Schools

ENCORE: Johnston School Nurse Honored as One of Iowa's Greatest

Barb Allen has been a school nurse in the Johnston school district since 1992. She'll retire this spring.

Barb Allen is a great nurse.

Such a great nurse, in fact, that she has been honored as one of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses of 2011 by the group 100 Great Iowa Nurses.

For the past 20 years, Allen has served as a school nurse in the . Most recently she has served at , a post from which she'll retire in May.

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"I started at the high school and middle school, there was just one middle school at the time. Then, when they built Summit, I transferred and have been there since," she said. "I do like that age group."

The former Iowa School Nurse of the Year in 1998, graduated from Mercy Hospital in 1969. She then went to work as a public health nurse for several years before teaching at Des Moines Area Community College's nursing program.

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After spending several years at home with her children she went to work for a dermatologist's office.

While serving on the Johnston school board, Allen noticed an opening for a school nurse in the district.

"That is what made me interested in being a school nurse," she said. "We had lived in Johnston many years, all the kids went to Johnston and graduated from Johnston."

When Allen was offered the job in 1992 she resigned from the school board.

"I took the job, then I went to school and earned my bachelor's of science in nursing from the University of Iowa, and after that I took a course and became nationally certified as a school nurse."

Allen uses all of her past nursing experience as a school nurse.

"I've done a lot of things in nursing," she said. "In school health there are a variety of things we have to work with from very disabled children to common cuts and scrapes that occur on the playground.

"So what I really enjoy is that I can use all of my skills and talents."

Being a teacher to children is a rewarding part of being a school nurse.

"I can influence them (students) on what is important as far as keeping themselves healthy or learning of things they might have to cope with."

Allen was nominated for the 100 Great Iowa Nurse honor by other Johnston school nurses.

"It was a surprise," she said. "I learned that I had been nominated when I was told by the committee. It's quite an honor to have my own colleagues nominate me. It was a nice going-away present from them since I'm retiring this year."

Although, Allen has another obligation — playing a piano duet with her grandson — during the May 6 dinner in honor of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses, she's thankful for being recognized.

"I'm very happy and honored to get the certificate," she said.

Allen Cares About the Larger Community

Summit Principal Linda Hansen said Allen cares deeply about the wellness of the community.

"Her work beyond the doors of Summit parallels the work that she does within Summit. Good health includes nutrition, physical activity, relaxation and proper use of medications. These are the daily lessons that I hear as she visits with students. She is a role model for staff as well as students. 

While Allen will retire from school nursing after this school year, she will still be around Johnston.

The current president of the Johnston Partnership for a Healthy Community, Allen plans to continue volunteering with her husband, Gordy, and substitute nursing for schools when needed.

"There comes a time when you really do have to give it up and turn it over to other people," she said. "You have to get out of the way, as my husband says."


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