August 3, 2023

President's Message

At NASN, we believe immunizations are essential for the primary prevention of disease from infancy through adulthood and that childhood vaccinations are an effective way of preventing serious childhood illnesses.

School nurses are leaders who use evidence-based immunization strategies, such as School-Located Vaccine (SLV) clinics, parent/guardian reminders about vaccine schedules, state immunization information systems, strong support of vaccination recommendations, and vaccine education for students, staff, and families.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. School nurses are strongly positioned within their school communities to educate about the critical role vaccines play in allowing students and staff to remain healthy and in school throughout the year. Check out NASN's position statement on immunizations and resources from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the CDC further down in this issue of the Weekly Digest.

Kate King, DNP, MS, RN, LSN

NASN President

Better Health. Better Learning.™

NASN News and Highlights

New Issue of The Journal of School Nursing is Now Available

The August issue of The Journal of School Nursing (JOSN) features multiple research articles and an editorial. Here are a few highlights:

Development of a Measure of State-Level Supports for School Nursing Services Delivery

School-Based Nurse Practitioners’ Perceptions of the Health Care Needs of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Adolescents

Young Adults’ Perspectives of Childhood Food Allergies: Implications for School Nurses

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Associations Between School Nurse Workload and Student Health and Academic Outcomes

Research on school nurse workload and student outcomes can inform decisions on staffing and funding, benefiting students worldwide. Listen to the JOSN August Podcast where Martha Dewey Bergren, editor of JOSN, interviews author Krista Schroeder to discuss the article, "The Association of School Nurse Workload With Student Health and Academic Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study."

Helping New School Nurses Achieve Success

Each fall, we welcome new school nurses, and it is crucial that we support each in making a successful transition into the school nursing practice. The free access NASN School Nurse article Keys to Success in School Nursing: Community, Collegiality, and Continuous Learning offers valuable insights into the multifaceted role of school nursing, highlighting the essential elements of success and what new school nurses need.

NASN members can rely on NASN School Nurse to stay current with print and online subscriptions.

Additional NASN Resources: Check out the NASN podcast Smoothing the Way Into School Nursing Practice.

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Discussing Vaping and Nicotine Addiction With Youth

Visit FDA’s Vaping Prevention and Education Resource Center to explore resources to help talk with youth about the dangers associated with vaping, and how you can approach these conversations.

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School Nurses in the News

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.

This Forsyth County Schools Leader Was Chosen as the Statewide School Nurse Administrator of the Year (Source: forsythnews.com)
School Nurses Gather for OU College of Nursing’s 53rd Annual Conference (Source: news9.com)
Eastside Nurse Finds Community and Purpose in School Nursing (Source: valleytimes-news.com)
Illinois Lawmakers Discuss Shortage of School Psychologists, Nurses, and Other Personnel (Source: wandtv.com)
Teacher’s Union Issues Report Calling Out Extremely Negative Impact of Social Media on Education, Students (Source: fox11online.com)
Nurse Kobeck: The Backbone of Fairfax Elementary’s Healthcare System (Source: valleytimes-news.com)

Managing Chronic Health Conditions

Helping Students with Epilepsy Transition to Adult Care

Are you a school nurse looking for information on how to assist students transitioning from pediatric to adult epilepsy care? NASN's free NCPD panel presentation, Transition for Students with Epilepsy: The Role of the School Nurse, can help. This presentation provides information on the school nurse role in transitioning students from pediatric to adult epilepsy care and includes the legal requirements and resources needed to support these students.

Additional Resources:

See NASN's no-cost Supporting Students with Epilepsy: A Transition Toolkit for School Nurses, providing nurses with a comprehensive guide for implementing transition planning and school-based seizure care.
Implement a multi-tiered approach in school health services to support students' physical and mental health with the program Incorporating Multi-Tiered System of Support into School Health Services to Promote Health Equity and earn 1.5 NCPD contact hours.

Improving School Community & Student Health

FDA Approves Second OTC Naloxone Nasal Spray Product

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved RiVive, 3-milligram naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for over-the-counter (OTC), nonprescription use. This second nonprescription naloxone product will help increase consumer access. The manufacturer will determine the timeline for availability and the price. Through the FDA Overdose Prevention Framework, the agency remains focused on responding to all facets of substance use, misuse, substance use disorders, overdose, and death in the U.S.

See NASN's position statement on Naloxone in the School Setting.

National Immunization Awareness Month Resources

It’s National Immunization Awareness Month! Visit the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Vaccination Resource Hub to explore resources for school nurses, school staff, and families. You can find information on increasing vaccine confidence and vaccine access as well. Use Healthier Generation’s Vaccine Checklist for Parents and the CDC’s Child & Adolescent Vaccine Assessment Tool this back-to-school season to get students caught up on routine vaccinations!

NASN Resources: The NCPD program Immunization 101: A Primer on School-Recommended Vaccinations offers school nurses a primer or refresher on school-required child/adolescent vaccinations.

Empowering Nurses to Become Leaders in Environmental Health

The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (AHNE) is accepting applications through August 25 for Cohort 3 of the AHNE Fellowship. If you are passionate about the environment and learning how to work with communities to tackle serious environmental health issues, click here to apply.

ANHE is hosting a webinar series featuring nurses who participated in the second cohort. Part 2 is on August 9 at 3 pm ET. Learn more and register. You can also view the recording for Part 1 of the series.

School Preparedness: Before, During, and After School Emergencies

Emergencies, like extreme heat, hurricanes, or wildfires, can impact schools anytime. The CDC helps schools prepare for a variety of situations.

NASN Resources: School nurses are key members of the disaster preparedness team. View our Disaster Preparedness page.

Mark Your Calendar

Save the Date: NASN2024 Call for Presentations

Submission Site Opens: August 16

NASN invites you to submit an oral or poster presentation for In-Person or Virtual NASN2024!

Access the information and guidelines.

NASN2023 Deadline to Earn NCPD for Both

In-Person and Virtual

October 12

NASN encourages you to evaluate activities while the information is fresh in your mind.

Steps to receive NCPD contact hours.

State Associations of School Nurses' Conferences

Save the Date: Colorado Association of School Nurses 2023 Fall Conference - Mastering Self-Efficacy: A Key to School Nursing Success - November 3-5, 2023. Learn more

Save the Date: West Virginia Association of School Nurses 2023 Fall Conference - November 9-11, 2023. Learn more

Indiana Association of School Nurses Conference 2023 - THE TIME IS NOW - November 15-16, 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.

NASN 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.

OBSERVANCES CALENDAR

Acceptance of advertising on the top or bottom ad banner or other ad placements in this newsletter or resource information listed within in no way implies endorsement of advertised or listed products or services by NASN.

No endorsement is intended or implied.

NASN | nasn.org

August 3, 2023﻿

Associations Between School Nurse Workload and Student Health and Academic Outcomes﻿