Nominated by Stephanie Molina
Sara Cellon joined the Virginia Institute of Autism (now known as VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment) in Charlottesville, Virginia two (almost three) years ago. To say the very least, her presence at VIA has ELEVATED the level of care, compassion, knowledge, and wellbeing of EVERYONE in this organization. Students, staff, clients, and families are all well taken care of with Nurse Sara on the scene. VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment is a very special organization that services the uniquely amazing population of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as other neurodevelopmental diagnoses that make our services in great need. Many nurses can fill the "school nurse" position and do the job. However, Nurse Sara brings so much more to her role. She provides care to our students and adult clients with so much dedication to duty, respect, empathy, and ensures every student/client/staff/parent is cared for to the fullest with their dignity intact. She has provided emergency care to students during seizures, to staff with head injuries, and even to parents who were merely dropping off their child at our center and unfortunately experienced an emergency event in the parking lot! She keeps us/them calm, she provides the care necessary and beyond, and she makes the hard calls. And she does all this NOT to be recognized as the BEST nurse around or to win Superstar School Nurse. She does it because it is her job, it is her duty, it is her destiny, and it is what our students/clients/staff/families deserve: the best care possible. Because Nurse Sara models such exceptional skills and knowledge, she inspires the nurses who she supervises (like me) to be a better nurse. And although I may never be the caliber of nurse and caretaker that Nurse Sara is, I will be a better version of the nurse I am today than I was yesterday; which means our students, clients, staff, and families will always be well taken care of. I'm so thankful for Nurse Sara. She was born to take care of those in need and to see her in action is my privilege and my reminder that I can always be better, I can always do more. Thank you for reading and I know all the nurses nominated this year (and every year) are just as deserving as Nurse Sara and I am grateful for all of them and all of you. Happy Nurses Week to ALL!!!!
