An Interview with Mrs. Belnap
by Laritha Sengpraseuth
20 years of college... For a 2-year degree?
During college, she met Mr. Belnap, who was in the military and also lived in a different city. While they were dating, Mrs. Belnap had to drive an hour to get to her classes each day. Eventually, they got married. She had moved around quite a bit because of her husband's military duties, going overseas three times and even living in Germany for three years! Of course, during those times, she was unable to attend her college classes. She went through five years at ACC, having some of her credits transferred over from UT and finally graduated.
Before becoming a school nurse, she worked in home health care, which is a range of health care services given in your home. She started school nursing in elementary school, then in Bastrop and Cedar Creek where she nursed at their middle schools, before finally coming to Elgin High School.
Mrs. Belnap also home-schooled her children while also going to college. After everything, her advice: Stay in college. Get your degree. Then comes the marriage and children.
Between moving areas, going overseas, home-schooling her children, recovering after an accident, Mrs. Belnap had to be pulled in and out of college countless times. As a result, it took her around 20 years to complete college officially and receive her Associate's.
Mrs. Belnap's journey to getting her associate's degree was definitely not easy nor quick, but it shows just how passionate she was about getting her degree.
Elgin High School
RN
More About Mrs. Belnap
- 9th to 12th
Nurse Office Environment:
- very welcoming
- quiet
- educational posters
- friendly
Management Techniques:
- Nurse Passes
- 4 Student Nurse Aides
- Daily Log
- Computer System
Nursing Procedure:
- Ask student to sign in
- Assess the student
- Determine whether it is a serious issue or not
- Alleviate the pain
- Contact the parents
Hours per Week:
- 45 to 60 hrs
Biggest Challenges:
- parent's understanding of communication in case of an emergency through a working phone number
Often times when she needs to contact a child's parent for any health-related reasons, the phone number goes to their voicemail box or doesn't work. At times of emergency, if their phone number doesn't work, she is not able to do anything to help their child.
Biggest Rewards:
- knowing that she might have been a child's only source of health care and support, as well as knowing she had helped them
Self-Motivation:
- 9, sometimes a 9.5
Encounters throughout a normal day:
- women's problems
- medicine
- sore throats
- fevers
- headaches
- toothaches
- stomachaches
- the aftermath of school fights
Most of the students she sees each day are for small things, like little occurrences.
Sheryl Belnap's Contact Information
Email: sbelnap@elginisd.net
Website: http://www.elginisd.net/Page/1480
Location: 14000 County Line Road, Elgin, TX, United States
Phone: (512) 281-3438 (1104)