Weekly Digest

NASN news & updates

November 18, 2021

Publishing Notice

The Weekly Digest will not be published next week in observance of Thanksgiving in the United States.

NASN News

and Highlights

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President's Message

Next week is Thanksgiving, and then before we know it, the Christmas holidays and the start of 2022. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season and forget about ourselves.

I know it's tough to do, but I encourage you to find a small way to practice self-care during this busy season. There are seven types of self-care: emotional, physical, social, practical, mental, spiritual, and professional. Practicing self-care can help you develop better coping mechanisms and deal with stressful situations in a more productive way.

If you have a day or two -- or more -- off next week for Thanksgiving, try to make time for one or two self-care activities that make you feel good and are just for you!

If you are looking for a professional self-care option, look through the stories below in the Weekly Digest and find some resources or toolkits that we have created to make your jobs easier.

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!

Linda Mendonça, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC, NCSN, FNASN

NASN President

BETTER HEALTH. BETTER LEARNING. ™

NASN News and Highlights

NASN November Podcast

and Article Now Available

NASN School Nurse Editor, Cynthia Galemore, interviews authors Margaret Bultas and Kelli Fuller about their article, "Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and COVID-19 Infections." The article is available free of charge for 60 days.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

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Don't Miss the Meet the Editor Bimonthly Web Meeting November 19

The fourth meeting in the web series Meet the Editor, The Journal of School Nursing Editor, Dr. Martha Dewey Bergen, will provide brief tips for authors and will field comments and questions from aspiring authors during this interactive meeting. Learners will be able to choose keywords that best match their manuscript, along with identifying keywords that are most effective for search engines. SEATING IS LIMITED to the first 100 slots! Join us at 3:30 p.m. EST on November 19.

Vanquishing Vaping Toolkit Now Available for School Nurses

Vaping is impacting the nation’s youth at alarming rates. According to the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 19.6% of high school students and 4.7% of middle school students reported using e-cigarettes. To assist school nurses in addressing this issue, NASN has assembled a toolkit of information and resources to support school nurses in implementing evidence-based programs in their schools, including planning for sustainability and building collaborations with key stakeholders to successfully engage their school communities in tackling the topic of vaping head on.

LEARN MORE

New School-Located Vaccine Clinic Resources

NASN partnered with the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) to develop a checklist for school nurses to plan school-located vaccination and a tip-sheet for Immunization Program Managers. With the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for students under the age of 12 years, and flu season coming in fall and winter, SLVs are a strategy to improve the health of students. See resources.

Duke-Margolis partnered with the COVID Collaborative, the Council of the Great City Schools, National Rural Education Association, Rural Schools Collaborative, and AASA: The School Superintendents Association to develop an issue brief on Innovative Strategies for Leveraging Schools as Covid-19 Vaccination Sites.

The Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy (Duke-Margolis) and the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM), with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, released a series of resources for school leaders on how schools can serve as critical access points for students and families to receive Covid-19 vaccines.

SLV Webinar Available in NASN Learning Center

Opportunities to Improve Student and Community Health Through School-Located Vaccinations is now available in the NASN Learning Center. As a result of participating in this educational activity, learners will be able to:

Compare and contrast at least three options for strengthening school located vaccination clinics;
Articulate three desired impacts of SLVs from the recently published roundtable report: School-Located Vaccination Clinics for COVID-19 and Influenza;
Develop three actionable steps to implement or expand SLVs.

There is 1 CNE available and there is no cost for members and non-members. Learn more.

COVID-19 Updates

New Infographic Addresses Steps To Determine Close Contacts in K12

CDC has released a new infographic that illustrates the steps for determining close contacts within the K–12 school setting. The infographic also contains information on public health recommendations for close contacts, including whether they need to quarantine based on specific conditions. The Steps for Determining Close Contact and Quarantine in K–12 Schools infographic replaces the two decision trees previously included in the Toolkit for Responding to COVID-19 Cases.

Holiday Celebration Guidance

Holiday traditions are important. CDC has updated guidance to enjoy holiday traditions. School nurses can send information to caregivers to minimize COVID-19 risk.

U.S. Department of Labor issues ETS

The OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) is now live for public inspection on the Federal Register: 2021-23643.pdf (federalregister.gov). Learn more about the regulations and how they created the first-ever national standard for vaccination, testing, and masking. The standard is open for public comment until 12/6/21. School nurses can share their voices now. Access for public comment.

Caregiver Ride Resource for COVID-19 Vaccination

Getting access to the vaccine is a struggle for many. Lyft is mobilizing partners and community members to help provide access to millions of riders to and from vaccine appointments. Learn more and see if Lyft is available in your community.

NASN's COVID-19 Interactive Tools

Can I Send My Student to School: Designed for school nurses to share with families, this interactive tool is based on CDC COVID-19 guidance and designed to guide families through assessing when their child should stay home from school.

How to Manage Difficult Conversations: A quick micro-burst of learning, this interactive module teaches school nurses a simple formula to use to respond effectively to challenging conversations.

COVID-19 and Students, Frequently Asked Questions: A resource designed to answer some questions families may have about students' health during COVID-19 and to support families with links to find additional resources.

Improving School Community & Student Health

Safe Water for Schools: How States are Handling Lead in School Drinking Water

A new report, Safe Water for Schools: How States Are Handling Lead in School Drinking Water, was released by the National Association of State Boards of Education. The report outlines recommendations for state boards to address these challenges and contribute to the seamless, effective operation of lead testing programs. Read the report.

Review Early Absenteeism Data to Determine Support Levels

Rebound With Attendance is the Attendance Awareness Campaign theme, and reminds everyone to review their absenteeism data from the first months of school. This data will help to see early on which students are in need of additional support. If absenteeism affects a large group of students, it is a sign that systemic solutions are needed to ensure equal access to learning opportunities. Learn more from the Pathways to Engagement toolkit.

Opportunities & Networking

NASN’s New Lunch & Learn Series – Free to NASN Members!

The Emerging School Nurse Leader Role in Decreasing School Absenteeism in Children with Migraine Headache (1.0 CNE)

Nearly 60% of children and adolescents worldwide report headaches. Fewer than 50% have never been evaluated by a healthcare provider, given a headache diagnosis, or offered a management strategy. The school nurse is optimally positioned to change this trajectory for many of their students. In this presentation, we highlight the Headache Action Plan Project for Youth (HAPPY), describe the school nurse’s role as leader of a school-based public health initiative that rapidly identifies students with migraine, and show how timely identification and effective management of childhood migraine could prevent chroncification and long-term disability. This course is part of the new NASN Lunch & Learn Series and is now available in the NASN Learning Center. Learn more.

Mark Your Calendar

Planting Our Seeds: Lessons Learned From Indigenous-Led COVID-19 Vaccination Outreach

3 – 4:15 p.m. EST Thursday, November 18

In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, Made to Save is hosting a panel discussion to highlight the efforts with Native and Indigenous People on COVID-19 vaccination outreach and education. The discussion will shed light on the unique challenges they have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 2021 calendar.

OBSERVANCES CALENDAR

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