By Hanyu Chen and Bhagya Ramineni
As a member of the Seven Hills community, Nurse Ann takes great pride in her job and the relationships she has built with students and faculty. Before joining Seven Hills, she worked as an ER nurse at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. She was passionate about her work in the emergency room. However, Nurse Ann needed a quick break after a couple of years.
Nurse Ann’s journey with Seven Hills began seven years ago when “Nurse Joy’s son and my son played golf together,” she said. Through this friendship, Nurse Ann got to know Nurse Joy and learned more about Seven Hills. When Nurse Ann decided to take a break from working in the ER, Nurse Joy offered her a job as a substitute nurse at Seven Hills. After thinking it over, Nurse Ann agreed and started working at the school. Two years later, Nurse Ann oversaw middle and upper school students. She works 20 hours a week part-time, caring for students’ health needs.
The most dangerous situation Nurse Ann has ever encountered was an anaphylactic reaction – a life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen. “Or it can be anaphylactic if there are two body systems involved. So they could have hives, and they could also be throwing up,” Nurse Ann said. Many students on this campus have allergies, and it isn’t always food allergies; it is often an insect sting. And when an anaphylactic reaction happens, the student likely has to be sent to the hospital.
The severity of allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, shows the critical role that school nurses like Nurse Ann play in ensuring the safety and well-being of students. However, managing these emergencies is just one part of the big responsibilities that nurses like Ann and Nurse Joy take on. While Nurse Ann focuses on immediate care for middle and upper school, Nurse Joy has spent decades providing health support for Lotspeich.
For 27 years, Nurse Joy has been making a difference at The Seven Hills School, where she feels proud to work every day. She started there in 1997 and has been helping the students and staff ever since, which is what makes her job so unique.
Before working at Seven Hills, Nurse Joy had experience in several hospitals and healthcare settings. But she had always wanted to try working in a school. “It’s generally an enjoyable environment to work in,” Nurse Joy said. Nurse Joy knew that a school would allow her to work with kids in an enjoyable setting, which she wanted. After spending some years in more stressful hospital environments, the idea of helping students in a school felt like a refreshing change.
When asked why she likes her job, Nurse Joy answers, “I enjoy working with kids in a happy environment.” For her, it’s not just about providing medical care. It’s about being part of a school community that supports everyone’s health and well-being. Whether helping a student feel better after a minor injury or providing care for a more serious health issue, she loves knowing she’s positively impacting the students’ lives.
Like many healthcare workers, Nurse Joy has dealt with challenging situations. One of the most dangerous events she remembers involved an employee. Though she doesn’t share the details, this experience reminded her that healthcare work can sometimes be unpredictable.
After almost three decades of working at Seven Hills, Nurse Joy has seen and done a lot. She’s built strong relationships with the students and staff, and she’s proud of the positive, caring environment at the school. It’s clear that her job isn’t just about medical care—it’s about creating a safe space where students can learn and grow.
As they look back on their career, the nurses feel grateful for the chance to work in such a special place. With their experience and dedication, they continue to play important roles in making Seven Hills a healthy and happy place for everyone.