Bradley Hosts School Nurses to Tackle Tough Topics

Dr. Bobby Lucia, a faculty member of the College of Education and Health Sciences at Bradley University founded the School Nurse Conference to support the professional development of school nurses. This annual event aims to equip school nurses with the latest knowledge and skills to address emerging health issues among school-aged children.

The one-day conference was held June 11, 2024 at Westlake Hall. A multitude of topics included issues like pediatric sleep, asthma, human trafficking and sickle cell.

Dr. Lucia, a recognized leader in graduate nursing and a passionate advocate for school health, envisioned the conference as a response to the evolving challenges school nurses face.

“I think the goal of this conference is to provide school nurses with evidence-based practices, resources that can be used to promote student health and academic success, and create networking opportunities to strengthen the school nurse community,” explained Dr. Lucia.

The conference was attended by 48 school nurses from across central Illinois, offering them a unique platform to share best practices, learn from leading health professionals, and collaborate on solutions to common challenges.

Interim Dean for Bradley’s College of Education and Health Sciences, Kathy Shapley, strongly supports this initiative stating, “We are incredibly proud of Dr. Lucia’s dedication to advancing school nursing. This conference represents a significant step forward in our commitment to improving public health through education and collaboration with our community partners.”

About Dr. Bobby Lucia: Dr. Lucia is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Bradley University. With over 10 years of experience in nursing, and has been practicing as an advanced practice nurse for over 5 years. Dr. Lucia has authored multiple publications and is a sought-after speaker on school health and pediatric pulmonology care.