine and a guinea pig named S’more.
I work at Lake Elementary in Hartville, Ohio (located between Akron and Canton). My school houses grades 2 through 6. There are approximately 1,250 students in my building. I have a clinic aide who is full-time this year, which is so helpful. I am very excited because this school year, both of my children are at my school. Zachary is in 2nd grade and Jocelyn is in 5th grade. I never dreamed I would be a school nurse as ER nursing has always been my passion. I have really enjoyed it so far and am loving being home in the evenings and off most weekends (when I don’t pick up a weekend shift in ER).