Our hearts go out to the city of El Paso. Once again senseless violence has taken so many lives way too soon. The fact that so many people were there buying school supplies makes my heart hurt even more. I truly believe that we need a change of heart in our nation. We need to go back to the saying that if you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all. It really doesn’t matter which side of the political line you are – we are one nation and we have got to come together in order to heal our nation. As we start the new school year please keep the citizens of El Paso in your thoughts and prayers.
Lisa Formby, RN
TSNO President
Photo credit El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association
President's Message
Summer has flown by. I can't believe it is almost time for school to start. Our lives are about to get hectic for a few months. Just remember to take time for yourself as you start back to school.
August is immunization awareness month. Laurie Combe, NASN President, wrote a nice article in the NASN Weekly newsletter last week about this topic. Don’t forget that NASN has an Immunization Transition Toolkit.
The TSNO 2019 Conference is right around the corner. It will be held at the beautiful Marriott River Center on the river walk of San Antonio. I hope you will all plan to attend. We have a great lineup of speakers for you. The brochure should be on the TSNO website this week and registration will open September 1st.
As you start the new school year try to look at each student not just with your eyes but also with your hearts. Some of our children come from backgrounds that we can’t even begin to imagine. I ask that you not look at the ones that come to you often as ‘frequent flyers’ but as someone who just might need your smile, positive attitude or hug. I am hoping that I can remember this for the school year.
Welcome back,
Lisa Formby
TSNO President
NASN Update News**
Courage in Nursing
School nurses are Courageous, as well as Leaders! It is with great pride and honor to have our very own, Laurie Combe installed as the NASN President at the NASN2019 conference. Take a moment and read her NASN President’s Inaugural Address in the August issue of the Journal of School Nursing for it is inspiring and challenges us to be that Force of the Future.
This summer, I had the opportunity to visit the Wyoming State Capitol, built in 1888 and recently renovated to its original glory in the Capitol Square Project. I wanted to see their historic Supreme Court Chamber, where, in 1889, representatives granted woman's suffrage within their state constitution, the first state to do so. The rotunda is filled with four sculptures, "The Four Sisters," representing key values: Truth, Justice, Courage, and Hope.
This visit gave me pause to the importance of Courage in Nursing. School Nurses should continue to embrace Courage and look beyond the health clinic to mitigate any barriers students face in reaching their full potential toward academic success. It may not be easy, but creating a healthy community, decreasing health disparities, and improving health equity will improve the well-being of our students. I challenge you to do a self-reflection on your school nursing practice: Ask yourself how YOU can forge forward with Courage in the advancement of school health and school nursing practice.
In your service,
Francis Luna
NASN-TX Director
National Certification
To learn more visit https://www.nbcsn.org/
NASN Weekly Digest, July 25th, 2019
National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. As school nurses, one of the most frequent topics we hear and talk about is immunizations, especially right before and as school starts. NASN created the Immunization Transition Toolkit, which was developed for use at the times of student transitions within the school systems including between elementary school and middle or intermediate school; between middle or intermediate school and high school; and between high school and college or career. These specific time periods can be stressful for students and parents as they prepare for the next change in their educational setting and are a great opportunity for the school nurse to lessen the stress by giving specific health directives to students and families. There are a number of articles and other talking points on the NASN website for your use as well. The CDC also provides a number of resources to talk to parents and students. I hope you have a wonderful end of July as you start to begin your own transition back into the schools in August.
Laurie Combe, MN, RN, NCSN NASN President BETTER HEALTH. BETTER LEARNING. ™
Take the School Health Services Survey
Help us meet your students’ needs for school-based health services! Participate in the 2019 Texas School Health Services Survey. The Texas Department of State Health Services’ School Health Program is conducting the online survey May 1-Aug. 16. Your responses will help us identify unmet needs in school health services across the state. We'll use the information to develop programs and resources to address those needs. Take the survey today.
Did you know...
TSNO Executive Committee
ELECTED OFFICERS:
PRESIDENT Lisa Formby - Region 16
PRESIDENT-ELECT Karen Schwind - Region 13
TREASURER Luisa Herrera- Region 19
Secretary Kara DeLay - Region 8
NASN DIRECTOR Francis Luna - Region X
NOMINATIONS COORDINATOR Laurie Smith - Region 8
STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Lisa Sicilio- Region 6
ADVOCACY CHAIR Chanthini Thomas - Region IV
SCHOOL HEALTH ISSUES Adalia Del Bosque - Region 1
adaliadelbosque.tsno@gmail.com
MEMBER SERVICES Denise Kablaitis - Region 13
APPOINTED COORDINATORS:
Membership Coordinator Linda Howard - Region 8
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
