Mitzi Taylor was at a crossroads.
She had left East Carolina University, deciding a business career wasn’t in her future. She had married her high school sweetheart and was trying to decide between a career in nursing or a career in teaching.
She chose the former, enrolling at Roanoke- Chowan Community College, where she earned an associate degree in nursing.
But as life sometimes will, her career path ended up back at that crossroads — this second time around, however, she chose to be both a nurse and a teacher.
That happened when she became a school nurse in Northampton County, a place she has loved her entire life and a place full of personal connection.
“When I moved back home to Northampton County, I was torn between teaching and nursing,” Taylor recalls. “In many ways, I now have the best of both worlds.”
At what is now ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Taylor worked in the medical surgery unit for several years before deciding to take a shot at becoming a school nurse.
“Initially, my interest had a lot do with the fact I had three small children — five, three and one at the time — and this job would allow me to have holidays and summers with them,” Taylor recalls. “That is certainly still a plus, but since I’ve been working here I’ve grown so attached to the children.
“I feel like because I come from Northampton County, I know their parents — sometimes went to school with their parents — and I feel a connection to the students and their families,” she adds.
Taylor is currently the school nurse for Central Elementary School in Jackson and the Northampton Career and Technical Academy of Innovation in Creeksville, as well as being the lead school nurse for Northampton County Schools.
After becoming a school nurse, Taylor set about on two important educational journeys — earning a bachelor’s degree and becoming certified by the National Board of School Nurses. Both are required for school nurses in North Carolina.
“I came in as an RN, but North Carolina requires a bachelor’s degree and certification within three years of being hired,” Taylor notes.
While she worked and earned her bachelor’s of science in nursing from Chamberlain University in Chicago, Taylor actually found the national certification even more challenging.
“It is a tough program because you have to know more than just nursing; you have to learn education laws as well as nursing laws,” she says.
One of the bright spots of her career is the part where nursing intersects with teaching.
“I get to go in the classrooms and get to know the kids,” she says. “I do health education topics and teach them and have fun at the same time. Because I’m not in one classroom, I’m able to move around and help the teachers where I’m needed.”
The toughest part of the job is taking it home with her.
“When I see children who have needs and don’t have access to care outside of school, I worry about them even during ‘off’ hours,” she says. “I am attached to them, and I take it home a lot.”
Still, she works hard every day to make sure students with needs have them met at school and at home.
“As a school nurse, our main job is to keep children healthy, so they can come to school and learn,” Taylor says. “We also identify chronic illnesses and make sure they have what they need at school to be able to come to school.”
Other important parts of the job include health education, working with families to connect them with resources for children who have health needs, giving medication and helping acutely sick children.
While her task is certainly one that keeps her busy, Taylor says she loves coming to her job.
“I look forward to coming to work,” she says. “I love being greeted by the children and staff. They make this a good place to work. When the children smile or come wanting a hug when they see me, it makes my day.”
As with most nurses, her day often doesn’t come to an end when she leaves the school building.
“Even when I’m not at work, I’m always a nurse,” she says. “I have friends and families who ask nursing questions. When I’m at my children’s games, if a child is injured they often ask my advice.”
While that may frustrate some, Taylor says it is something that makes her feel good.
“It doesn’t bother me when that happens,” she says. “It makes me feel good they can ask my thoughts, and I want them to feel they can come to me. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll try to find one.”
That desire to help and be there for her family, friends and community has led Taylor to continuing her education. She is currently working on a master’s degree from Chamberlain.
She is proud to have been born and raised in Northampton County and to be doing the same for her three children — Cole, Lena and Jodie.
“When you work where you grew up, you are oftentimes more invested in the community because you have ties here,” she says. “I’m happy to be raising my family here.”
Taylor says while Northampton County may not have all the businesses and industries that larger counties have, what it does offer is a feeling of home.
“I feel grateful to be here and to have my children being raised here,” she notes. “Northampton may not be the biggest place around, but it is good to be at home where I know the families of the children I take care of every day and know we are all invested in keeping this a wonderful place for families.”
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