A Hunter-Bellevue Nursing School researcher has won 2025 Outstanding School Nurse Educator Award of the National Association of School Nurses.
Assistant Professor Ellen McCabe, a working school nurse who forcefully advocates for immigrant children and their families, will receive the award at the association’s annual conference in Austin, Tx., on June 26. The association cited McCabe for “demonstrated excellence” in her school-nursing practice.
“I thank the National Association of School Nurses for this award, which will help me highlight the pressing needs of school health providers,” McCabe said. “Nurses must be at the table in their schools and school districts to advocate for policies that include all schoolchildren, no matter their country of origin.”
McCabe and some colleagues have published a toolkit for school nurses to help them approach language and cultural differences in caring for immigrant children. She also advocates for resources and translation services at school nursing offices: For children from immigrant families, the school nurse may be the only healthcare professional they see regularly.
“We congratulate Dr. McCabe for this well-deserved recognition,” said Joan Hansen Grabe Dean of Nursing Dr. Ann Marie Mauro. “Her important work has helped children in her school district and nationwide.”
The award exemplifies Hunter College’s commitment as an anchor institution in New York City to championing public health. The Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing mission is to cultivate collaborative nurse leaders promoting wellness and championing health equity in diverse local and global communities through excellence in education, research, scholarship, and advocacy. Its vision is to shape nurse leaders advancing health equity for a thriving, healthier world.
About the National Association of School Nurses
The National Association of School Nurses is a nonprofit specialty nursing organization representing school nurses exclusively. It has almost 20,000 members and 50 affiliates and emphasizes the role of school nurses in providing quality health care to students, addressing both physical and mental health to promote academic success.
