Online School Emergency Triage Training (SETT) for School Nurses

NASN's NCPD program SETT Online teaches effective management of school emergencies where there are mass casualties requiring careful planning, preparation, and training. School nurses will learn how to coordinate the collection of information from multiple sources to develop emergency disaster response plans which require coordination with school administrators, staff, healthcare providers, and other first responders. This educational offering provides 3.5 NCPD contact hours. Start training today.

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New Issue of The Journal of School Nursing is Now Available

The April issue of The Journal of School Nursing (JOSN) features an editorial and several original research reports. Here are a few highlights:

• Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on School Nurses’ Resiliency and Ability to Cope: A Mixed Methods Study in the State of Hawaii
• Burnout and Mental Health and Well-Being of School Nurses After the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Cross-Sectional Survey
• Missed Vision Screenings for School-Age Children During The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey-Based Study of NASN Representatives

School-Based Active Surveillance (SBAS) to Track Chronic Absenteeism

In this month's JOSN Podcast, Martha Dewey Bergren, editor of JOSN, interviews author Anindita Issa and Erin D. Maughan to discuss the article "Feasibility Assessment of a School Nurse-Led Approach Using Chronic Absenteeism to Establish the SBAS Process," which shares what was learned from the feasibility assessment of a nurse-led SBAS pilot to track chronic absenteeism using myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) as an exemplar. 

Nurse-led SBAS programs can proactively identify and document student health concerns and assist students and families in getting the care that they need. Here are some other related NASN Resources:

• NCPD Program: ME/CFS and Long-COVID: The School Nurse Role in Identifying Children with Chronic Illness
• NCPD Program: A School Nurse-Led Initiative to Address Chronic Absenteeism
• The School Nurse-Led Active Surveillance Manual

Support Students Experiencing Grief

Proper support is essential to promote healthy coping and acceptance in youth experiencing grief. The NASN School Nurse article, Grief in School-Aged Youth, explores the theoretical underpinnings, categorization, and terminology related to the grief process, developmental impacts, and recommendations for best practice. The interprofessional school team, including school nurses, can support students experiencing grief to enhance student learning outcomes and overall health and well-being.

NASN members receive print and online subscriptions to NASN School Nurse and can sign up to receive email alerts when new articles are released.

Collaborate to Create Healthy Learning Spaces

NASN, The Center for Green Schools, and Chemical Insights Research Institute of UL Research Institutes invite you to join our upcoming joint webinar Identifying and Addressing Emerging Indoor Air Pollutants: School Health and Facilities Staff Collaborations, on April 27 at 3 pm ET. Panelist Clayton Wetzel, past VT NASN Director and school nurse at Waitsfield Elementary in VT, shares how he works closely with his district's facilities staff to prevent and address environmental health issues.

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This section highlights news stories featuring NASN and school nurses. If you have a story about school nurses you'd like us to consider including, please send it to us.

• Jefferson Forest High School staff honored for life-saving actions (Source: wsls.com)
• KLCH’s “Health Educators of the Year” (Source: mcphersonsentinel.com)
• Talking periods in Florida (Source: politico.com)
• Flags to fly at half-staff to honor beloved school nurse, fixture in Port Chester community (Source: hudsonvalley.news12.com)
• Local school nurse awarded Utah Silver Syringe (Source: moabsunnews.com)
• School nurses share importance of student's asthma/allergy action plan (Source: nebraska.tv)
• Local SRO and school nurse collect hygiene products for students (Source: abccolumbia.com)
• Sparta schools win Heart Safe designation (Source: spartaindependent.com)

Resources to Support Students with Chronic Conditions

The school nurse is well positioned to support the health and academic success of students with chronic health conditions by providing direct care and facilitating the many practice components of the Care Coordination principle of NASN’s Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice™. Visit NASN's page dedicated to Chronic Health Condition Management for resources to support school nurses in building school communities that support the health and learning of students with chronic health conditions.

Looking for an online NCPD program offering foundational skills for managing chronic health conditions? Skills-based Approach to Managing Chronic Health Conditions in Schools is a free interactive program that will help school nurses apply the NASN Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice™ to chronic health condition management in schools and provides 4.25 CNE contact hours.

The effects of trauma can be debilitating, making it difficult for teens to cope with life's daily struggles. You can help by providing a safe, supportive environment and access to valuable resources. Families for Depression Awareness invites you to the Helping Teens Heal From Trauma webinar on April 25, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. ET. The webinar will define trauma, discuss its impact on long-term wellness, cover the signs of trauma in teens, effective treatment approaches, and practical strategies to encourage teen mental wellness.

Effective public health communication is critical to help people stay informed and make decisions about their health. The Public Health Communications Collaborative has created a new Plain Language for Public Health guide to support public health communicators in creating messaging to advance health literacy, build trust, and promote overall community health.

National Minority Health Month highlights the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minorities and American Indian/Alaska Native communities and reducing health disparities. The theme for National Minority Health Month 2023, Better Health Through Better Understanding, focuses on improving health outcomes for all by providing culturally and linguistically competent healthcare services, information, and resources. Learn more and get involved.

• NASN Resources: Check out NASN's Cultural Responsiveness and Equity page. School nurses are sensitive to the cultural needs of students, families, and the school community and can identify cultural needs to address health needs.

The Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings grant program is open for applications through May 9, providing grants and cooperative agreements to states, local educational agencies, and more for the assessment, prevention, control, and/or abatement of wildfire smoke hazards. Questions about the application process can be submitted to [email protected] through April 27. Learn more.

• Ohio Association of School Nurses 2023 Annual Conference - Good as Gold, Celebrating 50 Years of Ohio Nurses - April 14-16, 2023 - Learn more

• Louisiana School Nurses Organization: 53rd Annual LSNO Professional Growth Seminar - April 18-21, 2023 - Learn more and Register

• Wisconsin Association of School Nurses Annual Conference - Improving the Inclusivity and Visibility of School Nurses - April 26-28, 2023 - Learn more and Register

• 2023 Annual Iowa School Nurse Conference - Back in the Saddle - April 28-29, 2023 - Learn more and Register

• 2023 New England School Nurse Conference (Association of School Nurses of Connecticut) - School Nurses: Essential Anchors During Changing Times - May 6-7, 2023 - Learn more and Register

• Utah School Nurse Association Annual Spring Conference - May 11-12, 2023 - Learn more and Register

• 2023 Mississippi School Nurse Association Conference - Transformation Through Adversity: The Resilient School Nurse - May 31 -June 2, 2023 - Learn more and Register

• South Carolina Association of School Nurses 21st Annual School Nurse Summer Conference - Riding the Wave of Resiliency - June 11 -13, 2023 - Learn more

• School Nurses of Arizona 34th Annual School Health Conference - Back to Basics: The ABC's of School Nursing - June 12 -13, 2023 - Learn more and Register

• 2023 Georgia Association of School Nurses Annual School Nurse Conference - Restore our Light - June 13 -16, 2023 - Learn more and Register

NASN Calendar of Events

This calendar includes upcoming events hosted by NASN and NASN affiliate school nurse organizations. Access the calendar.

National Health Observances Calendar

This calendar lists special days, weeks, or months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics. Access the 2023 calendar. 

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