Texas School Nurses Organization

To enhance whole student wellness in support of health and learning by advancing school nursing practice.

Student access to health and learning. All day. Every day.

This newsletter takes NASN’s Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice approach.

Happy July,

I hope you all are having a wonderful summer. Take this time to rest and enjoy your time away as we have no idea what we will face when school starts back. We will all need to be well rested.

I want to thank those of you who joined our Town Hall meeting. I felt that it was informative and to the point. Please remember to check our website regularly as we will post updates as we receive them. Rest assured that we are working for you. We want to provide you with the information you need to be able to make an informed decision.

Project ADAM is planning a virtual in-service to be held Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the week of July 20th. The program will be from 1:00 until 1:30 on each of those days. Please see invitation linked in this newsletter.

NASN virtual conference finished today. It was definitely different than their normal conference. That being said the presentations were good and I really learned a lot. At this time we are still planning to have our conference in Houston but will adjust as the Governor recommends.

Enjoy this last month and take time for yourself. Remember, stress can lead to other health issues.

Stay cool, healthy and wash your hands,

Lisa

School Nurses Shaping Opportunities for Student Wellness

As I read my local county health department’s coronavirus summary this week, I considered again how our families are disproportionately affected by this virus. The health of students is greatly impacted by where they live, their family’s income level and their race. Health is complex and variable between individuals and population groups. Something other than just healthcare drives the health of a community or a society. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Social Determinates of Health (SDOH) are the conditions under which people are born, grow, work, live, and age. These factors have a large influence on health. Health inequities are differences in health that are avoidable, unfair, and/or unjust. Many of these inequities are amplified by COVID-19. Across Texas hotspots, we find more Hispanics and Blacks facing a disproportionate burden of disease and death. School nurses are leaders in their schools and communities in bringing stakeholders together to improve the quality of life for all. Health equity can be achieved when all are able to achieve their full potential by reducing barriers to health.

NASN offers several resources you can add to your toolbox relating to healthy communities: The NASN Position Statement, Healthy Communities-The Role of the School Nurse provides an evidence-based document that can be used to educate and inform school leaders, stakeholders, and policy makers on the importance of healthy communities. They also offer to members a FREE online course, “Building Effective Partnerships and Collaborations for School Nurses.” It includes helpful discussions of Healthy Communities, Social Determinants of Health, Health Equity, Health Education and Population Health concepts.

Finally, an excellent first step in gathering county data can be found at the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It provides a wealth of county actionable data, measures of current overall health, and measures that affect the future health of communities.

As you consider improving your school community, can you identify strategies or approaches that need to change or be implemented to improve student health? If so, please share your story so we can post it in the TSNO Newsletter. Your story may inspire others to action as well.

Please email me if you have any questions or needs.

In your service,

Francis

Francis Luna, MSN, RN, NCSN

TSNO NASN-TX Director

The Nationally Certified School Nurse credential reflects competence and professionalism. To earn the NCSN a nurse must demonstrate a high level of education, clinical practice experience and knowledge.

To learn more visit https://www.nbcsn.org/

Are you interested in getting involved in the TSNO or do you know someone who is? TSNO is soliciting nominations for Nominations Coordinator, Treasurer and President-Elect (2 year terms).

We invite member input on identifying qualified and motivated nominees and encourage each TSNO member to consider serving as a Board member or officer to help TSNO remain vital and prosperous.

The University of Texas at Arlington

First Course Free RN to BSN Scholarship

APPLY NOW @: https://bit.ly/APPLYUTANursing

Attend a webinar to learn more (see schedule below)

Can’t attend a webinar, request information @: http://bit.ly/UTANursing

Questions: Kimberley.jones@apdegrees.com

RN to BSN First Course Free Scholarship overview

• Who is eligible: NEW UTA RN to BSN students who apply by July 17, 2020 & start on August 17 or August 24, 2020
• How much is it: First course is free ($771)
• Why is it unique: New, eligible RN to BSN students can take advantage of the First Course Free Scholarship ($771) off their first course
• How do you get it/Next steps:
• There is no formal application for the scholarship – apply @ https://bit.ly/APPLYUTANursing or register for the RN to BSN webinar below which is available to watch anytime, choose a LIVE webinar or complete this form: http://bit.ly/UTANursing
• Answer the call from the enrollment specialist and ask them for the FIRST COURSE FREE scholarship for August.
• Students must begin their first nursing course on August 17th or August 24th 2020 (apply by July 17, 2020)
• For questions, you can email me at: Kimberley.Jones@apdegrees.com

University of Texas at Arlington Webinar – RN to BSN Scholarship

Questions? Contact kimberley.jones@apdegrees.com

Did you know that, for less than $160 per year (the cost of TSNO/NASN membership), you can bring valuable vision resources to your students? Imagine if each student you provided with a VSP Global vision voucher required an eye exam and glasses valued at $400. If you used 25 vouchers for qualifying students, you would save your school community $10,000! See the PDF below for more information, and if you are ready for a friend referral, share this link:

http://www.txsno.org/membership/jointsno

This is just one example of how membership pays for itself! Stay tuned for more examples!

Check out the amazing Covid-19 Toolkit now posted on the TSNO Website!

It's everything you need right at your fingertips!

https://www.txsno.org/tsnoresources/covid-19-toolkit

The TSNO website has a "Resource" link with so much valuable information in just one click of the mouse! Examples include advocacy tools, AED's, asthma resources, confidentiality, diabetes care manual, federal agency links, food allergies, models, IHP Templates (my personal favorite), position statements, Scope and Standards, and so much more! Check it out at this link:

http://www.txsno.org/tsnoresources

ELECTED OFFICERS:

PRESIDENT Lisa Formby - Region 16

lisa.formbytsno@gmail.com

PRESIDENT-ELECT Karen Schwind - Region 13

karenschwind.tsno@gmail.com

TREASURER Luisa Herrera- Region 19

luisa.herrera.tsno@gmail.com

Secretary Sarah Alexander - Region 15

sarah.alexander@saisd.org

NASN DIRECTOR Francis Luna - Region X

francisluna.tsno@gmail.com

NOMINATIONS COORDINATOR Laurie Smith - Region 8

Lsmith1@pittsburgisd.net

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS:

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Lisa Sicilio- Region 6

lsicilio.tsno@gmail.com

ADVOCACY CHAIR Becca Harkleroad- Region 13

bechark.tsno@gmail.com

SCHOOL HEALTH ISSUES Amber Cichockia- Region X

cichockia@cfbisd.edu

MEMBER SERVICES Denise Kablaitis - Region 13

denisek.tsno@gmail.com

APPOINTED COORDINATORS:

Membership Coordinator Linda Howard - Region 8

lindahoward.tsno@gmail.com

REGION PRESIDENTS Coordinator Deana Bunting - Region 5 deanabunting.tsno@gmail.com

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

Connect with with TSNO on LinkedIn and grow your professional network!