District Nurse Earns National Certification

Karen Hughes became Kearney School District’s new District Nurse in July of 2021 after the retirement of Karen Hatfield, who had earned a reputation as a beloved and skilled practitioner and leader. Ms. Hughes knew the bar was set high when she took the job, which is one of the reasons why earning national certification was one of her top priorities.

Karen Hughes - Kearney School District Nurse

Hughes recently achieved that goal by successfully completing the rigorous process of becoming a Nationally Certified School Nurse. This places her among 4,200 elite professionals with that certification compared to approximately 132,000 school nurses working in the U.S., according to data from the National Board for Certification of School Nurses and the National Institutes of Health.

“It feels amazing to earn this certification, and it’s definitely a relief,” Hughes said. “It’s almost like preparing for the NCLEX-RN exam (National Council Licensure Examination- Registered Nurse) all over again. You study hard and then sit for a four-hour test with 200 questions.”

As District Nurse, Hughes is responsible for supervising and guiding seven school nurses and a float nurse, ensuring that the district is complying with a multitude of federal, state and local healthcare laws and regulations, and – most importantly – leading the daily work of meeting the health and wellness needs of students.

Hughes was raised in Nebraska and earned her BSN at the College of St. Mary in Omaha. She spent the next 11 years honing her skills and professional credentials in a wide variety of nursing positions, including a turn as a traveling nurse on the west coast.

After an extensive and thorough search, Hughes was the right choice to take the District Nurse position, according to Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Jeff Morrison. The district is lucky to have a professional with her combination of experience and skills.

“I’m proud of Karen for earning her national certification. She’s a great example of the level of expertise and degree of commitment that we have at every level of our organization,” Mr. Morrison said. “We are grateful to have her as part of our team and looking forward to benefiting from her service for many, many years to come.”

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story