Pike Road school nurse embraces challenge of keeping students healthy

PIKE ROAD, Ala. (WSFA) – The COVID-19 pandemic shined a light on how crucial health care workers are in our society and schools. As we get closer to the height of cold and flu season, things are once again ramping up for front-line workers at urgent care centers, hospitals, and classrooms.

However, Melissa Morgan, known as “Nurse Morgan” at Pike Road Intermediate School, is up for the challenge.

“It’s a joy to me if you can learn something new each day,” she said.

Morgan said she does her best to keep the students healthy and safe. She sees something new in her office each day at Pike Road Intermediate School, including new students, new incidents and new opportunities to raise awareness.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and to help raise awareness she placed signs outside the school. Morgan said part of her daily tasks includes closely monitoring the diabetic students.

“From the moment they arrive for breakfast, I’m already monitoring the diabetics when they’re eating,” she said. “Then we can have some scrapes, major head injuries. I always call it we’re like the mini-ER.”

Morgan also tries to stay up to date on COVID-19 and flu protocol, especially this time of year. She also keeps a close eye on food. She stores EpiPens and information in her office on the different children with food allergies.

“Allergies have become very prominent in our society today. It can be very life-threatening,” Morgan said.

She said peanut allergies are most common at the school, but other non-food allergies can range from fire ants to bee stings.

“That’s another reason we have to be on alert,” she said.

Morgan has been a registered nurse for 25 years, and she’s spent most of her career in schools. She said she’s always alert and ready to act to protect the children.

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