School nurses promote individual and population-based student health, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and advance academic success. According to the National School Nurse Workforce Study 2.0, only 65.7% of schools have access to a full-time school nurse, with marked rural and regional disparities and differences.

Have you viewed the results of this recently published study highlighting school nurse funding, characteristics and compensation, current school-level committees where school nurses are having an impact and more?

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School nurses play a crucial role in providing health education on significant health issues. The Journal of School Nursing (JOSN) article, Evaluating a Multicomponent e-Cigarette Prevention Program in the Rural Northwest: Teacher and Parent/Guardian Program Outcomes, suggests that multicomponent e-cigarette education and prevention programs better prepare teachers and parents/guardians to intervene with youth e-cigarette use and provides recommendations for school nurses.

NASN offers a toolkit to help school nurses implement evidence-based programs to address the harmful impact of vaping on youth.

NASN membership includes a subscription to JOSN.

Have you gained valuable insights from a successful or challenging experience that could inspire and benefit school nurses? Please consider presenting at NASN2024, Stronger Together, to share your wisdom and experiences with school nurses nationwide. Submit your In-Person or Virtual oral or poster presentation before October 13, 2023, at noon ET.

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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.

• Franklinton Elementary School Nurse Saves Custodian’s Life (Source: wwltv.com)
• Harris Selected as Kentucky Director of National Association of School Nurses (Source: floydct.com)
• School Superstar Spotlight: Clayton Wetzel (Source: mynbc5.com)
• Cheyenne School Nurse Nationally Recognized as Specialist/Nurse of the Year (Source: newsroom.heart.org)
• School Nurses Trained to Reverse Overdoses (Source: spectrumnews1.com)
• Head Nurse Named for Wolcott Schools Guinipero With District Since 2011 (Source: rep-am.com)
• Equity-Minded School Nurses Have a Superpower (Source: campaignforaction.org)
• San Diego Unified Nurse Receives Back-To-School Gift From Walmart (Source: youtube.com)
• University of Iowa Researcher Adapts Technology to Help School Nurses (Source: kcrg.com)

Asthma is the primary cause of school absenteeism among students, and the school nurse can play a pivotal role in ensuring all students have access to quality asthma care. The session, When 2 Puffs May Not Be Enough: Equity in Asthma Care, first presented at Virtual NASN2022, now available in the NASN Learning Center, will help the school nurse provide equitable asthma care for every student. Participants will be able to:

• Identify key data points in asthma prevalence and their impact on asthma care in the school setting.
• Identify social and economic factors that must be addressed to achieve health equity.
• Demonstrate important asthma prevention and management strategies that address developmental stages for students.

Additional Resources:

• The School Nurse-Led Active Surveillance Manual will guide you in addressing health-related absences.
• Learn about Guidelines-based Care for the School Nurse to Create Healthy Environments for Children with Asthma and earn NCPD.

School nurses, home visits, and success mentoring are three strategies for reducing chronic absence that help build supportive relationships and good health inside and outside the classroom! Join the fourth and final 2023 Attendance Awareness Campaign webinar at 3 p.m. ET on September 27, discussing the effective implementation of these strategies with insight from colleagues working in New York, Connecticut, and Washington, including Amy Norton, Director of Health Services, Yakima School District.

In August 2023, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the CDC issued updated recommendations for the use of the seasonal influenza vaccine during the 2023-2024 flu season. Read about the recommendations here.

Additional Resources: See NASN's page dedicated to Seasonal Influenza.

Join the American Academy of Pediatrics for a free webinar at noon ET on October 5, 2023. The webinar will provide an overview of the current state of school attendance and chronic absenteeism, discuss the connection between school attendance and the health of students, families, and staff, with an emphasis on mental health, and review evidence-based models that support student well-being and school attendance. Learn more and register.

World Heart Day (WHD) serves as a reminder for everyone to take care of their hearts. This year’s campaign focuses on the essential step of knowing our hearts first. In a world where knowledge about heart health is limited and policies are insufficient or lacking, WHD aims to shatter barriers and empower individuals to take control of their well-being. Get involved.

Additional Resources: NASN's program on Cardiac Emergency Preparedness equips school nurses to systematically plan, implement, grow, and sustain an AED program for schools.

• School Nurse Organization of Washington Fall Conference - Growth from Change - October 13-14, 2023. Learn more and Register

• Montana Association of School Nurses 2023 Fall Conference - October 19-20, 2023. Learn more

• Illinois Association of School Nurses 66th Annual Conference - Building for the Future: Emergency Preparedness, Advocacy, and Leadership - October 20-21, 2023. Learn more and Register

• Save the Date: School Nurse Organization of Minnesota Fall Conference - November 3-4, 2023. Learn more and Register



• 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.

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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