Email from National Association of School Nurses Weekly Digest from NASN View as Webpage October 23, 2025 NASN Condemns OSERS Layoffs Read the full release. Uncover Hidden Barriers to Student Health Explore two new NASN Learning Center programs to better support students with often misunderstood and overlooked conditions. Latest from NASN See more. Upcoming Events See more. Weekly Digest Archive See past issues. President's Message A recent feature by Rolling Stone sheds light on the growing number of children and teens experiencing Long COVID, which can cause a wide range of ongoing symptoms and conditions and contribute to chronic absenteeism. School nurses know that attendance is often directly tied to health. Students managing chronic physical or mental health conditions may struggle to attend regularly, impacting their academic, social, and emotional growth. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated care, collaboration, and awareness. At NASN, we recognize school nurses as essential partners in identifying and addressing these invisible health challenges. You are uniquely positioned to track patterns of absenteeism, support families and educators, and advocate for effective return-to-learn strategies. Explore NASN's Learning Center for related professional development programs, including ME/CFS and Long-COVID: The School Nurse Role in Identifying Children with Chronic Illness and Long COVID-The New "Invisible Illness". Together, we can ensure every student—including those managing chronic conditions—has the support needed to learn and thrive. Lynn Nelson, MSN, RN, NCSN NASN President Better Health. Better Learning.™   NASN News and Highlights NASN Urges DOJ to Prioritize Public Safety in Proposed Firearms Rule On July 22, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a proposed rule following the Trump administration's move to reinstate a statutory process for restoring Second Amendment rights lost under federal law due to convictions or other disqualifying circumstances. NASN President Lynn Nelson submitted a formal comment urging the DOJ to adopt a final rule that ensures individualized review, clear standards, evidence-backed disqualifiers, and a steadfast focus on public safety in every decision. Read the full comment.   Paid advertisement Nominate Fellows of the National Academy of School Nursing NASN is accepting nominations for Fellow and Honorary Fellow of the National Academy of School Nursing. The honor of Fellow, the most prestigious recognition members can receive from NASN, symbolizes superior achievement and exceptional contributions to NASN and the school nursing profession. The Honorary Fellow award is an esteemed recognition for non-nurses who are leaders in their fields and partner with school nurses to elevate and advance the health of children and youth. Learn more about Fellows of the National Academy of School Nursing. Nominations are due November 30. In Case You Missed It: Inhaled Insulin on the Horizon School nurses play a vital role in supporting students with diabetes. If you missed NASN's live webinar on October 8, you can now access Inhaled Insulin on the Horizon: What School Nurses Need to Know on demand in the NASN Learning Center. The enduring webinar explores diabetes and school-based diabetes care, how to use the inhaler, and key findings from the INHALE-1 Trial—all designed to keep school nurses informed about what's next in supporting students with diabetes. Mark your calendar! Join us live on November 12 at 3:30 PM ET for From Data to Dialogue: School Nurses React to Inhaled Insulin Study Findings. More information and registration coming soon. Save the Date: Virtual Town Hall Celebrating 50 Years of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Join the National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services (NCPSSERS)—of which NASN is a proud member organization—on November 13 at 4 PM ET for IDEA 50th Anniversary: The Past, The Present, The Future. Registration information coming soon.     The following are paid advertisements   Supporting Kids’ Mental Health: A Guide for Parents Provide parents with the tools to support their kids’ mental health and empower kids to say “NO” to unhealthy coping strategies like underage drinking. Learn more       Earn a PK-12 School Nurse Certificate at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. As a School Nurse, you can greatly make a difference in the lives of young children, our most vulnerable members of the community. If you’re ready to embark on a rewarding journey in the field of school nursing, submit an application. Get started now.   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. More Texas Kindergarteners Coming to School Without Measles Vaccination Proof or Exemptions (Source: texastribune.org) CCSD Honors 2025 CCSD School Nurse of the Year (Source: cherokeek12.net) Parental Rights Law Leaves Families, School Nurses Confused (Source: keranews.org) Two More Measles Cases Confirmed in Minnesota (Source: cidrap.umn.edu) MEA Members Speak out Against Proposed Cuts, Call for Board Resignations (Source: montclairlocal.news) School Nurses a ‘Critical Bridge’: Health Care Pros Are Spread Thin in Vancouver Schools (Source: columbian.com) School Nurses Push Back on Maine’s New Vaccine Reporting System (Source: publichealthpolicyjournal.com)   Managing Chronic Health Conditions Creating a Community of Care: Supporting Children with Diabetes Students with diabetes deserve attentive care and management at school, enabling them to thrive in a healthy and safe environment while fully participating in all activities that support their academic success. NASN's NCPD program, Creating a Community to Support Diabetes Care in Schools, presented initially at Virtual NASN2024 and part of the Back-to-School Success Series 15 on-demand school nurse-focused programs (17.0 NCPD contact hours) -- FREE with membership, will dive deep into the telementoring program, Diabetes in School Health (DiSH). Participants will learn how the DiSH program builds a community of support, facilitates collaborative school nurse education, and increases school nurse knowledge of diabetes care. In honor of World Diabetes Day on November 14, the Diabetes Education and Camping Association (DECA) is excited to connect school nurses with their local diabetes camps for resource sharing, support, and collaboration. If you met DECA at the NASN conference and signed up, you can expect to hear from them soon. If not, email DECA with your name, state, and email to be introduced to your local camp in November, Diabetes Awareness Month!   Improving School Community & Student Health Join the Teal Pumpkin Project One in 13 children have food allergy, which can cause life-threatening allergic reactions. This means that some kids and their families don’t feel comfortable trick-or-treating because the risk of being exposed to an allergen is just too high. The Teal Pumpkin Project, brought to you by FARE, is a worldwide movement to create a more fun and welcoming Halloween for all kids. Communicating the Benefits of Influenza Vaccination Flu outbreaks are unpredictable; vaccination is the best preparation for any influenza season. Communicating the Benefits of Influenza Vaccination, a one-page handout co-created by the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) and Immunize.org, is updated regularly to provide recent data and recommendations on flu vaccines, as well as tips for discussing them. This resource highlights the serious impact of influenza, emphasizes the importance of annual vaccination, and supports you in reinforcing the value of influenza vaccines. Related Resources: NASN and Medscape Education's educational activity, Back to School Basics: Expert Perspectives on Advocating for Childhood Influenza Protection.   Mark Your Calendar   Proposal Submission Deadline: NASN Research Grants October 31 Learn more and submit. Application Deadline: Fellows of the National Academy of School Nursing Nominations November 30 Learn more and nominate.   State Associations of School Nurses' Conferences 2025 Texas School Nurses Organization Conference - School Nurses: Innovating School Health - November 1-2. Learn more. Colorado Association of School Nurses Annual Fall Conference - Stronger Together: Building Connections, Empowering Practice, Advancing Learning - November 7-9. Learn more. 23 Annual South Carolina School Nurse Conference - The Mouse Effect: Small Things Can Effect Big Change - November 7-8. 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