An unexpected phone call nearly 15 years ago turned into the call of a lifetime for Cathy Vieira.
She was happily going about her business, nursing at then-Waltham Hospital, raising her children, John and Stephanie, and volunteering at the Fitzgerald School library, she said.
Becoming a school nurse there, she said, ``was sort of by accident.''
While she was helping out at the library, the school nursing supervisor, who knew she was a nurse, called Vieira, asking if she would substitute, Vieira recalled.
``I did, and I found out, `This is a really nice area to do nursing - I love school nursing,'°'' said Vieira, a Waltham resident.
She has worked there ever since - 14 years - and was recently named Massachusetts School Nurse of the Year by the Massachusetts School Nurses Organization, said School Nursing Director Maria DeSisto.
The organization presented her with a plaque at its fall conference on Oct. 31, DeSisto said.
DeSisto, who nominated Vieira, said, ``She's just a wonderful school nurse. All the nurses are really good, and as a supervisor, it's hard to select just one person, but she really goes above and beyond.''
``The things she does are amazing. It's nice to see her recognized - we were really thrilled'' she won, DeSisto said.
In addition to being a great nurse at Fitzgerald School, DeSisto said, Vieira has also taught hundreds of staff members and parents how to perform CPR.
Not all nurses are trained CPR instructors, DeSisto said.
``One of the other things that is really remarkable is that she looks at health in a multi-media way,'' DeSisto said.
For instance, Vieira created educational videos to teach students about health issues such as food allergies and asthma, DeSisto said. Channel 8, Waltham public access television, aired the video.
She also worked with students in the drama department to make a show, ``Ask the School Nurse,'' that also aired on Waltham public access, DeSisto said.
Fitzgerald students asked questions they wanted school nurses to answer, and the nurses recorded and edited the video in the public access studio, she explained.
``It was really, really popular and well done,'' DeSisto said.
This kind of extra work is a big part of what Vieira loves about being a school nurse, she said.
``It's just a really great opportunity, because you're working with children on a regular basis. You're seeing children all day long, not necessarily just sick kids, but in the classroom too,'' Vieira said.
She enjoys teaching students about health issues like hygiene and flu prevention, she said.
``You get to watch them grown and learn. It's really rewarding because I do have an impact on kids, teaching them to take care of themselves,'' she said.
Winning the award, Vieira said, ``was a truly big honor.''
Joyce Kelly can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jkelly@cnc.com <mailto:jkelly@cnc.com.
WALTHAM —
