By Jennifer Mrozowski
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Debbie Turley, R.N., gets a surprise Friday: a tribute to her and other school nurses. (Glenn Hartong photo)

PRICE HILL - School nurse Debbie Turley is used to small tokens of thanks from students, like a smile after a cut is bandaged.

So the news crews, television cameras and dozen or so students wearing homemade nurses' hats at school Friday were a "total surprise" to the registered nurse, who learned that Quebec Heights School in Price Hill named Jan. 9, 2004, "School Nurse Day."

The celebration honored Turley, in part, for her contribution to a book by school nurses, A Long Way from Henry Street, which was published in September and commemorated the 100th anniversary of school nursing.

"I broke into tears when I saw my kids come out with the beautiful nursing hats," Turley said.

School officials gathered at Quebec Heights to celebrate the contributions of all school nurses. School nursing emerged in 1902 in New York City, according to the National Association of School Nurses.

Lillian Wald, who founded the Henry Street Settlement, devised the plan to place a public health nurse in the school system.

As Turley wrote in her article, school nursing encompasses everything from minor ailments to serious situations arising from asthma attacks, diabetic hypoglycemic reactions and psychological problems.

Even the smallest gesture can make a big difference to students, Turley wrote, including the time Turley determined that a student's sore feet were caused by her shoes being on the wrong feet.

"Debbie never accepts barriers when one of her students needs help," said Kim Toole, nursing supervisor for the Cincinnati Health Department. The department partners with the school district to fund the school nurse program. Health officials also were on hand Friday to congratulate Turley, but the biggest congratulations came from the smallest people.

"Happy School Nurse Day, Mrs. Turley," said 8-year-old Kachara Talbert. "You're the best school nurse ever."

E-mail jmrozowski@enquirer.com