Weekly Digest from NASN View as Webpage Weekly Digest NASN news & updates April 21, 2022 Registration Open! NASN News and Highlights See more. Upcoming Events See more. Weekly Digest Archive See past issues. Follow on Social ‌ ‌ ‌ President's Message Mental Health Awareness Month is coming up in May. The stress, isolation, and uncertainty around COVID-19 have taken a toll on everyone's well-being and mental health. In a fall 2020 study of students' mental health by Active Minds, a whopping 1 in 4 students said that their depression significantly increased in 2020. However, our students aren't the only ones whose mental health has taken a beating. As school nurses, we have been on the front lines taking care of our students while also trying to maintain our own lives. During the month of May, we will be sharing some ways to help our students' mental health as well as our own. During the month of April, you can check out our new blog, Journaling – Putting Pen on Paper, a simple yet powerful tool that promotes wellness of all kinds. And join other helpful discussions in The Healthy School Nurse Community in SchoolNurseNet. Linda Mendonça, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC, NCSN, FNASN NASN President BETTER HEALTH. BETTER LEARNING. ™ NASN News and Highlights Research Article: School Nurse and COVID-19 Response "The role of the school nurse should not be understated when addressing the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on children and families. Knowledge surrounding this virus is rapidly changing and quick adaptation within the school system is required. In addition to the provision of direct care and education to students, school nurse responsibilities include the development and implementation of new policies; consideration of social and emotional well-being; and effective communication with students, families, teachers, administrators, and community stakeholders." This article highlights NASN statistics, statements, and resources. It addresses current evidence related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the evolving role of the school nurse. Paid advertisement Meet the Editor Bimonthly Web Meeting Join us at 3:30 p.m. ET on Monday, May 2, 2022, for the seventh meeting in the Meet the Editor web series. During this interactive meeting, The Journal of School Nursing Editor Dr. Martha Dewey Bergren will provide tips for authors and field comments and questions from aspiring authors. Attendees will be able to describe the criteria for scholarly abstracts and learn the do's and don’ts for a manuscript abstract. Learn more and register today. Live NASN Programs Available for In-Person Hosting NASN is excited to announce that the Focus on the Framework and School Emergency Triage Training (SETT) are back to live in-person sessions. Focus on the Framework are interactive programs geared toward helping school nurses develop a deeper understanding of their role in Care Coordination, Community/Public Health, Quality Improvement, Leadership, and Standards of Practice. SETT provides school nurses with the knowledge, skills, and training resources to lead school-based Disaster Response Teams and perform triage in response to mass casualty incident events. Do you want more information about how to bring an educational offering to your area? Please contact Stephanye White. NASN Wants to Support Your Wellness NASN continues to be interested in reaching out to the Healthy School Nurse community with suggested strategies to support the energy and resiliency of school nurses. The Healthy School Nurse Community in SchoolNurseNet provides a place where you can discuss how you model healthy living. Community involvement and support can help school nurses adapt and take on challenges as they arise. We hope you will join us and share any wellness tools or information you find helpful. Healthy Children Learn Better, and Healthy School Nurses Make It Happen! Spread the Word! National School Nurse Day 2022 Wednesday, May 11 Bring attention to #SND2022 to honor school nurses! School nurses are the leaders who bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potential. During the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and now, we continue to go above and beyond, keeping schools safe and healthy for academic success. Visit schoolnurseday.org to find the logo, social media toolkit, and more! School Nurses in the News This section highlights news stories featuring NASN and school nurses. If you have a story about school nurses you'd like us to consider including, please send it to us.  Girl Scout Helps out School Nurses (Source: wyomingnewsnow.tv) Tennessee school nurses ask for a pay increase (Source: newschannel5.com) 'Above and beyond': Karen Eylander named New Hampshire School Nurse of the Year (Source: eagletimes.com) Health & Wellness 2022: Flossmoor school nurse supports families during pandemic (Source: hfchronicle.com) School Nurse Combines Service to Children with Autism with Love of Plant-Based Eating (Source: pcrm.org) Public health is team effort: nurse Negative emotion threatens health (Source: nujournal.com) COVID-19 Updates OSHA COVID-19 Healthcare Rulemaking On June 21, 2021, OSHA published an interim final rule establishing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present (86 FR 32376). On March 22, 2022, OSHA announced a limited re-opening of the record and the agency’s intention to hold an informal public hearing – Federal Register Notice. The public comment period opened Wednesday, March 23, 2022. The deadline for submitting comments is tomorrow, April 22, 2022. Submit comments and associated documents for this rulemaking (Docket Number OSHA-2020-0004) electronically at [link removed]. Know Your COVID-19 Community Level COVID-19 Community Levels is a tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high. Hospital beds in use, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area will determine community levels. School nurses can use the map of the U.S. by county to track the community level of transmission for your school(s), which is updated weekly. CDC's FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccination for Children and Teens The CDC recommends everyone ages 5 years and older get vaccinated to help protect against COVID-19. School nurses are strongly positioned within their communities to educate students, families, and school staff about the critical role vaccines play in preventing disease, allowing students and staff to remain healthy and in school. Here you'll find answers to commonly asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination in children ages 5 years and older. Supporting Children on the Autism Spectrum as They Experience the Challenges of COVID-19 The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified stress and social isolation for many children, but those children living with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder have been disproportionately affected. As the child and family are working to adjust to changes like new routines, sleep patterns, and sensory issues as a result of the pandemic, the pediatric nursing community should be knowledgeable and prepared to develop creative opportunities to meet the needs of this vulnerable population. Learn more and read this NASN School Nurse article, published April 15, 2022. COVID-19 Upcoming Events We Can Do This Summit -- Takes Place April 22 Join leading medical experts from across the nation at the We Can Do This Summit for a conversation on how to encourage COVID-19 vaccines for children, pregnant people, and young adults. The first conversation will focus on the need to minimize disruptions to the lives of children ages 5–11 by keeping them in school and protected with vaccination. Deborah D’Souza-Vazirani, DrPH, Champions for School Health Project Manager for NASN, will be a panelist. Tune in here on Friday, April 22 at 12 p.m. ET. Be a Superhero: How to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Schools through Community Collaboration The National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants is hosting a webinar on April 29, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET. Participants will learn practical tips on developing and sustaining meaningful partnerships between local school districts, community-based organizations, health departments, and other community groups to reduce COVID-19 and increase equitable access to vaccines and health services for school-aged children and their families. Register today. The Early Registration Rate Deadline is Extended! Register by Monday, May 2, and Save. NASN2022 Key Details See the Health and Safety Protocols. Early Registration Rate: Register by May 2, 2022 Make your travel plans. See the FAQs. Learning: NCPD CNE info NASN’s 54th Annual School Nurse Conference offers a number of important sessions and speakers. This week's spotlight on speakers highlights the In-Person General Session at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, June 30. This session will be Seizure Training for School Nurses: Caring for Students. Frequently, school nurses are charged with managing seizures within the school setting. Often they are faced with many challenges in addressing the unique needs of this population. This session will feature Sara Franklin, APR, Regional Director of the Epilepsy Foundation (top right photo), and Kathryn Lalor, BS, MD, Pediatric Neurologist at Children's of Alabama (bottom photo), hosting this continuing education training program. The program is designed to provide the school nurse with information, strategies, and resources that will enable them to better manage the student with seizures by supporting positive treatment outcomes, maximizing educational and developmental opportunities, and ensuring a safe and supportive environment. Managing Chronic Health Conditions Course: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Chronic Health Conditions - The School Nurse Role in Promoting Health Equity Finding a balance between the evolving mitigation and management activities to address the pandemic virus(es) and the ongoing care needed by students with chronic health conditions requires focused professional development to remove the dissonance experienced by the practicing school nurse. This educational offering will provide school nurses with a fresh perspective about what has changed and what has not changed as it relates to school nursing practice and the management of chronic health conditions while in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence-based current information, tools/resources, and strategies will support the confidence and competence of the school nurse's role in promoting health equity for at-risk students that have a chronic health condition. Learn more and complete the course. Improving School Community & Student Health Supporting Students Dealing with Grief This resource from the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement shares 10 basic steps school nurses, school staff, and school administrators can take to create a supportive environment for students. This resource from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network outlines how children grieve, what Childhood Traumatic Grief (CTG) is, and who develops CTG. It also outlines the signs a child might have CTG, how CTG impacts children, and what a mental health provider can do to help. Averting Targeted School Violence - U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Plots Against Schools The U.S. Secret Service employs threat assessment methodologies as part of its protective mission. The agency's National Threat Assessment Center, for more than 20 years, has maintained a particular focus on preventing targeted school violence. Their report builds on previous research findings that indicate targeted school violence is preventable. The Secret Service encourages medical, educational, and public safety partners to review the information and use it to guide best practices for maintaining safe and healthy schools for all children. NASN Resources: It is the position of NASN that school nurses advance and encourage safe school environments by promoting the prevention and reduction of school violence. Check out NASN's Health and Practice Topics page on School Violence. Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) Twitter Chat As #SISPWeek2022 comes to a close, join us, The National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (NASISP), and other NASISP members for a Twitter Chat on #SISPinSchools, on April 28 at 5 p.m. ET. There we will discuss the importance of SISP and how they contribute to the well-being of students. Learn more. America’s Healthiest Schools Award At a time when "school health" has taken on a new meaning, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (Healthier Generation) wants to celebrate the remarkable efforts schools have demonstrated to prioritize the essential health needs of students, staff, and families. Healthier Generation is honoring schools that meet or exceed best-practice standards in one or more topic areas related to the physical, mental, and social-emotional health of students, teachers, and school staff. Schools are encouraged to shine a light on their strengths by applying for a Healthier Generation Award by April 29. Visit Healthier Generation’s Award Page to learn more. April 25-29 is Every Kid Healthy™ Week Every Kid Healthy™ Week is an annual observance created to celebrate school health and wellness achievements. Each day of the week shines a spotlight on the great actions schools and families are taking to improve the health and wellness of kids and the link between nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and learning – because healthy kids are better prepared to learn and thrive! Anyone can get involved with Every Kid Healthy Week events. Check out the Action for Healthy Kids Every Kid Healthy Week Toolkit here. Get daily activity ideas here. NASN Resources: with the focus this week on healthy kids, school health, and wellness achievements, visit NASN's Health and Practice Topics page. There you'll find excellent resources on topics including School Wellness, Mental Health, and Childhood Obesity. Mark Your Calendar Deadline: NASN2022 Early Registration Monday, May 2 Register early to get the best rate! Early: Prior to May 2 Regular: After May 2 Learn more and register School Nurse Day Wednesday, May 11 Since 1972, National School Nurse Day has been set aside to recognize school nurses. National School Nurse Day was established to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. School Nurse Day Toolkit NASN Annual Conference: IN-PERSON NASN2022 June 28-30 To register or participate in-person, you must: Register by June 6, 2022. No onsite registration will be offered in Atlanta, Georgia. Acknowledge that you have read and that you agree to the “Health and Safety Protocols.” Learn more and register NASN Annual Conference: VIRTUAL NASN2022 July 11-13 (online) Some of the content will be streamed in real time during the conference schedule. This content will also be recorded and available to view through October 14, 2022. NOTE: This event includes additional "anytime" or on-demand sessions that attendees can begin viewing on the first day of VIRTUAL NASN2022. Learn more and register State Associations of School Nurses' Conferences Utah School Nurse Association: Annual Spring Conference - Healthy Children are Better Learners - May 5-6 - Learn more and register Nebraska School Nurses Association: 38th Annual School Health Conference - Transform Knowledge and Practice to Meet the Needs of School-age Children - June 5-7 - Learn more and register Indiana Association of School Nurses Annual Conference - Indiana School Nurses: Moving Forward with Courage and Compassion - June 15-16 - Learn more and register South Dakota School Nurse Association 29th Annual Conference - School Nurses Riding the Waves - July 12-13 - Learn more and register 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 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 | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]