Happy School Nurse Day!
As part of annual Nurses Week (May 6-12), we celebrate School Nurse Day on May 6th. SBHCs and school nurses work hand in hand to keep students healthy and ready to learn. Join us in recognizing all the hardworking school nurses in New Mexico and across the country.
In honor of School Nurse Day, we’d like to highlight one of the dedicated school nurses in New Mexico. Donzlynn Worthington Chavez, a school nurse with the Moriarty-Edgewood School District. Donzlynn was an integral figure behind the formation of the district’s school-based health center.
She’s has seen first hand the need for accessible health services. She operates through the philosophy that students must be healthy to be educated and educated to be healthy.
“Providing students with access to care directly within their school environment ensures they are not only empowered to take control of their own health, but that they will experience a higher likelihood of academic and lifelong success,” she said.
Moriarty SBHC officially launched their district-wide telehealth services in April 2024. Donzlynn was boots on the ground sending home registration packets, tracking appointments, maintaining school health records, and walking miles every day escorting students to their appointments— all while pregnant.
In August 2025, SBHC services moved on campus to Moriarty High School where work flow has improved and students are able to receive tangible resources. Read on to learn to hear Donzlynn’s experience working in school-based health.
How has your experience as a school nurse shaped your vision for the clinic?
As a School Nurse, I have a direct line to our students. I see and hear their needs daily, which allows me to advocate for them authentically. I see the increasing mental health needs, the unmet physical health needs, and the lack of resources – and I see the impact that these gaps have on our entire community. Over the past 5 years I’ve learned that every student is unique and to make the most impact in their health – we have to meet them where they are.
How has the opening of the Moriarty SBHC changed your role as a school nurse?
When I joined MESD in 2021, I was hired to not only be the full-time elementary school nurse, but to also figure out how to open a SBHC. I dove deep into planning and researching all things School-Based Health, all while learning how to navigate my new world of school nursing.
What do you hope the future holds for school-based health care in Moriarty?
My dream for the Moriarty-Edgewood School District is to have a dedicated Brick and Mortar SBHC that serves both our students and our community. I envision a full-service hub that improves health equity by offering comprehensive health services, including in-person Behavioral Health, Primary Care, Dental and Vision services, with hours that extend beyond the school day. Ultimately, I want a SBHC that is accessible, confidential, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate – a place that meets every individual where they are when they walk in that door and ensures they have the support and resources to stay healthy when they walk back out.
Thank you Donzlynn for all you’ve done for school-based health! To learn more about how to celebrate National School Nurse Day, visit nasn.org.