NASN has been working with the CDC Foundation and partners to understand how schools are implementing COVID-19 recommendations to keep students and staff safe and healthy. Of particular interest are stories regarding health records, vaccination requirements, vaccine clinics, and COVID testing in schools. Submit a story highlighting successes in your school during the 2020-2021 school year.

School nurse involvement with school wellness policies is critical to ensure the overall health and well-being of students are addressed – beyond nutrition and physical activity.

A course (0.5 free CNE) in the NASN Learning Center provides knowledge about the updated Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s model wellness policy - that now includes recommended language to address all 10 components of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model – and new NASN supplemental language to address chronic health conditions.

As schools continue transitioning to in-person instruction, school nurses will help prepare and implement COVID-19 prevention strategies. Kaiser Permanente has collaborated with over 30 national school health organizations to create the “Planning for the Next Normal at School: Keeping Students, Staff, and Families Safe and Healthy” playbook, which provides evidence-based guidance for adapting to school life after the COVID-19 pandemic. This resource suggests various ways school nurses can work toward decreasing the likelihood of disease transmission. Learn more.

This report from the CDC highlights that reduced access to in-person learning is associated with poorer learning outcomes. This has public health implications: vaccination efforts should be intensified.

The Emory University Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit is recruiting school nurses to join a three-month learning collaborative aimed at educating and supporting school nurses and school-based healthcare providers on the issues surrounding cleaning and disinfecting during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is especially relevant as children return to school with an increased potential for exposure to cleaning and disinfecting products. Each session will consist of a 15-minute presentation followed by a 45-minute interactive discussion. Participants will 1) increase their knowledge around safer cleaning and disinfecting practices in school-based settings and 2) understand potential health effects in children from exposure to disinfecting and cleaning chemicals. Stipend and lunch provided.

The need for blood donations continues no matter the season. Please share this need in your community.

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