Bonnie Barthelme – RN,MN, School Nurse

Job Description: Bonnie is a certified school nurse for the Mercer Island School District. She works with the other school nurses to coordinate school and community health for students and staff. School nurses also review, update and inform staff about health policies. Other jobs include: notifying parents and staff about contagious illness in the schools, working with the public health department, writing health reports for special education students, and writing health plans for children with life threatening conditions (asthma, allergies, heart conditions etc). Nurses also train staff in how to deal with anaphylaxis, asthma, seizures, diabetes and administering epi-pens. Bonnie is ESA certified, which means she has received special training in school law, special education and health law.

Location: Lakeridge Elementary and Islander Middle School

Typical Day: Bonnie’s door is always open to students and staff. She sees an average of 30 people every day at each school. Staff members come in at the onset of illness, to check temperature or blood pressure and seek advice on medications. Students come in with recess injuries (either real or perceived). “We give out a lot of band aids, ice packs and glasses of water,” says Bonnie. “Sometimes students get stressed at school and come in with a headache or stomach ache. More often than not they just need to rest a short while and hydrate. It is our job to rule out true illness or injury.”

Best part of the job: The kids, all of them, Kindergarten through 8th grade! They are all so special to work with.

Something people may not know: Bonnie worked as an American Embassy nurse in Nepal for four years. She has also hiked to many of the base camps in Nepal.

Years worked in the district: 14 years. Before coming to Mercer Island, Bonnie worked in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Home Health Care and the American Embassy Medical Clinic in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Outside interests: Bonnie enjoys travel, adventure and riding “sidecar” on a motorcycle. Her 19-year old daughter graduated from MIHS and is currently attending Willamette University.