Photos by BARRY WILLIAMS/Special (ENLARGE)

Doretta Thomas-Fleet, a nurse at Heritage School in DeKalb County, checks in with Tyler Jackson, 10. 'I just love them,' she said of the students.

(ENLARGE)

Doretta Thomas-Fleet, top three finalist for the third annual ajcjobs Nursing Excellence Awards.

Before becoming a school nurse, Doretta Thomas-Fleet worked at a children's hospital, and then took a job giving medical advice over the phone to parents of children with chronic health conditions.

"It takes a lot to get parents to trust you over the phone," she said. "That experience prepared me for this job."

Thomas-Fleet, RN, BSN, works at Heritage School, a DeKalb County school for children age 3 to 13 who have profound multiple physical and mental disabilities. She knows parents are hesitant to let their children leave home, but Thomas-Fleet assures them that their children will be safe, cared for and loved.

Those assurances lead to trust. A mother once asked Thomas-Fleet to hold her son's hand when he was having a seizure to let him know that someone was there.

"For the parents, if their child is happy, that's a good day," she said. "But once the children are here, they want to be here. We become like an extended family."

Thomas-Fleet says that the children benefit from socialization and exposure to learning as well as from the services of teachers, therapists, a nurse and a social worker.

"This is a very special school, and we do good work here," said Thomas-Fleet, 40. "We put on plays, pep rallies, talent shows and have a yearbook. Our saying is that 'we're going to do it for the children.' We have to, because they can't do it for themselves."

Following individual care regimens for about 50 children — most of whom need wheelchairs and can't verbalize their needs — is a tall order. Thomas-Fleet's duties include administering medications, giving nebulizer and breathing treatments, suctioning lungs, doing catheterizations, monitoring shunts and seizures, feeding students and handling emergencies.

She also uses her assessment skills to monitor the medical conditions and comfort levels of the children.

"When you're with a child long enough, you learn to read the clues and know the little things you can do to help," Thomas-Fleet said.

It may be something as simple as shifting a child in a wheelchair to ease the pain in his or her hips, or giving them more water.

"They recognize my voice and smile," she said, "and they have great senses of humor. Everything I say that is corny, they think is hilarious."

"She is very enthusiastic, has such a positive spirit and makes those around her feel good," said co-worker Rachel Marie Galotti, who nominated Thomas-Fleet for the award. "She is our school's guardian angel."

For Thomas-Fleet, the rewards are getting to know her students and watching them grow. The staff usually asks her to speak at the promotion ceremonies when the older children go to high school.

"They know that I will share something personal that I've learned about them," Thomas-Fleet said. "I just love them. My children know that, and their parents do, too."