The school nursing profession lost a transformative leader early morning on June 11, 2026, with the passing of Robin Michelle Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN, FNASN, FAAN. Known throughout the nation as “The Relentless School Nurse,” Cogan dedicated her career to advancing school nursing practice, promoting health equity, advocating for children, and mentoring generations of nurses.
For more than two decades, Robin Cogan served as a school nurse in the Camden City School District in New Jersey. Her work extended far beyond the school health office as she became one of the most recognized voices in school nursing. As the New Jersey Director to the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), and distinguished leader within the New Jersey State School Nurses Association (NJSSNA), Robin Cogan championed policies that improved the health, safety, and educational outcomes of children and adolescents. Her advocacy efforts emphasized the critical role of school nurses as essential members of the educational and healthcare disciplines.
Robin Cogan was also a passionate educator. As faculty and clinical coordinator in the Rutgers University–Camden School Nurse Certificate Program, she prepared future school nurses to serve with competence, confidence, compassion, and courage. Students and colleagues alike remember her as an inspiring teacher whose mentorship empowered others to become leaders in their own communities and workplaces.
Through her nationally influential blog, The Relentless School Nurse, Robin Cogan created a platform that connected school nurses across the country amplifying issues affecting student health, public policy, and health equity. Her impactful blogs challenged nurses to use their voices, advocate for vulnerable populations, and engage in meaningful systems change. Her contributions were so significant that her work was recognized as a case study in the National Academies of Medicine’s The Future of Nursing 2020–2030 report.
Throughout her distinguished career, Robin Cogan received numerous honors, including the National Association of School Nurses President’s Award, the Nationally Certified School Nurse School Nurse of the Year Award, the Johnson & Johnson School Nurse of the Year Award, the New Jersey Department of Health Population Health Hero Award, and the Rutgers University–Camden Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award. In 2021, she was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, one of the profession’s highest distinctions.
Despite these accomplishments, Robin’s greatest legacy was not found in awards or titles. It was reflected in the countless nurses she mentored, the students whose lives were improved through her advocacy, and the colleagues who benefited from her wisdom, generosity, and friendship. She possessed a rare ability to inspire action while fostering genuine connection and community.
Robin Michelle Cogan will be remembered as a beloved mentor, teacher, colleague, advocate, and friend. Her relentless commitment to children, families, and the school nursing profession transformed and strengthened the profession for future generations. Her legacy will continue to inspire nurses to lead with courage, compassion, and purpose.
Dr. Cynthia Samuel, PhD, RN, FNASN, FNYAM, FADLN
President of the New Jersey State School Nurses Association
New Jersey State Nurses Association Region 3 Vice President Education Region
References
Cogan, R. (2020). Future of nursing 2020–2030 Philadelphia town hall: Lessons shared from a relentless school nurse. NASN School Nurse, 35(2), 74–78. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1942602X19896836
Cogan, R. (2026). What school nurses carry beyond the health office: Advocacy, responsibility, and action. NASN School Nurse, 41(3), 102–103. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1942602X261428138
National Association of School Nurses. (n.d.). Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN, FNASN, FAAN. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://www.nasn.org/people/robin-cogan
New Jersey State School Nurses Association. (n.d.). Board of directors: Robin Cogan. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://njssna.nursingnetwork.com/committees/628-board-of-directors
Rutgers University–Camden. (2021, July 28). Nursing scholar earns prestigious American Academy of Nursing fellowship for contributions to the profession. https://camden.rutgers.edu/news/nursing-scholar-earns-prestigious-american-academy-nursing-fellowship-contributions-profession
The Relentless School Nurse. (n.d.). About Robin Cogan. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://relentlessschoolnurse.com/about/
