By Ella Coley, C2ST Intern, Waubonsee Community College

Nurse Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN (Certified School Nurse), plays a crucial role in her students’ daily lives at a high school in the Chicago suburbs, balancing the management of medical files and actively caring for unwell students. Additionally, she works as a co-director of the online RN to BSN program at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), assisting college students who are registered nurses in earning their Bachelor’s in the Science of Nursing. She also serves on boards across the community and nation to advocate for progress and equity in the nursing field. In this interview, Nurse Barrera discusses her background in nursing, the challenges and rewards of her job, and advice and information on nursing school. Her 16+ years of experience offer valuable insight into how nursing professionals contribute to a healthy and supportive school environment, aiding the entire community.

From The Beginning

Gloria’s passion for nursing and healthcare first sparked in her youth. After spending time in a coma as a toddler and hearing her family’s stories about the compassionate nurses who cared for her, she felt a deep connection to the field and was inspired to pursue the career. Once she completed high school, she attended St Xavier University and graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in the Science of Nursing (BSN). She then became a nurse at a level 1 trauma center, where she worked for two years helping patients with severe injuries and needing critical care. However, she missed the aspect of public health that she experienced as an undergraduate in her community health nursing rotation. During that rotation, Barerra learned of her passion for connecting with others and building relationships with patients over time. The environment of trauma nursing doesn’t include much long-term care that allows for a deeper connection with patients. This ultimately led her to follow her passion and change specialties to become a school nurse and nurse educator. 

Life As A School Nurse

When asked about what a typical day looks like as a school nurse, Nurse Barrera explained that it varies. She could be working on anything from actively caring for an unwell student to administering medications to ensuring students’ medical files and immunizations are current.

However, she stated that some core ideas and values stay the same in her job, regardless of what she’s working on. Those values include finding community and building connections.  These parts of her work drew her into the specialty of school nursing, and what motivates her to continue serving students each day. Nurse Barrera elaborated that, unlike trauma nursing, school nursing allows for further continuity of care with patients. Through this position, she can care for and build relationships with students throughout their high school careers and oversee their development  – an aspect she thoroughly enjoys. As someone whose passion is to provide safety and care to students, staff, and individuals throughout the community, Barrera answered that one of the more challenging parts of her job is when there are boundaries between her helping them. Stating, “Every child deserves access to a certified school nurse, regardless of zip code,” Barerra’s vision is that every child in the country can access a full-time certified school nurse who can support them.

Nursing Student Advice

Due to her collective experience in the field, Nurse Barrera has unique insight and advice regarding nursing school to share with students. When asked what nursing school didn’t teach her, she shared that when she was in school there was not much emphasis placed on the public health and community aspect of nursing. When she began working in the field, she had to learn the importance of connection with the community. Now, she sees that it’s woven into the curriculum for nursing students. I also asked Barrera if anything surprised her about working in the real world of nursing after leaving school and clinical – she shared she wasn’t aware of how prevalent innovation is in nursing. Barrera describes nurse innovators as engineers in the field, constantly solving problems throughout their day and creating new techniques that allow for more efficient and quality care to be delivered to patients.  

Lastly, I asked Nurse Barrera what advice she’d give to nursing students looking to work in the field. She explained that one thing she learned is crucial for a successful career as a nurse is finding a mentor. The right mentor can use their experience in the field to lead and support you, helping you identify opportunities, navigate challenges, and overall encourage your growth in the nursing profession.  

Final Thoughts

In speaking with Nurse Gloria Barrera, I gained valuable insight into the everyday realities of a school nurse and nurse educator. Her stories highlight the challenges and rewards of the jobs, showing how vital the public health role of a school nurse is to care for the students and staff. Her valuable position as a nurse educator to undergraduate students is crucial for building up the next generation of nurses across all specialties. If you’d like to learn more about Nurse Gloria Barrera, click here, and if you’re interested in her work in nurse education as an RN to BSN Program Co-Director, click here!