"Binge drinking, campus violence, eating disorders, sexual harassment: Today's college students face challenges their parents never imagined."

These words from the Journal of American College Health are not comforting — especially not to the parents of college students — but they gave me a new perspective on the role of college health nurses.

These health care providers deal with a lot more than colds, flu and homesickness. While the role may lack the constant life-and-death urgency of the emergency room, it's definitely frontline nursing.

Campus nurses have to get past the connectivity of today's young people — as in, "no, you can't chat with your friends on your cellphone in the exam room" or the façade of overconfidence and the sense of invincibility that so many teens have. Campus nurses also must walk the tightrope of dealing with patients who may fear that their honesty about drinking, sex or suicidal thoughts will lead to judgmental responses instead of the help they need.

"Sometimes students find it easier to talk to an adult who isn't a parent," said Fran Beall, APRN-BC, nurse practitioner at the University Health Center at the University of Georgia. "As clinicians, we have to stay tuned in and listen well to hear if someone needs more than physical help."

Whether nurses call it "keeping their antennae up" or "reading between the lines," the intent is the same. Nurses want to establish a level of trust so that they can help keep young people healthy and encourage them to make better lifestyle choices, whether it's getting a flu shot or the HPV vaccine or seeing a counselor.

None of the nurses featured this month started out working on college campuses, yet all are passionate about their work, even after many years on the job. What keeps them motivated? Find out in this month's cover story.

UPDATE: For those who remember the story of 7-year-old George Gilbert in our August issue ("Leading the fight against epilepsy"), we have wonderful news.

His mother, Karen Gilbert, called to say that George's surgery was a success. He is seizure-free and has been released from treatment by his physical and speech therapists. He also started school for the first time in October.

"After two years of battling epilepsy, we rejoice that George has his life back. He's so happy [to be] going to school each morning and to be making new friends," she said. "I'm so grateful to God and to all the staff at MCG who blessed us the whole time we were there."

George received treatment at the Medical College of Georgia Comprehensive Epilepsy Program in Augusta, Georgia's only Level 4 epilepsy center.

- Do you have any story ideas for Pulse? Tell us about your career and what you do after hours. Send e-mail to pulseeditor@ajc.com or call 404-526-2078.