UCF/HCA GME consortium trains on youth health risks to Orlando school nurses

ORLANDO, FL — Substance abuse, mental wellness and trauma in the school – these are all serious student health issues that school nurses face on a daily basis. Thanks to a partnership with HCA Florida Healthcare, nurses from Seminole County and Orange County school districts received free education and training to strengthen these critical skills.

HCA Healthcare’s School Nurse Education Series was created in 2017 in response to school health providers’ requests to address emerging and evolving health trends in school-aged youth. The series was offered first to school nurses in Dallas. In 2023, HCA Florida Healthcare and Graduate Medical Education (GME) resident physicians from the University of Central Florida College of Medicine developed additional curriculum with community partners EVERFI, a national education and training provider, and the American Heart Association to offer the education and training to school nurses throughout Florida. The first series was offered in Seminole and Orange counties Jan. 5 and 8.

“HCA Florida Healthcare’s School Nurse Education Series further equips local school districts with vital tools to help address important health issues facing students today,” said John Gerhold, CEO of HCA Florida Healthcare Lake Monroe Hospital, who welcomed the Seminole County school nurses on Friday. “The comprehensive training provided by the GME resident physicians is part of our mission to care for and improve human life.”

Approximately 50 school nurses gathered to receive training from experts during this initial series and received five continuing education credits for attending.

“Improving community health starts with our children, and this education series is one example of how community partnerships are helping to create a healthier tomorrow for our youth,” stated Michael Weitermann, Medical/Health Services Coordinator for Seminole County Public Schools. “We are looking forward to continuing this partnership with HCA Florida Healthcare to help our school nurses stay up to date with emerging health issues that affect our youth.”

The School Nurse Education Series complements two important programs: the American Heart Association’s Getting to the Heart of Stroke™ initiative to champion stroke prevention and EVERFI’s Understanding Mental Wellness online curriculum for teenagers that is available for teachers to use in their classrooms, free of charge. Both programs are supported by the HCA Healthcare Foundation.