President's Message
How is it that August creeps in so quickly! Didn’t we just say ‘have a great summer!’ to our students and staff? I hope you have refreshed and found some time just for you and your families this summer! We’ll be back at it so very soon!
As I write, the COVID-19 Delta Variant is causing many to have illness and hospitalizations. Without funding for virtual or remote options for learning, and without state support for wearing masks, it is uncertain what the start to the school year will be! What I do know is that school nurses will be there for their students and families; recommending and administering vaccines, recommending mask wearing, teaching hand and cough hygiene and supporting health and wellness! It’s what we do best!
The plan is to move forward with the in-person TSNO November 12-14, 2021 Conference! See the announcements and sneak peak of the fabulous speaker line up! The registration brochure link is below and registration will begin September 1!
Have a great start of the 2021/2022 school year!
Karen S. Schwind, BSN, RN, NCSN
TSNO President
NASN Director News
Oh, where did the summer break go? Schools have reopened for some and soon for others. I hope you enjoyed opportunities to get some well-deserved rest and found time to re-energize this summer to face the new challenges of this upcoming school year. Thinking about this past unprecedented school year, I am forever proud and inspired to hear and read so many stories of school nurses leading the way in keeping students and staff safe, and providing motivation for those colleagues that may have become discouraged or weary.
One tool to keep by your side is the NASN website, which you might want to bookmark as a favorite for easy access. NASN offers robust evidence-based resources at your fingertips to help you in your nursing practice and school health education. Another valuable resource for relevant and timely information can be found in the NASN Weekly Digest, available to both members and non-members. Subscribe today and share with your fellow colleagues the value and responsibility found in joining your professional nursing organization.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions, comments, or need help finding something on the NASN website. You can always reach me at francisluna.tsno@gmail.com.
In your service,
Francis Luna
NASN TX-Director
From the NASN Weekly Digest:
NASN and school nurses have been widely represented in the news media over the past few months and we are now including a section in the Weekly Digest to highlight some of those stories twice a month. If you have a story about school nurses you'd like us to consider including, please send it to us.
Kristi Rice and Liz Pray: Now more than ever, we need school nurses (Source: The Spokesman-Review)
Georgia’s school nurses chart new territory in pandemic (Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
The connection between the Texas Administrative Code and Texas Education Code
Below is an explanation of the function, difference, and connection of these two guiding documents.
Texas Education Code is the 'law' book - it contains all the laws that govern education that are passed through the legislature. When a bill passes through the legislature, it becomes a state statute (law) as part of TEC. Almost all bills (laws) point to a state agency to write the 'rules' on how to enact the goal of the bill. And here's where TAC comes in...
Texas Administrative Code is the 'rule' book - any state agency that has rulemaking authority puts their rules in TAC. This includes all topics: insurance, health, education, transportation, finances, etc. Education is Title 19, and TEA is Part 2. So, any rule made by TEA or SBOE goes in TAC Title 19 Part II. Similarly, any DSHS rule that we have to follow is in TAC, Title 25, Part I. Most often, education-related bills leave rule-making up to TEA, but a lot of school health-related bills go to DSHS or HHSC.
Therefore, district policy (legal and local) will reference pieces of TEC and also TAC in their descriptions of the policy.
Looking for #COVID19 Testing, Therapeutics, or Vaccine Providers in Texas
The Texas Division of Emergency Management has maps for that!
- Testing Locations: http://COVIDtest.TDEM.Texas.gov
- Vaccine Providers: http://meds.TDEM.Texas.gov
- Therapeutic Providers: http://meds.TDEM.Texas.gov
Need An Idea About How To Reach Your Members?
Region X had great results with 284 of their members responding and 93 of those stating that they are willing to serve their local board and/or committees! Amazing job, Region X!
If you would like to share any of your ideas please email monicaporras.tsno@gmail.com.
Members Needed
Care for Your Students and You
VSP Vision Care's Sight for Students program is open to NASN members. Through this partnership, NASN members receive gift certificates they can share with qualifying students 19 years of age or younger.
The best professional liability rates available are extended to NASN members through NASN's partnership with Lockton Affinity.
The UnaRxCard is a discount prescription drug card that can lower the cost of many prescription medications and things like diabetes supplies, hearing aides and glasses. The card is available to NASN members and can be shared with others including students and their families.
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 10
NOMINATIONS COORDINATOR Deana Bunting - Region 5
STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Lisa Sicilio- Region 6
ADVOCACY CHAIR Becca Harkleroad- Region 13
SCHOOL HEALTH ISSUES Amber Cichocki- Region 10
MEMBER SERVICES Brandy Bowlen - Region 4
APPOINTED COORDINATORS:
Membership Coordinator Ronnie Howard - Region 4
REGION PRESIDENTS Coordinator Denise Kablaitis - Region 13
COMMUNICATIONS Coordinator Monica Porras- Region 15
EXHIBIT LIAISON Elizabeth Goedde - Region 4
ElizabethGoedde.tsno@gmail.com
EXECUTIVE BOARD LIAISON/ WEBSITE & MARKETING COORDINATOR
Kara DeLay - Region 8
Email: bbowlen1@kleinisd.net
Website: txsno.org
Location: Richardson, TX, United States
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Texas.School.Nurses.Organization
Twitter: @TxSchlNurses
