Weekly Digest from NASN View as Webpage Weekly Digest NASN news & updates February 11, 2021 COVID-19 Reference Site Now Live See more. NASN News and Highlights See more. Upcoming Events See more. Weekly Digest Archive See past issues. Follow Us on Social ‌ ‌ ‌ President's Message As you may have seen last week, NASN’s COVID-19 Reference is now live! This reference site contains condensed information and evidence-based references and resources designed to assist school nurses in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find content on the site on topics including: school reopening/closing screening students and staff healthy hygiene practices personal protective equipment healthy environments screening and vaccinations special populations; and operating virtually. Each dynamic topic page includes subtopics, as well as links to resources shared by school nurses on our SchoolNurseNet community and will evolve as we have new information. Laurie Combe, MN, RN, NCSN NASN President BETTER HEALTH. BETTER LEARNING. ™ NASN News and Highlights The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for more school nurses. School nurses are critical as the number of students with complex physical and mental health conditions -- along with the number of students at risk for health concerns, and students who are affected by societal issues, such as living in poverty -- has increased. NASN's Claim Your School campaign helps us identify and understand staffing gaps and more effectively target our advocacy and development efforts. JOIN US! Paid advertisement Save the Dates for Virtual NASN2021: June 21-25, 2021 We are very excited about getting together for NASN2021, and are ready to gather, to celebrate and to educate how school nurses are Leading the Way in Transforming Student Health. NASN has made the decision to offer the Annual Conference in 2021 as a virtual experience. We want all our attendees to have the chance to interact with one another and with our content, and the virtual environment will allow us to do that, regardless of travel concerns related to COVID-19. Please save the dates for Virtual NASN2021, June 21-25, 2021. NASN's Mazyck Participates in Student Mental Wellness Summit Student mental wellness is critically important to everyone in a school community. NASN Executive Director Donna Mazyck, MS, RN, NCSN, CAE, FNASN, will offer the school nurse perspective at the NCSSS Student Mental Wellness Virtual Summit 2021 on the panel, It Takes a Village. She joins Kathleen Minke of the National Association of School Psychologists and Ashley Finley of the Association of American Colleges and Universities to discuss how community unification is needed to solve this epidemic across our schools. Subscribers to the NASN Weekly Digest can attend the conference for a reduced rate of $99 by using code SMHS20 when you register. REGISTER Are You Hiring? Let NASN Help Don't miss out on the best candidate for the job. Advertise your open positions in the NASN Employment Center: your recruitment solution. We offer packages that include resume bank access, posting for 30 days, and email distribution of your job posting. Hire smarter. You don't need all the candidates, you need the right ones. NASN EMPLOYMENT CENTER School Nurses in the News NASN and school nurses have been widely represented in the news media over the past few months and we are now including a section in the Weekly Digest to highlight some of those stories twice a month. If you have a story about school nurses you'd like us to consider including, please send it to us. Lee Co. nursing coordinator: ‘The one thing this pandemic has brought to light is the need for school nurses’ (Source: WALB) Why school nurses are vital to ending the school-to-prison pipeline (Source: The Hill) COVID-19 Updates Resources Interim Guidance: Role of the School Nurse in COVID-19 Testing in Schools Considerations for School Nurses: Health Equity Implications During the COVID-19 Pandemic CDC Vaccine Data Tracker New CDC guidance for healthcare workers and COVID-19 vaccines and CDC guidance for schools COVID-19 Diagnosis Screening Flow Chart MMWR report on early childhood and mitigation strategies COVID-19 Symptom Screener Sample Tracking Tool Information for Pediatric Healthcare Providers Considerations for School Nurses in Planning for Students with Disabilities and Special Healthcare Needs in the Return to School Schools Reopening Decision Tool COVID Resources CDC has resources for training healthcare professionals to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Schools may be used as community sites. Learn more COVID-19 Impact Assessment Survey The ANA has released a confidential survey to determine nurse experiences during COVID-19. School nurses are encouraged to participate by accessing this link. Please consider taking the time to complete the survey to include the voice of the school nurse. Essential Workers COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit CDC released a new resource for employers to effectively communicate with employees to build confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine. As teachers and other school staff become eligible for the vaccine in states, this resource includes a template letter, slide deck, key messages, frequently asked questions, and other additional resources and sample documents. New CDC Tool for Deciding How to Go Back to School Many parents, caregivers, and guardians face new and difficult choices about how their child will return to school. This tool is designed to help parents, caregivers, and guardians weigh the risks and benefits of available educational options to help them make decisions about sending their child back to school. Medicaid and CHIP COVID-19 Summaries Medicaid covers 4 in 10 children in the US and provides critical health services. Primary, preventative, and mental health services have declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Slides 18-29 shared data showing how children have been accessing benefits during the pandemic and the gaps in services, including essential care for immunizations, dental and behavioral healthcare. See the report. CDC Vaccine Data Tracker CDC has a resource to quickly see how your state or territory is doing compared to others regarding vaccine administration. Additional data is available at this CDC site. Improving School Community and Student Health Student Diversity -- A CDC Resource to Connect Culture and Community The Star Collection books for young American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) readers celebrate the connection to culture and community. The books also encourage positive relationships with others that are safe, stable, and nurturing. Each book has an educator guide along with an education activity for children and selected words translated into Cherokee, Lakota, Navajo, Ojibwe, and Yupik. This collection is the newest addition to the BAM! Body and Mind Classroom Resources for Teachers that can be used by school nurses, too. Managing Chronic Health Conditions Mental Health in Students with Chronic Health Conditions Stay connected with the Child Mind® Institute for resources to provide emotional support for students with chronic health conditions. Promoting Oral Health Check out this new resource from the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors: Promoting Good Nutrition and Healthy Eating in Schools: An Important Strategy for Promoting Oral Health and Preventing Dental Caries. Mark Your Calendar Help for Mental Health: Free Tools and Resources for Students and Staff 2:30 PM EST February 11, 2021 With remote learning, students have been isolated, often unable to participate in activities that promote connection, and lacking access to resources and services necessary for their health and learning needs. This webinar will highlight a variety of free, evidence-based tools and resources that can be implemented at the school, district, or state levels. Register Medicaid and CHIP Comprehensive Dental Benefits Help Children Achieve Better Health and Healthier Smiles 2 PM EST February 18, 2021 On this webinar, Dr. Natalia I. Chalmers, D.D.S., M.H.Sc., Ph.D., a pediatric dentist and Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, who serves as Dental Officer within the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, will share trends in oral health services among those enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP and how early intervention can promote oral health outcomes among children. Register COVID-19 Vaccines: Focus on the Education Community February 16th, 3:30-4pm EST February 16th, 6:30-7pm EST February 17th, 8:30-9pm EST The coronavirus has had a profound impact on nearly every school and every community across the country and the world. Its effect is radically re-shaping how we envision school life. Join Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools to learn about the clinical information around development and safety of COVID-19 vaccines and address frequently asked questions related to public and clinical health of COVID-19 and the school community. 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 2020 calendar. OBSERVANCES CALENDAR Acceptance of advertising on the ad banner 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 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Customer Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]