September 15, 2022

Whether you are seasoned school nurse or in your first year on the job, NASN’s back-to-school toolkit highlights the resources you need to promote the well-being of students and help them develop lifelong habits that support optimal health and wellness. The tools in the toolkit will help you, working closely with school staff, students, and administration, to develop a healthy environment where students can thrive.

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It is the position of NASN that the utilization of telehealth technology is a valuable tool that can assist school nurses to enhance access to school and community health services. A substantial number of students experience health disparities related to a lack of access to primary and specialty services and to school nurse services. The school nurse is on the frontlines of student health and has the expertise to provide a critical link and oversight to implement telehealth in the school setting (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2021). 

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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.

• Pierre School Nurses to be Equipped with Nasal Spray to Combat Opioid Overdose (Source: DRGnews.com)
• Oklahoma Schools Dealing With Shortage Of Registered Nurses (Source: News On 6/KOTV)
• Massachusetts School Nurses Talk School This Fall, What You and Your Family Needs to Know (Source: WickedLocal.com)
• NJ School Nurses On the Front Lines of a Mental Health Crisis (Source: NJ 101.5)
• School Nurses Share Back-to-School Health Tips (Source: Good Morning America)
• Raising Salaries for School Nurses, Counselors (Source: KUAF Public Radio)

Improving Care Coordination for Students with Chronic Health Conditions Toolkit

Care Coordination is one of the five principles in NASN’S Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice^TM. In April 2018, NASN convened the Strategy to Action Roundtable to identify key components of a collaborative approach to manage chronic health conditions in school-age children. The resulting white paper, Translating Strategies into Actions to Improve Care Coordination for Students with Chronic Health Conditions, ended with a call to action for meeting participants to work together in the school community. The roundtable also resulted in a call to action for NASN to develop additional tools and resources to support school nurses in leading care coordination for students with chronic health conditions. This toolkit answers that call.

The CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including all primary series doses and boosters for their age group. You can help families or students check if they are up to date here and find out if and when they can get a booster. 

On August 11, the CDC updated the Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning highlighting the prevention principles to minimize the individual and societal impacts of COVID-19. Additionally, the CDC has published guidance on Ventilation in Schools and Childcare Programs including an Interactive School Ventilation Tool that shows how particle levels change as you adjust ventilation settings. 

The final 2022 Attendance Awareness Campaign webinar will go live on Sept. 28 at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET. Diverse speakers will describe local and state bright spots that showcase effective approaches to sustaining student and family engagement and student attendance. You'll hear strategies to address the educational disparities exacerbated by the pandemic. Join us! Register today.

Children’s Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month urges families to #KnowYourHeart to learn the signs, symptoms, and risk factors associated with cardiomyopathy. This awareness initiative will help identify at-risk children and get them the appropriate medical care to avoid sudden death. An important part of the Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation's mission is increasing access to reliable information on pediatric cardiomyopathy and empowering parents and patients with a variety of educational materials. See the resources you can share with your families.

More than 25,000 people seek treatment for sports-related eye injuries each year, according to Prevent Blindness. September is Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month, and the organization suggests a number of steps to prevent eye injuries such as:

• Wear proper safety goggles (lensed polycarbonate protectors) for racquet sports or basketball.
• Use batting helmets with polycarbonate face shields for youth baseball.
• Use helmets and face shields approved by the U.S. Amateur Hockey Association when playing hockey.
• Know that regular glasses don’t provide enough protection.

See NASN's resources on vision and eye health.

This toolkit is full of activities and resources to help families feel well, live well, and learn well during this busy transitional season. Let’s take on a new school year together — one healthy day at a time, addressing healthy snacks, activities, sleep, and more. 

Caring for others requires that you also care for yourself. The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers information and a range of resources created especially for frontline health care professionals. You’ll also find actionable tips on building resiliency and well-being and ways for families to get involved. Learn more. 

• Illinois Association of School Nurses Annual Conference - 65 Years of Improving Child Health Outcomes: School Nurses Leading the Path Towards Health Equity - September 30-October 1 - Learn more and Register

• Florida Association of School Nurses Face to Face 27th Annual Conference - Celebrating School Nurses in Supporting Student Success - October 14-15 - Learn more and Register

• Kansas School Nurses Organization - 46th Annual Governor's Conference for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect - October 11-20 - Learn more and Register

• Tennessee Association of School Nurses Fall 2022 Conference - Advancing the Professional Practice of the School Nurse: One Life at a Time - November 2-3 - Learn more and Register

• Texas School Nurse Organization Conference -Promoting student health by building resiliency - November 4-6 (Save the Date) Learn more and Register

• Virginia Association of School Nurses Fall Conference - 36th Annual Fall Conference - November 5-6 (Save the Date) Learn more

• West Virginia Association of School Nurses Annual Fall Conference - Back to Basics - November 10-12 - Learn more

• Annual North Carolina School Nurse Conference - School Health: A Time to Reflect, Celebrate, and Refocus - December 8-9, 2022 - Learn more

• Overseas School Health Nurse Association Spring Conference 2023 - March 26-27, 2023 - Learn more and Pre-register