President's Message
December Greetings!
As I address you with this note for the first time as TSNO President, I am honored and humbled to be in this position! Your Executive team, Board of Directors and I hope to support all you are doing on the front lines of COVID 19 in schools. These last 2 weeks before the Holiday break will surely be filled with many positive cases, contact tracing, student and parent education and all the tasks you normally deal with on a daily basis! In addition to the daily care you provide for your students and staff, please be sure and take some time for YOU!
NASN has provided multiple resources for you regarding COVID. These can be found at the COVID-19 resource page. Additionally, there are Return to School videos you may share with your students and parents. The three videos are titled Washing Your Hands, Wearing Cloth Face Coverings, and Staying Home When you are Sick. There are English versions and Spanish versions. NASN invites school nurses to view the videos and share them through newsletters, school websites, and other modes of communication.
Lastly, we have TSNO apparel available for purchase! Share the link https://tsno2020.itemorder.com with your family as a suggestion for a Holiday gift! You may be interested in a polo, sweater, jacket or backpack with the TSNO logo! These products are of good quality and soft fabric!
Happy December to all! My hope for your Holiday break is that you enjoy your family, find time for you, unplug, rest and reenergize! 2020 will definitely be behind us as the year of many firsts for us as we have experienced our first and hopefully last pandemic! It is truly a great time to be a school nurse! Bring on health and happiness in 2021!
My best to all,
Karen Schwind BSN RN NCSN
PANDAS
For more information on PANDAS which is is a neurological and psychiatric condition in which symptoms are brought on or worsened by a Streptococcal (strep) infection, click HERE , then access menu on the left for printable and education toolkits. Also, the Rare Diseases website.
Dysautonomia refers to a group of medical conditions caused by problems with the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This part of your nervous system controls involuntary body functions like your heartbeat, breathing and digestion. For more information, click HERE and HERE.
Notes from your NASN Director!
The Year of 2020, School Nurses Protecting School Communities
2020 has been named the Year of the Nurse and the Year of the Midwife by the World Health Organization: Sadly, this year will also be forever linked to the coronavirus pandemic. School nurses, however, will be remembered as being on the front lines, providing valuable coronavirus education, knowledge, and experience, in keeping our school communities safe. By providing meaningful measures of prevention and clarity, we ensure 2020 will also be remembered for positive moments of success against this pandemic. Thank you for being such passionate advocates for our students, you are all persistent, extraordinary leaders, making a difference in your school, in your school community and beyond!
NASN has created a wealth of NEW COVID-19 resources for your toolbox:
· COVID-19 Symptom Screener for Students
· COVID-19 Sample Tracking Tool
· 2020-21 School Year Suggested School Nursing Practice Activities
· Prioritizing School Nursing Practice Activities
· Considerations for School Nurses Regarding Care of Students and Staff that Become Ill at School or Arrive Sick (Updated)
· Considerations for Classroom Physical Activity during COVID-19 (Updated)
· Classroom Physical Activity Ideas and Tips (Updated)
New Programs Launched by NASN:
· Emergency Medications toolkit
· Back to School Toolkit updated with COVID-19 resources
Lastly, NASN is in the process of identifying schools with the greatest needs in getting personal protective equipment schools. GetUsPPE, a national nonprofit delivered 2.5 million pieces of PPE to front-line workers in need. They are launching a program to get PPE to schools, free of charge. If you are interested in this initiative, please fill out this survey to let NASN know about the PPE needs at your school.
Happy Holidays!
With gratitude,
Francis Luna, MSN, RN, NCSN
TSNO-NASN Director
Why school nurses should be advocates.
"Advocacy is the deliberate process of influencing those who make decisions.
School nurses are healthcare professionals in an educational setting and frequently practice as the only healthcare professional in the setting.
The role of the school nurse is not always understood by teachers, administrators, parents, elected officials, and the community at large.
Only school nurses have the insight to educate stakeholders so they know the role of the school nurse role and the difference school nurses make in the lives of children. Stakeholders need to know why school nurses are important.
School nurses serve students and families and should proactively engage their school community."
To find out more got to NASN Advocacy Skill Building or
contact TSNO's Advocacy Chair- Becca Harkleroad- Region 13 bechark.tsno@gmail.com
NASN President's Message
The holidays are a busy time for everyone, and it can be overwhelming for school nurses to maintain our own health and well-being between family obligations on top of our daily efforts to keep our students safe and healthy.
Supporting our school nurse members is a top priority for NASN at all times, but never more so than during this unprecedented year.
As part of that mission we are pleased to be part of the American Nurses Association Well-Being Initiative to support the mental health and resilience of all nurses.
We also want to make sure our members are taking advantage of Get Us PPE, which is the largest national nonprofit delivering PPE where it is needed most, free of charge. So far, they have delivered over 3 million units of PPE to people in need.
Please fill out this form to let us know your average weekly PPE needs, which will help make sure we can deliver PPE to where it’s needed most in advance of reopening.
Be well, and we wish you happy holidays!
Laurie Combe, MN, RN, NCSN
NASN President
BETTER HEALTH. BETTER LEARNING. â„¢
Increase Your Knowledge
Online continuing nursing education in the NASN Learning Center is always discounted for NASN members. In many cases, the activities are free of charge to NASN members.
DANA or Diabetes Advanced Network Access created by the American Association of Diabetes Educators is available to NASN members free of charge. DANA connects school nurses with the devices, expertise and innovations shaping the future of diabetes care.
Titles in the NASN Bookstore including ebooks and manuals are always discounted for NASN members.
Did you know...
TSNO Executive Committee
ELECTED OFFICERS:
PRESIDENT Karen Schwind - Region 13
PRESIDENT-ELECT Laurie Smith - Region 8
TREASURER Luisa Herrera- Region 19
SECRETARY Lisa Formby - Region 16
NASN DIRECTOR Francis Luna - Region X
NOMINATIONS COORDINATOR Deana Bunting - Region 5 deanabunting.tsno@gmail.com
STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Lisa Sicilio- Region 6
ADVOCACY CHAIR Becca Harkleroad- Region 13
SCHOOL HEALTH ISSUES Amber Cichockia- Region X
MEMBER SERVICES Denise Kablaitis - Region 13
APPOINTED COORDINATORS:
Membership Coordinator Linda Howard - Region 8
REGION PRESIDENTS Coordinator
COMMUNICATIONS Coordinator Brandy Bowlen - Region IV bbowlen1@kleinisd.net
EXHIBIT LIAISON Amy Huey - Region X ahuey.tsno@gmail.com
EXECUTIVE BOARD LIAISON/ WEBSITE & MARKETING COORDINATOR Kara DeLay - Region 8 kdelay@atlisd.net
Email: bbowlen1@kleinisd.net
Website: txsno.org
Location: Richardson, Tex, United States
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Texas.School.Nurses.Organization
Twitter: @TxSchlNurses
