December 15, 2022

A range of social determinants impact access to healthcare, and the COVID-19 pandemic made the importance of access more apparent. Schools are uniquely positioned to make healthcare accessible and equitable with proper support.

In the new blog Expanding Medicaid Services in Neighborhood Schools Makes Health Care More Accessible and Equitable posted by Mathematica, authors Donna Mazyck, Executive Director of NASN, and Erin Behrmann, Managing Consultant at Mathematica, discuss how new guidance and funding present a unique opportunity for schools to help provide accessible equitable care.

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School nurses are pivotal to the safety of school-age children, particularly those who receive medications in the school setting. This open-access article from The Journal of School Nursing (JOSN), Exploration of Factors Associated with Reported Medication Administration Errors in North Carolina Public School Districts, explores factors associated with medication administration errors in North Carolina school districts and encourages school districts to consider the critical role of school nurses.

• A JOSN subscription is included with your NASN membership.
• Stay connected, and receive new issues and up-to-date research. Sign up for JOSN email alerts.

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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.

• School Nurses: What Don’t They Do? (Source: healthnews.com)
• 66% of flu cases involve young Hoosiers, how schools are taking precautions (Source: wrtv.com)
• Aiken Named December 2022 Employee of the Month (Source: obxtoday.com)
• Central Alabama healthcare workers manage series of challenges as flu, COVID-19 cases rise (Source: wvtm13.com)
• Warren school staff members served on medical missions (Source: newjerseyhills.com)
• PCSD school nurses remind parents about rules for sick children (Source: theperrynews.com)
• Henrico school nurses now authorized to administer naloxone (Source: )

Resources to Support Students with Chronic Conditions

In the U.S., it's estimated that one in four students have a chronic health condition, and healthcare needs can be complex and continuous. The school nurse is well positioned to support the health and academic success of students with chronic health conditions by providing direct care and facilitating the many practice components of the Care Coordination principle of NASN’s Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice™. Visit NASN's page dedicated to Chronic Health Condition Management for resources to support school nurses in building school communities that support the health and learning of students with chronic health conditions, including Position Statements, Nursing Continuing Professional Development, and much more.

A surge in cases of influenza, COVID-19, and RSV has been sickening millions of Americans, overwhelming emergency rooms, and reducing the availability of pediatric OTC medications. The CDC's map that tracks COVID-19 community levels has been showing more areas of "high" infection. 

"To protect communities in those circumstances at those high levels, we have recommended and continue to recommend that those communities wear masks," Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said. Read the full article.

• School nurses can promote a safe school environment and holiday season by identifying symptoms, educating the school community and caregivers, and encouraging vaccination for flu and COVID-19 and hand hygiene.

The U.S. Department of Education hosted the Lessons from the Field - The Facts About Student Vaping and Approaches to Prevention webinar, where experts shared data on vaping use among young people and the impact of vaping on their development and health. Here you can access this and previous Lessons from the Field webinars and find out what is coming next.

• NASN Resources: See NASN's Vanquishing Vaping Toolkit and Vaping the Next Chapter - Utilizing Effective Tools and Resources to Combat E-cigarettes in Your School! in the NASN learning center.

Holiday celebrations may be triggering for those who are experiencing grief. The holiday season can be difficult for students who have lost someone special in their life. School nurses, educators, and school staff can help with support. Learn how with this resource from The National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments offers information and technical assistance to states, districts, schools, institutions of higher learning, and communities focused on improving school climate and conditions for learning. Get information about the Center’s training, technical assistance, products and tools, and the latest research findings.

• California School Nurses Organization: 73rd CSNO Conference - Moving Forward REJUVENATED AND RESILIENT - February 17-19, 2023 - Learn more and Register

• Maryland Association of School Health Nurses Annual Conference - School Nurse-Navigators "Remember the Past, Navigate the Present, and Prepare for the Future" - March 4, 2023 - Learn more

• Vermont State School Nurses Association Spring Conference - March 24 - Save the Date

• Overseas School Health Nurse Association Spring Conference 2023 - March 26-27, 2023 - 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.

National Health Observances Calendar

This calendar lists special days, weeks, or months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics. Access the 2022 calendar. 

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