Jesuit high school’s brand new nurse, Laurie Lundy, is excited to start her first year working as a full-time nurse.
Ms. Lundy has been a nurse for almost 25 years. After successfully finishing nursing school, Ms. Lundy embarked on her nursing career with focus on pediatric care. Her passion for this field emerged after she became a mother, which ignited a dedication to caring for children.
“I pursued nursing because there’s a lot of different opportunities in nursing. And so when I went to nursing school after I had children, and so I was really motivated to take care of pediatrics.”
After her work in pediatrics, Ms. Lundy worked for five school’s in the Beaverton district.
“I was not able to be a full time nurse in the building. So, the fact that Jesuit wanted a full time nurse to be a part of their community, I think speaks really highly of Jesuit,” Ms. Lundy said.
Ms. Lundy’s role will be to take care of the health and well-being of the students and staff here at Jesuit. She is most excited to take care of the community and chat with everyone that comes in.
“I want people to see me as a resource, and somebody that they could come to ask about health maintenance questions and vaccines that might be required for college that they don’t know about.”
Ms. Lundy’s advice for the Jesuit community is a memorable quote that has stayed with her throughout her nursing career, promoting not giving up and taking risks: “ I always come back to something my grandfather told me, which is a mistake,is not a mistake, if you learn from it”.
Interview Transcript
So how long have you been in your field?
I’ve been a nurse for almost 25 years.
Why did you want to pursue nursing?
pursued nursing because there’s a lot of different opportunities in nursing. And so when I went to nursing school after I had children, I was really motivated to take care of Pediatrics.
Where did you work prior to Jesuit?
I worked in public health. I was doing mother, baby home visits and
covid work.
What separates Jesuit from other schools?
a lot. I was a school nurse prior to working in public health, I was a school nurse in Beaverton, and I had five schools that I took care of, so I was not able to be a full time nurse in the building. So Jesuit, you know the fact that the Jesuit community wanted a full time nurse to be part of their community, I think speaks very highly of Jesuit.
What are your main responsibilities at Jesuit?
My responsibilities are taking care of the health and safety needs of the students and staff here. So I do a lot of things like, you know, I’m sure of the emergency backpacks, and, you know, all this stuff is set, and we have what we need. And give a lot of over the counter meds, keep kids in there, in class. And yes, it’s, you know, it’s pretty much what I do. So it’s kind of a fun job in that way
What excites you about your work at Jesuit?
meeting all the kids and all the people, this is a really great community, so it’s been fun to chat with kids sometimes, since they’re sitting in here, as you see, I have questions, you know, like, ask me about stuff. I want people to, you know, see me as a resource. And you know, somebody that they could come to to ask about, you know, health maintenance questions, vaccines that might be required for college, that they don’t know about or want more information on. You know, high school students are in an interesting place. You kind of start high school and your parents are taking care of everything but by the time you’re getting out of high school, you’re the one who’s taking care of a lot of your own needs medication for a court and when you’re in college, you’ll be completely responsible for that. So I think it’s really neat to be able to help students learn and grow in that way, because that’s another aspect of yourself and what you need to be successful. So can’t students can’t be successful if they’re not healthy.
What is something that the community should know about you?
I’d say I’m a grandma to two grandkids that are six and three.
I’m a gardener and I make a mean pizza.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I think that the piece of advice that I always come back to is something my grandfather told me, which is a mistake,is not a mistake, if you learn from it. That’s been useful to me since my grandfather told me that
What do you find most rewarding about your job?
Just taking care of what needs to be taken care of. And like I say, the students. And, you know, I go home every day, and I feel like I’ve been in a really nice place all day and with good people. So that’s really nice.
What makes you approachable for students when they’re?
Well, I hope that I have a friendly demeanor. Tried to make the health room a little more comfortable, yeah, and cheerful. So, and I’m also sitting so I see the door, so yeah, kind of receive people in, yeah, you know. So I’ve just made a few little changes.
Pop up- makes a mean pizza
