Natalie Cordero

School Nurse

Phone: (804) 553-8192
Address: 4217 Birchwood Lane, Richmond, VA 23220
Website: https://linkedin.com/in/nataliecordero
Email:
  • Compassionate and resourceful Registered Nurse with 7+ years of pediatric and community health experience transitioning into school nursing, bringing a proven ability to serve as the sole healthcare provider for large, diverse student populations while collaborating with teachers, administrators, and families
  • Skilled in autonomous clinical decision-making, chronic disease management for school-age children (asthma, diabetes, severe allergies), and translating complex medical information into age-appropriate health education for students and non-medical staff
  • Demonstrated expertise in conducting large-scale health screenings (vision, hearing, BMI) for 600+ students annually, developing individualized healthcare plans aligned with IEP/504 requirements, and ensuring compliance with FERPA, HIPAA, and IDEA regulations in educational settings
  • Recognized for building culturally responsive health programs, training school staff on emergency response protocols, and improving student attendance rates through proactive wellness initiatives and early intervention

Professional Experience

Henrico County Health Department, Richmond, VA

Community Health Nurse

June 2021 – Present
  • Served as lead nurse for school-based health clinics across 8 elementary and middle schools, providing direct care, health screenings, and immunization compliance reviews for a combined population of 3,200+ students
  • Developed and delivered culturally sensitive health education workshops on puberty, nutrition, and hygiene to over 40 fifth-grade classrooms annually, receiving a 96% positive feedback rating from teachers and parents
  • Coordinated annual vaccination clinics serving 750+ underserved families per year, partnering with school administrators and parent-teacher organizations to maximize participation and reduce barriers to access
  • Created individualized emergency action plans for 85 students with chronic conditions including Type 1 diabetes, epilepsy, and severe food allergies, and trained 120+ teachers and aides on plan execution
  • Managed communicable disease outbreak response for three schools during a norovirus event, implementing containment protocols that limited spread to under 4% of the student body and maintained instructional continuity
  • Collaborated with school psychologists and social workers on crisis intervention teams, providing mental health first aid and appropriate referrals for students exhibiting signs of anxiety, depression, or abuse
  • Maintained meticulous electronic health records in compliance with FERPA and HIPAA, ensuring confidentiality while facilitating seamless communication with parents and pediatricians

Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Richmond, VA

Pediatric Registered Nurse

August 2017 – May 2021
  • Provided direct patient care to an average daily census of 6–8 pediatric patients (ages 2–17) on a 32-bed medical-surgical unit, managing conditions including asthma exacerbations, diabetic ketoacidosis, post-surgical recovery, and infectious disease
  • Served as unit liaison between medical teams and families, translating complex care plans into understandable language for parents and caregivers, resulting in a 30% improvement in discharge instruction comprehension scores
  • Developed and piloted an age-appropriate asthma self-management education program for patients ages 8–14, contributing to a 40% reduction in 30-day readmission rates for participating patients
  • Trained and mentored 4 new graduate nurses annually on pediatric assessment techniques, medication administration for pediatric dosing, and de-escalation strategies for anxious young patients
  • Managed multiple simultaneous emergencies during high-acuity shifts, consistently demonstrating calm, autonomous clinical judgment and effective triage prioritization
  • Collaborated with child life specialists and social workers to support holistic patient well-being, including coordinating school re-entry plans for students with extended hospitalizations

Education

Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

May 2017
  • Relevant Coursework: Pediatric Nursing, Community and Public Health Nursing, Developmental Psychology, Family Health Nursing, Epidemiology
  • Clinical Rotation: Children's Hospital of Richmond Pediatric Unit (160 hours); Henrico County Public Schools Health Services Practicum (80 hours)
  • Senior Capstone Project: "Improving Asthma Outcomes in School-Age Children Through Nurse-Led Education"

Licenses and Certifications

Active Registered Nurse (RN) License

Virginia Board of Nursing, License #RN-2017-048231

Expires: 06/2026

National Certified School Nurse (NCSN)

National Board for Certification of School Nurses

Earned: 2022

Virginia School Health Services Credential

Virginia Department of Education

Current

CPR/BLS Certification

American Heart Association

Current through 03/2026

Mental Health First Aid Certified

National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Earned: 2023

Diabetes Management in the School Setting

National Association of School Nurses

Completed: 2022

Mandated Reporter Training

Commonwealth of Virginia

Current

Skills

Clinical Competencies

  • Pediatric health assessment and triage
  • Emergency response and first aid (anaphylaxis, seizures, asthma attacks)
  • Chronic disease management (diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, severe allergies)
  • Medication administration and delegation to unlicensed personnel
  • Vision, hearing, and scoliosis screening
  • Immunization compliance review and administration
  • Communicable disease identification and outbreak management
  • Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP) and Emergency Action Plan (EAP) development

Educational Environment Skills

  • IEP/504 plan collaboration and health-related accommodation development
  • Age-appropriate health education curriculum delivery (K–8)
  • FERPA, HIPAA, and IDEA compliance in school settings
  • Crisis intervention and mental health first aid for students
  • Training non-medical staff on emergency protocols and medication administration
  • Culturally responsive health communication with diverse families
  • Parent and caregiver health counseling and resource referral
  • Electronic health records management (SNAP Health Center, PowerSchool)
  • Substitute nurse coverage planning and health office procedure documentation

Awards and Recognition

Excellence in Pediatric Patient Education Award

Children's Hospital of Richmond

2020
  • Recognized for developing an age-appropriate asthma self-management program that contributed to a 40% reduction in 30-day readmission rates among school-age patients

Community Health Champion Award

Henrico County Health Department

2023
  • Honored for designing and implementing school-based vaccination clinics serving 750+ underserved families annually across 8 school sites

Publications and Presentations

Publications

  • "Building Allergy-Aware Classrooms: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Staff" — Contributing Author, Henrico County Public Schools Health Services Manual, 2023
  • "A Parent's Guide to Managing Your Child's Asthma During the School Day" — School Health Connection Newsletter, Fall 2022

Presentations

  • "Recognizing Signs of Anxiety and Depression in Elementary Students" — Workshop for Henrico County Teachers and Staff, March 2023 (Audience: 85 educators)
  • "Food Allergy Safety in Schools: What Every Parent Should Know" — PTA Health Night, Tuckahoe Elementary School, October 2022 (Audience: 120 parents)

Professional Affiliations

National Association of School Nurses (NASN)

Member since 2021

2021

Virginia Association of School Nurses (VASN)

Member since 2021

2021

American Nurses Association (ANA)

Member since 2017

2017