PYSK: Lori Osborne, Health Service Coordinator, Columbia Public Schools

Lori Osborne

Health services coordinator at Columbia Public Schools

Age: 53

Job description:

My job includes the care and coordination of student health; nursing services; policy and procedure management as it relates to student health and emergency management; and the hiring for my department of approximately 50 people.

Years lived in Columbia/mid-Missouri:

30.

Original hometown:

California, Missouri.

Education:

BSN and MSN from the MU Sinclair School of Nursing.

Community involvement:

I am a member of the National Association of School Nurses and the Missouri Association of School Nurses. Over the years, I have held several offices within MASN. I am also on the board of directors for Family Health Center in Columbia and have served on the United Way Health Advisory Council in the past.

Professional background:

I started my nursing career at Boone Hospital Center. I have also worked for MU Health Care and Research Medical Center in Kansas City. My hospital nursing experience has primarily been ICU and PACU. In 1998, I started with CPS as a school nurse in the elementary setting. I became the health services coordinator in 2009 and currently work very part time at Broadway Urgent Care.

A favorite recent project:

Columbia Public Schools just completed the annual school-based flu vaccine clinic in all Columbia schools. We collaborate with the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Resources to provide free seasonal flu vaccines to all students with parental consent. This has been an annual event, with the help of benefactors such as the MU Children’s Hospital and the Lichtenstein Foundation.

Favorite place in Columbia:

I have lots of favorite spots in Columbia, but I think Shakespeare’s brings me back to my fun college days … and the food is great too!

A Columbia businessperson I admire and why:

I admire all small business owners with the dream and desire to open their own business.

Why I’m passionate about my job:

I love working with children. School nurses work very hard to make a healthy impact on the lives of students. We have a very cohesive group of nurses and health secretaries, and the CPS administration is very supportive of our work. We are fortunate to live in a community with so many valuable resources. It’s very rewarding to see a child enter kindergarten and watch the process as they mature into young adults graduating from high school.

If I weren’t doing this for a living, I would:

I’d still be working in some form of nursing.

What people should know about this profession:

Nursing has many facets: health care provider, educator, community resource, counselor, family liaison, etc. It’s both challenging and very rewarding working in schools to make a difference in the health and educational success of children.

What I do for fun:

I love it when all my children are home. We play some pretty competitive card games!

Family:

I have been married to my husband, Jeff, for 30 years. We have three children. Anne is a 5th grade teacher at West Boulevard Elementary School, Kate is an emergency room nurse at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, and John will be graduating in May with a degree in corporate finance.

Accomplishment I’m most proud of:

My family!

Most people don’t know that:

I lived with Sheryl Crow during college.