In the first weeks of January 2022, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant continued to surge through the U.S. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance on COVID-19 prevention in K-12 schools, specifically related to COVID-19 isolation and quarantine recommendations for close contacts of persons with COVID-19. While we acknowledge the value of in-person school for students, NASN raises concerns from school health services teams for the health and well-being of school communities during this surge.

NASN President Linda Mendonca was featured as a guest speaker on the Association of State and Territorial Health Official's (ASTHO) podcast, Public Health Review Morning Edition, Nurses Navigate Omicron’s Surge. Listen in to learn more about the shifting challenges encountered by school nurses, NASN’s focus on connecting school nurses with outside partnerships to support school nurse test-to-stay and vaccination programs, and encouraging efficient and timely communication of guidance from state leaders. 

NASN School Nurse Editor, Cynthia Galemore, interviews authors Brenna Morse, Amanda Carmichael, and Veronica Bradford about the article, "Sickle Cell Disease Care Planning for School Nurses" during the NASN January 2022 Podcast.

January's NASN School Nurse Journal Was Released Digitally

The NASN School Nurse has published a supplement to highlight the work being done on school-located vaccine (SLV) clinics. Find the SLV supplement here. The NASN School Nurse was published on January 2, 2022, and is currently available digitally. Shipping of the print copy has been delayed, but it is coming, thanks for your patience.

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!

The Biden-Harris Administration is increasing COVID-19 testing for schools by sending 5 million no-cost point-of-care tests, providing 5 million additional lab-based PCR tests for free to schools per month, deploying federal surge testing units to support free testing access for students, school staff, and families at community testing sites, connecting schools with COVID-19 testing providers to set up school testing programs using American Rescue Plan funds, new training, resources, and materials for implementing Test to Stay in schools. Learn more.

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.

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.

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. 

More students than ever before are expected to visit their school nurse with symptoms of excessive anxiety (e.g., stomach aches, headaches, dizziness) that impair their academic, social, and emotional functioning. To address this critical student mental health problem as a result of the pandemic (and with funding from the U.S. Department of Education), a research project called CALM (Child Anxiety Learning Modules) is offering free training to school nurses to enhance their capacity to identify and help manage anxiety in their students. The study is completely voluntary and all nurses are compensated for their participation. All training is conducted virtually and not during the school day. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted mental health challenges for many, and resources to support students struggling with anxiety are needed now more than ever. To set up a time to learn more about this study, email [email protected].

PEATC and Got Transition have created a health care transition checklist to help students, families, and the IEP team plan for this specific area of transition to adulthood. Join us on January 19, 2022, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. EST to learn more about using the health care transition checklist and to discover what additional resources both PEATC and Got Transition have to offer. Audience Q&A is encouraged. Register today! This effort is funded by the RAISE Center, which is supported by the Rehabilitation Services Administration.  

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.

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.

Vision Health of Children with Special Needs. The Facts, The Law, and Best Practices

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