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Weekly Digest
NASN news & updates
January 6, 2021
NASN News and Highlights
COMING SOON: School Nurse Workforce Survey 2.0 2022
The second school nurse workforce study is coming! Letters will be sent to a nationally representative sample of schools throughout the U.S. this month! They will be addressed to the school nurse so please keep an eye out for it. The letter will have a link to the survey. We need robust data to help policymakers understand our profession — this is your chance to have your voice heard on issues that are relevant to school nurses. Respondents will be eligible to enter a $100 raffle in their region!
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NASN Supports COVID-19 Testing in Schools
CDC has updated guidance on what to know about COVID-19 Testing in Schools. In addition, the CDC updated the Science Brief: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to include information about studies on Test to Stay strategies used in some schools.

NASN supports COVID-19 testing in schools as one of several mitigation strategies against transmission of SARS-CoV-2. NASN advocates for outside organizations to partner with schools for COVID-19 testing to reduce the burden that Test to Stay implementation has on school staff, including school nurses.
Next Meet the Editor Bimonthly Web Meeting: January 18, 2022
In the fifth 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 describe methods for editing their own writing, along with identifying strategies for reducing word count.  SEATING IS LIMITED to the first 100 slots! Join us at 3:30 p.m. EST on January 18, 2022.
NASN Releases Toolkit on Administering Meds in Schools
NASN’s new School Nursing Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline: Medication Administration in Schools Toolkit provides a uniform guideline for the administration of medication in schools, including evidence-based recommendations for the safe care of Pre-K-12 students who receive medications during the day. The Toolkit is designed to help implement the recommendations in the Guideline.
2022 NASN Election: See Who Is Running 
Become familiar with the candidates stepping forward to lead NASN. All candidates have completed the nominating committee process. In the upcoming election, NASN members will select a vice president and a nominating committee member. The election will be conducted online from March 15, 2022, to April 15, 2022.
Webinar: COVID-19 Prevention for K-12 Schools Part 3: Focusing School- Located Vaccination on Health Equity
Join us Wednesday, January 12, 2022, from 3 - 4 P.M. EST for this webinar, which will promote school-located vaccination (SLV) as a measure to improve and maintain a safe and healthy environment for students and the community. CDC will provide an overview of COVID-19 cases in pediatrics, guidance for school-located vaccination clinics in schools, and Test to Stay Guidelines. School nurse leaders will provide insight on their SLV experiences, including successes and challenges and their roles in championing SLVs. 
NASN Members: Attend HIMSS22 With Collaborator Discount
Explore the power of innovation to reimagine health at HIMSS22: the premier global healthcare conference. Choose your path to attend: in-person, digital, or both. NASN is excited to be a Collaborator of HIMSS22! As such, our members receive the member discount to attend. To receive the discount, go to the conference website and select “Register Now.” Select our name from the “Conference Collaborating Organizations” drop-down in the registration process and enter the code HIMSS22C.
COVID-19 Updates
CDC Updated Guidance on Quarantine and Isolation
The CDC has released new guidance on quarantine and isolation for COVID-19 vaccinated adults and children ages 5-17, and applies to the general population in the community, including workplaces and K-12 schools. The CDC developed a Quarantine & Isolation Background: What We Know About Quarantine and Isolation for more information.
School-Located Vaccination (SLV) Resources 
NASN has partnered with the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) to develop resources for school-located vaccination. Here are some resources from NASN and NASN's partners.
Updated Toolkit: Children and COVID-19 Vaccination
National education and grassroots campaign Made to Save tested messaging with parents of children ages 5-11 and found that messages about health and community were most effective at increasing support for COVID-19 vaccination of this age group. Download the full tip sheet here
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
FAQ Videos Address Questions About COVID-19 in Children
Pediatric experts answer the questions parents and caregivers have about the COVID-19 vaccine for children in new FAQ videos from Kaiser Family Foundation's (KFF) THE CONVERSATION / LA CONVERSACIÓN presented with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Watch the videos.
January is Thyroid Awareness Month
Thyroid disease may occur when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism). It can also be a result of an autoimmune disorder, cancer or non-cancerous growths on the thyroid gland. They have metabolic consequences, but more importantly, they may affect the development of the brain, skeleton and other tissues. Disorders of the thyroid gland are among the most common endocrine disorders affecting children occurring in 37 of 1,000 school-aged children in the United States. Learn more about pediatric thyroid disorders here.
Mark Your Calendar
Deadline: Scope and Standards Public Review and Commentary

By 11:59 P.M. EST
Monday, January 10

NASN is in the final phase of the 4th revision of the School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice.
As part of American Nurses Association’s (ANA) process for revision, the draft document is posted for public review and commentary.

Webinar: COVID-19 Prevention for K-12 Schools Part 3: Focusing School Located Vaccination on Health

3 - 4:15 P.M. EST
Wednesday, January 12

Webinar attendees will complete an assessment and evaluation by April 12, 2022, to receive a certificate of completion and earn 1.25 NCPD Continuing Nursing Education contact hour.

Meet the Editor:
Dr. Martha Dewey Bergren!

3:30 - 4:30 P.M.
Tuesday, January 18

The Journal of School Nursing Editor, Dr. Martha Dewey Bergren, will provide brief tips for authors and will field comments and questions from aspiring authors during this interactive web meeting. Seating is Limited to the first 100 slots!

NASN Calendar of Events

This calendar includes upcoming events hosted by NASN and NASN affiliate school nurse organizations. Access the 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. 
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