Congratulations to Wendy DeGraffenried for being recognized as the 2023 National Certified School Nurse of the Year from the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN). One of our Alaska school nurses and fellow ASNA member, Wendy DeGraffenried, will be presented with this prestigious award at the NASN 2023 conference in Orlando, Florida this summer. 

“We thank you so much for your dedication and work on  behalf of national certification and our specialty practice in Alaska and beyond.”  Cynthia Hiltz, President, National Board for Certification of School Nurses

Wendy’s relentless passion for school nursing and selfless commitment to her position helps cheer and develop school nurses. She significantly influences our immediate colleagues across Alaska and the nation with her contributions to leadership and the promotion of school nursing as a profession. Additionally, she will be a guest speaker at our upcoming Spring 2023 School Nurses Annual Conference. 

Wendy was instrumental in creating the “New School Nurse Orientation” course, which enhances competency in school nursing skills. This course initiates efforts for all school nurses to become Nationally Certified School Nurses (NCSN), elevating their professionalism, their practice, and positively influencing nursing outcomes in schools across Alaska, Montana, and Texas. The New School Nurse’s Orientation course is a self-guided 12-week course, still open for enrollment, is free, and is worth 30 nursing contact hours through AaNA. See the link for further information and enrollment:  New School Nurse Orientation Course. 

Wendy is online at her “Boots on the Ground” school, Mat-Su Central. 

Thank you for all you do, Wendy, for our school nursing profession. Congratulations!

In Health, 

Sonja Mack, BSN, RN, NCSN
ASNA President