She’s known as Nurse Pener to hundreds of people who have had ties to Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy over the past 18 years as well as those who work, play or otherwise spend time at the Jewish Community Campus. As nurses are recognized across the nation next week on National Nurses Day May 6, Elisa Pener will be praised for her skills as a nurse and much, much more.
One of almost 4 million professional nurses in the United States, Pener didn’t dream of becoming a nurse when she was a child. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}She wanted to be a professional dancer. But when she discovered her passion wasn’t going to become her profession, she chose nursing school. Pener has been a registered nurse since 1982.
Because nurses are needed 24 hours a day, and because she was “always blessed” to have her sister, Dion Lutzk, help with her three children, Pener has worked as a nurse almost constantly for the past 33 years.
“My kids always thought of my sister, their Aunt D, as their other mother,” Pener said.
Over the years she worked at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Baptist Medical Center — often working the night shift — as well as at a couple of physician’s offices.
The job at HBHA, she said, just fell into her lap. She had heard that the school received a grant from the Jewish Heritage Foundation to hire a nurse. But when she inquired about the opening, she was told interviews were already completed.
“The next thing I know I got a call from Stan Beiner, who was the head of school at the time. He said ‘We’d like you to come in and talk to us,’” Pener recalled.
At the interview Beiner asked Pener if she could teach a class. She had never taught before, but she said sure.
“So I taught a class on health, and I was there with Teri Sackin, who was the counselor at the time, and we hit it off really well. Then I left and by the next day they asked me if I wanted the position.”
Becoming the school’s nurse brought her own history full circle. Pener was a student at the Hebrew Day school through eighth grade, beginning as a second-grader in its second year. Her three children — Sam, Michele and Jackie — were students at HBHA when she joined the staff in April 1997.
Pener is not a typical school nurse. Her title is health coordinator, but she does so much more than tend to the health of the students and its staff. She also handles regular medication for any students at the Jewish Community Center’s Child Development Center and is called upon if there is a medical emergency anywhere during the school day on the Campus — be it at the Heritage Center, in the gym or in one of the agency offices.
There’s more. She’s the school’s photographer, frequently helps in the school’s front office, is occasionally a substitute teacher and was designing tickets for the school play the day of the interview. She said when something needed to be done, she simply taught herself how to do it.
“I’ve been blessed. I love the people I work with and I adore the children,” she said with a big smile. “I came here, it felt like home and I never left.”
The feeling is mutual.
“During her 18 years on staff, Elisa Pener has spent school hours comforting, advising and connecting with hundreds of children, parents and teachers as they pass through our halls. She is part of the daily fabric of our lives at HBHA,” said Howard M. Haas, HBHA’s head of school.
She loves the school’s environment.
“It’s a very friendly, welcoming environment and I like watching the kids grow up. It makes me feel good when I see them become successful, especially if there have been certain challenges with their health or emotional well-being and they get through it and go on to become great people.”
These days, depending on the time of year, Nurse Pener has to administer a lot routine medication. But she really likes it when it’s calm.
“I’m always waiting for something crazy to happen.”
The craziest things recently have occurred to staff members.
“We’ve had a few teachers get injured these past few month,” she said. “One was crawling under the playground equipment trying to help a kid and split her head open. We had to send her in for stiches.”
”I’ve had my share of broken bones and questionable rule-out heart attacks and fun things like that. These things always keep you on your toes,” she continued.
She is licensed in Kansas and Missouri (which reciprocates with other states) and must take continuing education courses to maintain her license. She chooses courses to make her better equipped to tend to the students at HBHA.
“Right now I’m taking classes to work toward certification as a diabetic educator. It will help me with my daily activities here and with my kids at camp. Diabetes patients are getting younger and younger.”
Camp is Pener’s other love as a nurse. Every summer she travels to Connover, Wisconsin, to run the infirmary at Camp Ramah. When she started working at Ramah 19 years ago, her kids stayed at home attending other camps that matched their skills.
“I started there the summer before I started here. And that was a big stipulation because the camp here at The J also needed a nurse, but I said I won’t sign that contract because I have a commitment already.”
At Ramah, she supervises at least two to three other nurses along with two doctors and at least one administrative aide. The camp serves approximately 750 people — about 500 campers along with staff and their children.
She’s there all summer — arriving in the beginning of June and returning just before school starts in August. Her husband Jimmy spends time with her every summer, as have other family members on occasion.
She has a full schedule with her nursing jobs, but loves the flexibility she has a nurse.
“In addition to my belief that I was born to be a nurse, the flexibility is what really drew me to the profession,” she said. “As a nurse you can do almost anything.”
What’s next for Nurse Pener? She is excited about her newest life adventure, becoming a grandmother. As of this past weekend, Nurse Pener proudly became a first-time grandmother. As a member of her tight-knit family, it is a title she relishes.
“I love my family and I thank them all the time for their support because they have supported me through a lot of things. Working nights was crazy. I couldn’t have done that without family support, that’s for sure.”{/mprestriction}
