The Ten B's | When To Visit The School Nurse
Teaching students what constitutes a true nurse visit—and what can wait—helps reduce unnecessary visits while building health literacy and independence.
That's exactly why I wrote The Ten B's: When to Visit the School Nurse.
School Nurses Are Bringing the Book to Life
Recently, fellow school nurse Bridget of The School Nurse Says shared how she dressed as Lina Rogers, America's first school nurse, and read The Ten B's to her preschool students for School Nurse Day.
Seeing another school nurse use the book in such a creative way reminded me why I wrote it in the first place—to help school nurses connect with students while teaching important health concepts in a fun, memorable way.
Whether you're reading to one student, an entire classroom, or introducing yourself at the beginning of the school year, The Ten B's is designed to spark conversations about healthy choices and appropriate nurse visits.
The Ten B's : When To Visit The School Nurse
What's Inside?
Each page introduces a different reason a student might need to visit the school nurse.
🐝 Blood Sugar
🐝 Bad Breathing
🐝 Broken Bones
🐝 Burning Up
🐝 Big Bump
🐝 Barfing
🐝 Bowel Issues
🐝 Bleeding
🐝 Bee Stings
🐝 Believable
The colorful illustrations and simple rhyming format make it easy for elementary students to understand—and fun to read aloud.
Many school nurses also use individual pages as introductions to classroom health lessons throughout the year.
Why "Believable" Matters
"Believable" is often the page that generates the most discussion—and for good reason.
It isn't about accusing students of pretending to be sick.
It's about encouraging staff to use professional judgment before automatically sending every student to the health office.
If a student says they don't feel well but they're laughing with friends, trying to avoid a test, or asking to leave class at the same time every day, it's okay to pause, observe, and check in.
Instead of immediately asking,
"Do they want to see the nurse?"
consider asking,
"Does this seem like something that truly requires nursing care right now?"
That simple shift can help reduce unnecessary visits while ensuring students with genuine health concerns receive timely care.
More Than a Storybook
I hope The Ten B's becomes more than just another children's book on your shelf.
I hope it becomes a classroom conversation starter, a relationship builder, and a fun way to help students understand when—and why—they should visit the school nurse.
After all, some of the best health education happens long before a student ever walks through the health office door.
Learn more or purchase The Ten B's: When To Visit The School Nurse here.
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