AHRC New York City

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Christa Havens Molfetto

October 28, 2011: This week AHRC NYC spotlights Christa Havens Molfetto, School Nurse at Brooklyn Blue Feather Elementary, a staff member who is held in the highest regard by her coworkers.  Christa has worked for AHRC for the past 18 years, maintaining prescriptions for children receiving services, tracking incident reports, and acting as the school's front line for First Aid, CPR, AED protocols, and OSHA Haz Com.

Christa notes the many programmatic changes that the school has undergone during the time of her employment, adding that she has always been willing to go with the flow.  "You come to work each day like it's your first day on the job.  If you take things for granted, mistakes can happen, so you have to create your own feeling each day," says Christa.  By treating each day as if it is her first, Christa is able to provide an up to date perspective when assisting the staff in understanding any student medical concerns which may impact the learning environment. She attends every child study, lending insight into student medication-related behaviors.

"She has always been a true professional and can be counted on to do anything," says the school's Principal, Zoe Ann Deeds. "The parents and students love her.  She willingly assists the parents through any and all medical needs, supporting them through the medical issues faced by their children. She is in constant contact with the families, letting them know if a medical form is needed or if the child is not feeling well." Zoe Ann also notes Christa's use of creative activities as a tool for learning about staying healthy. "During the past year, Christa developed a contest for all the students with a "cover your cold" theme. The school had 100% participation, with students choosing to sing a song, make a poster, or wrote a poem themed to the contest."

In addition to her care for the students, Christa supports the staff when they have a medical need, by reassuring them and providing advice. Her peers noted a recent instance when Christa noticed that a member of the Maintenance Staff was not feeling well. She knew he would be working alone in the building for the evening, and she returned to the school at 8:00 pm to make sure he was feeling better.

"Nurse Christa is one of the most compassionate and caring individuals I know.  She supports our students by her continued, calming and loving presence. Our families, staff, and children regularly seek her counsel and Brooklyn Blue Feather Elementary would not be the same without her!  We are indeed lucky to have her," adds Christina Muccioli, Director of Education.

AHRC NYC is proud to spotlight Christa's ongoing work, keeping the students at Brooklyn Blue Feather Elementary healthy and safe, while doing her part in preparing them to be the best that they can be.