NASN School Nurse Editor Cathy Yonkaitis kicks off the 2024-2025 school year with the special editorial Five Questions with NASN CEO Terri Hinkley, EdD, MBA, BScN, RN, CAE. Hinkley talks about her first year with NASN, shares thoughts on the challenges facing school nursing, and how she believes NASN can address those challenges and support school nurses, school health, and school children. "I've learned that school nursing is hard but incredibly rewarding."

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Register to join the CDC, Department of Education, NASN, and Alliance for a Healthier Generation on September 25 at 3 PM ET for the Vaccinations for School-Age Children: Opportunities for Health Promotion, Collaboration, and Family Engagement webinar!

NASN Nursing Education and Practice Specialist Amy Dark will join experts to provide:

• An overview of current trends in national vaccination coverage
• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices vaccination recommendations for students
• Evidence-based strategies for strengthening vaccination coverage
• The role of the school nurse as a community leader in health promotion 

Related Resources: Explore NASN's immunization resources.

NASN's endowment fund supports research on school nursing's impact, helps identify quality systems-level school health services interventions, and provides scholarships for school nurses pursuing advanced nursing practice degrees and certifications. Learn more about the NASN President's Endowment Challenge and consider donating.

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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.

• How School Nurses Are an Excellent Resource for Students and Parents (Source: audacy.com)
• Cielo Azul Elementary Nurse Wins Horizon Award (Source: rrobserver.com)
• CCSD Lead Nurse Recognized as Chairperson for Alabama Association of School Nurses (Source: valleytimes-news.com)
• New Orleans Used $10 Million to Bring Health Services Into Schools. Will It Last? (Source: nola.com)
• School Nurses in East TN (Source: youtube.com)
• School Nurse Discusses Being Safe Outside (Source: wtap.com)
• New Program Brings Hygiene Products to Schools in Saint Joseph County (Source: wsbt.com)

Ensuring a safe school environment for students with allergies is critical for their safety and learning. NASN's School Nursing Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline: Students with Allergies and Risk for Anaphylaxis offers best practice recommendations and strategies to help school nurses provide high-quality care and improve the health and safety of school-aged children at risk for an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis. The Allergy and Anaphylaxis Toolkit enables you to implement those recommendations.

Related Resources: NASN's free educational activity: Allergy & Anaphylaxis: Clinical Practice Guidelines and Toolkit for School Nurses [1.0 NCPD contact hour]

Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN, FNASN, FAAN, who serves as the New Jersey NASN Director, and Eileen Gavin, MSN, NCSN, FNP-BC, FNASN, the President of the New Jersey State School Nurses Association, emphasize the crucial role of school nurses and share 12 things for families to consider as kids embark on a new school year in the article, Here's What School Nurses Wish Parents Knew.

Childhood obesity is a significant health problem in the United States. In honor of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, check out the CDC's Health Care Strategies for Child Obesity to find up-to-date guidelines and connect to resources on growth monitoring and evidence-based obesity care.

Related Resources:

• Visit Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Local School Wellness Policy page.
• NASN's Managing Chronic Health Conditions in Schools: Model School Wellness Policy Supplement

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 2024 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.