Email from National Association of School Nurses Weekly Digest from NASN View as Webpage September 11, 2025 Shape the Future of School Nursing and Student Health Call for presentations: NASN2026. Make an impact—abstracts are due by October 10! Your Go-To School Nursing Resource  School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text, 4th Edition—a must-have for practice, learning, and leadership. Latest from NASN See more. Upcoming Events See more. Weekly Digest Archive See past issues. President's Message This past week, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced bipartisan criticism during a Senate Finance Committee hearing over recent sweeping changes at federal health agencies. His actions included dismissing the CDC director, disbanding the CDC vaccine advisory panel, and canceling major contracts related to vaccine research. These decisions have led to resignations among senior CDC officials and raised concerns about reduced access to vaccines in some states. While Secretary Kennedy has described these changes as necessary reforms, lawmakers from both parties expressed strong concerns about their effects on public health and vaccine policy. NASN continues to closely monitor these developments, as they could significantly impact vaccine access, school health services, and the communities we serve. NASN remains dedicated to supporting school nurses with evidence-based resources and strong advocacy, helping you adapt to changes in federal health policy and continue to safeguard the health and safety of students and families. Stay informed on the latest policy updates affecting school nursing and student health. Be sure not to miss an issue of Policy Pulse—NASN's monthly advocacy newsletter. Lynn Nelson, MSN, RN, NCSN NASN President Better Health. Better Learning.™   NASN News and Highlights Early Detection, Lifelong Impact: T1D Screening in Schools School nurses are in a unique position to recognize students at risk for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)—early detection, diagnosis, and treatment are key to delaying the debilitating effects of the disease. Join us on Wednesday, September 24, at 3 PM ET for a free NCPD webinar that explores the T1D screening process, helping you identify students at risk of developing diabetes or already exhibiting signs, and enabling you to raise awareness, educate families, and guide care. REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR   Paid advertisement Call for Urgent Clarification of Texas SB 12 Implementation Texas school nurses are dedicated to protecting the health and safety of every student. The new Senate Bill 12 (SB 12) requires written parental consent before any school health services can be provided, except in cases of emergency. While we support parental involvement, the law's restrictive language has created confusion, delays in care, and risks for students—even for basic first aid. In a joint press release issued yesterday, NASN, the Texas School Nurses Organization, and the Texas Nurses Association urge state leaders to: Clarify the law and provide exemptions for routine care and emergencies. Give schools and families reasonable timelines and tools for compliance. Involve school nurses and healthcare professionals in shaping final guidance. Our goal is clear: students should never face delays in care due to procedural barriers. Be Ready to Testify: Practical Strategies for School Nurses School Nurses need to know and understand the ins and outs of the process to prepare to be deposed should they be called to testify in a case. NASN's NCPD program, You Might Testify in a Case: Learn the Ins and Outs, provides practical guidance on depositions—what to expect, how to prepare, and strategies to use during testimony. This professional development opportunity is part of NASN's four-part Legal Survival Series for School Nurses. NASN members enjoy special member pricing for the entire legal series and each individual program. Not yet a NASN member? JOIN TODAY TO GET EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS, RESOURCES & SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL NURSES   The following are paid advertisements   See what 7 out of 10 pediatricians prescribe for head lice! Learn more       Facing pinworm infection at your school? Reese’s Pinworm Medicine can help. Doctor Recommended Reese’s Pinworm Medicine treats the entire family (age 2+) with prescription-strength pyrantel pamoate. Printable resources and mail-in rebates are available to share with families. Learn more   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. Schools Prepare for the Worst as RFK Jr. Reshapes the Vaccine Landscape (Source: cbs42.com) Confusion as Kids Head Back to School and RFK Jr. Calls the Shots on Vaccines (Source: the74million.org) Ending Vaccine Mandates Could Lead to More Sick Students, Boost Palm Beach County Teacher Retirements (Source: palmbeachpost.com) Florida's Vaccine Mandate Removal: What It Means for Public Health (Source: usnews.com) School Leaders React to Florida Plan to Axe Vaccine Mandates: 'That's So Crazy' (Source: yahoo.com) Texas' New Parental Consent Law Leaves School Nurses Confused About Which Services They Can Provide to Students (Source: texastribune.org) School Medical Services Consent Forms Included in Parent's Bill of Right Still to Be Completed Past Deadline (Source: kwtx.com) School Nurses Get Ready for Kids to Come Back to School (Source: spectrumnews1.com) Leniency on Lice in Schools Meets Reality (gpb.org) Polk County Mom Grateful for School Nurse (Source: allongeorgia.com) 2 PSRC Nurses Achieve National Certification (Source: obesonian.com) Galveston ISD Nurses Advocate for Higher Pay (Source: galvnews.com)   Managing Chronic Health Conditions T1D: The Power of Early Detection and the School Nurse Role Through screening, the risk for T1D can be detected potentially years before symptoms begin—significantly reducing the likelihood of serious complications among those newly diagnosed. As champions of student health, school nurses play a vital role in educating parents and families about T1D and the benefits of early detection through screening. Explore NASN's T1D Awareness Toolkit: Educating Families About Early Detection Screening for T1D, providing evidence-based recommendations and resources to facilitate conversations with families about screening options. Register for NASN's Early Detection, Lifelong Impact: The Science and Stories Behind Type 1 Diabetes Screening in Schools webinar on September 24!   Improving School Community & Student Health Explore How Engaging Families Improves School Attendance Join Attendance Works for the fourth webinar in the 2025 Attendance Awareness Campaign series on September 24, at 3 PM ET during Attendance Awareness Month. The session will provide evidence-based interventions, along with tools and resources that can improve attendance and family engagement. Can't attend live? Each webinar is recorded. Learn more and view the webinar archives. Related NASN Resources: Visit our Attendance page to find resources to help school nurses address chronic absenteeism. Recognizing Suicide Prevention Month Suicide Prevention Month is a time to raise awareness, spread hope, and spark meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time. School nurses play a vital role in suicide prevention, working in collaboration with other school healthcare professionals and community providers to support upstream approaches to improve the mental wellbeing of students. NAMI has created this toolkit for promotion and awareness efforts. Sufficient Sleep Helps Students Student Sleep Health Week, organized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), is next week to drive awareness of the importance of healthy sleep for students of all ages to learn, grow, and thrive. AASM has compiled resources to help teachers, school nurses, counselors, and coaches raise awareness of the importance of sleep for students. Navigating Vaccine Hesitancy: A Comprehensive Communication Training Initiative Unity® Consortium's free, self-guided 3Cs Program helps healthcare professionals deliver confident, concise, and consistent vaccine recommendations. With the 3Cs Program, you can: Track your progress throughout the course Revisit key materials anytime Download a certificate of completion Access a Q&A-style guide with real-world techniques like motivational interviewing and shared decision-making Check out UNITY's updated back-to-school page for more tools and resources to help families get back-to-school ready.   Mark Your Calendar   Webinar: Early Detection, Lifelong Impact—The Science and Stories Behind Type 1 Diabetes Screening September 24 Learn more and register. Virtual NASN2025 Registration Extended! The registration deadline is now September 30. Start the school year strong—Register Now! NASN2025: Deadline to Earn NCPD for Both In-Person and Virtual October 10 Earn NCPD for: In-Person Virtual Deadline: NASN2026 Presentation Submissions October 11 Learn more and submit your proposal. Application Deadline: NASN Scholarships October 15 Learn more and apply. Proposal Submission Deadline: NASN Research Grants October 31 Learn more and submit.   State Associations of School Nurses' Conferences School Nurse Organization of Washington 2025 Fall Conference - School Nurses: Adapting to a Changing World - October 10-11. Learn more. 2025 Texas School Nurses Organization Conference - School Nurses: Innovating School Health - November 1-2. Learn more. Virginia Association of School Nurses Fall Conference 2025 - Charting the Course: Navigating the Future of School Nursing - November 8-9. Learn more. Tennessee Association of School Nurses Fall Conference 2025 - Bridging the Gap - November 9-11. Learn more. 2025 Indiana Association of School Nurses Annual Conference - Building Bridges - November 10-11. Learn more. West Virginia Association of School Nurses 2025 Fall Conference - November 13-15. Learn more. Utah School Nurse Association Fall Conference - November 14. Learn more. School Nurse Organization of Minnesota 2025 Conference - November 14-15. Learn more. Delaware School Nurse Association 2025 Fall Conference - November 20. Learn more. 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 2025 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 National Association of School Nurses | 1100 Wayne Avenue Suite 925 | Silver Spring, MD 20910 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice