Lyda Smiley Award
THE INLAND EMPIRE SCHOOL NURSE ORGANIZATION (IESNO) ANNUALLY AWARDS AN INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION IN THE COMMUNITY WHO IS NOT ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN SCHOOL NURSING BUT IS A SUPPORTER OF SCHOOL NURSES AND PROMOTES THE HEALTH OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN.
WHO IS LYDA SMILEY?
Lyda M. Smiley (1906-1962), a pioneer in school nursing, combined her desire to promote and maintain health, by influencing children’s welfare through her extensive work in professional organizations. She graduated from St. Vincent’s Hospital College of Nursing in 1936. Nursing led her to California. In 1940, Lyda studied at UCLA where she received her PHN.
While in California, she combined her major interests of nursing, community health and education of children, by serving as a school nurse with varied titles. She became an active member in several professional educational and nursing organizations including the American Nurses Association (ANA) and California School Nurses Organization (CSNO). Smiley also advocated for the professional standards of school nurses by being the chairman of various ANA committees. As a charter CSNO member, Lyda was the first editor of the organization’s newsletter.
In the 1950s, she penned and published "Health Records for School Children," an article designed to explain the use of health aides for school nurses -- a concept that are still a central part of school nursing today. Because of her successes, Lyda helped elevate the professional care school nurses give to school aged children by combining nursing education with standards of care through professional development.
Lyda M. Smiley (1906-1962), a pioneer in school nursing, combined her desire to promote and maintain health, by influencing children’s welfare through her extensive work in professional organizations. She graduated from St. Vincent’s Hospital College of Nursing in 1936. Nursing led her to California. In 1940, Lyda studied at UCLA where she received her PHN.
While in California, she combined her major interests of nursing, community health and education of children, by serving as a school nurse with varied titles. She became an active member in several professional educational and nursing organizations including the American Nurses Association (ANA) and California School Nurses Organization (CSNO). Smiley also advocated for the professional standards of school nurses by being the chairman of various ANA committees. As a charter CSNO member, Lyda was the first editor of the organization’s newsletter.
In the 1950s, she penned and published "Health Records for School Children," an article designed to explain the use of health aides for school nurses -- a concept that are still a central part of school nursing today. Because of her successes, Lyda helped elevate the professional care school nurses give to school aged children by combining nursing education with standards of care through professional development.