Texas School Nurses Organization
April 2015
Mission Statement
To promote, protect, and enhance professional school nurse practice through advocacy, evidence-based education, collaboration, and partnerships that support each student’s well-being and readiness to learn.
President's Message
Spring has sprung, with the gorgeous Texas flowers in full bloom! Even if that means many suffering from seasonal allergies, with runny noses, watery and itchy eyes, and constant sneezing. Right? I’ve seen my share of students with these symptoms, yet I still enjoy the beauty and new growth spring offers each day.
Which brings me to TSNO’s growth, in so many key areas:
- Growth in social media: The TSNO SchoolNurseNet (SNN) community discussion list and library has grown with great topics and school nursing best practice resources. Please take time to discover this new tool, and add it to your toolbox. As you know, TSNO has a Facebook and Twitter page, let’s all get on board and share the latest news in your regions.
- Growth in Advocacy: Legislative bills are moving quickly! In the next couple of weeks, more bills may be set for committee hearings. We will keep you in the loop by utilizing TSNO SNN. This week, your support and action taken on Senate Bill 69 was heard loudly! It was great seeing the enthusiasm and response from members all over Texas as they reached out to their local representatives.
- Growth in Membership: We are now 2158 members STRONG! Reach out to a school nurse colleague that’s not a member, hand them a membership application and TSNO membership pamphlet, and invite them to join today. Share your personal story of how you use the NASN/TSNO website and all the valuable and numerous benefits you enjoy in your school nursing practice. I just heard from a fellow school nurse in my district that her local PTA paid for her membership! Just another success story for her and the students and families she serves. Benefits > Cost.
- Growth in visibility: Increase in requests from legislators for input on bills and to testify in support. Several of your board members were asked to speak at various health related events, to join the table of discussion at Texas Board of Nursing meeting, to participate in the Immunization Coalition, and attend TNA Nurse Day at the Capitol.
Now is an even more exciting time to be a member of TSNO. Watch for continued growth just around the corner!
In your service,
Francis Luna, RN
What Your TSNO Board is Doing for You!
Laurie Combe, MN, RN - NASN Director
TSNO thanks all 739 school nurses who participated in the NASN School Nurse Survey. Because of your participation, TSNO received the Texas survey data which helps us plan according to your needs.
As TSNO NASN Director, Laurie was assigned to the Endowment Fundraising Committee 2015 as Co-Chair. The fundraising goal is $10,000. She also serves on the Research Committee and is Chair of sub-committee tasked with communicating the NASN change from caseload to workload terminology.
During the recent January 2015 Board of Directors Meeting in Washington, DC, Laurie was able to visit the Capitol Hill Offices of Senators Cornyn & Cruz, and Representative Brady to discuss the TSNO/NASN Legislative Agenda. Many thanks to Linda Howard for her design of TSNO Legislative Pamphlet. It was well received by the legislative aides and prompted great discussion of the school nurse role, barriers to health care, health issues in school.
As a member of the TSNO Professional Development Committee, Laurie is collaborating with Anita Wheeler (DSHS), Melinda Hester (BON), and Jane Tustin (TSNO member) regarding Jurisprudence for School Nurses.
Laurie has been asked to present at Hunger Free Texas’ annual Keeping Our Communities Healthy Conference in Houston on the role of the school nurse. She will have the opportunity to talk with experts and professionals from the food, nutrition, and health & wellness industry about best practices in school nursing in the health of school communities.
Step Up and Be Counted! Look for the DSHS survey designed to collect data about the health care of Texas school children. Participation in this nationwide data collection can help tell the story if school nursing
Julie Lindley, MSN, RN - Advocacy Chair
The 84th Regular Legislation Session is in full swing. TSNO is monitoring closely school nursing related legislation and in taking precise and assertive action. Click here to review the 2015 TSNO Legislative Priorities Report.
Advocacy Chair Julie Lindley and Denton ISD student Josh Boring testified April 9th in favor of SB69. They are shown with Texas Senator Rodney Ellis, who is sponsoring this important bill: SB69 would require notification to parents if a public school campus, or open-enrollment charter school, does not have a nurse assigned to the campus during all instructional hours.
Karen S. Schwind, BSN, RN, NCSN School Health Issues Chair
Karen represented TSNO at Virtual Care for School Children with Diabetes, Texas Board of Nursing in Austin - partnering with Julie Lindley, Sally Freeman and Anita Wheeler.
At Nurse Day on the Hill, February 24, 2015, Karen visited with Representative Doug Miller and Senator Donna Campbell regarding School Nurse issues including SB 69- notification to parents if no school nurse, epinephrine in school and spinal screening requirements.
Karen represented TSNO with Texas Immunization Partnership She attended Day at the Capitol 3/4/15 advocating for school nurse issues as above and immunization issues. This included:
· HB 2171 Easy Access to Shot Records: Immtrac for adults 18-26 yrs
· Parental Awareness and Transparency (not yet filed) require schools to report and de-identify vaccine exemptions by school campus through DSHS.
· HB 608 Preventing disease in adults: Add vaccines offered through the adult safety net program, Shingles, MCV, PCV
· HB 465 Improving privacy and efficiency in the immunization Registry: Opt in to opt out. Montana and New Mexico are the only 2 states besides Texas who are opt in states.
· HB 2055 Protecting Texans from emerging Tropical Diseases: Chagas, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya. Increase surveillance and education for physicians and the public.
UPDATED! Clinical Conversations: Food Allergy Management in the School Setting
Need a discussion topic for a district or regional nurses meeting? NASN has recently updated its allergy/anaphylaxis discussion guide with two additional articles. Access the updated guide .
Sample Protocol Available for Epinephrine Administration in the School Setting
A sound protocol guides the emergency response that school nurses direct in the school setting. The sample protocol offered here has been created as a template to guide the creation of a tool that can be adapted for your school district, consistent with your state law. Access a sample protocol that your district can adopt.
Nurse Day on the Hill
TSNO Leadership Academy
Leadership
America's eXtreme Motivator
Selfie-Fun
The Heart Beat of a Community
Region 1 has lost one of its finest school nurses, Margaret G. Perez. She lost a courageous battle against cancer this August 2014. “Nurse Maggie”, as she was lovingly known by all throughout her community, was the Coordinator of Student Health Services for the Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District. She graduated from Los Fresnos High School and several years later after graduating from nursing school went back to Los Fresnos as a school nurse. Some 30 years later, Nurse Maggie leaves behind a legacy of compassion and care. She was an advocate for anyone in need and she worked diligently to show the love of God through her service to others. The following are anecdotes and fond memories of Nurse Maggie from some of the people that knew her.
Diana Rodriguez, LVN met Maggie in 2005. She recalls, “I quickly learned how well she was known by the staff at L.F.C.I.S.D. due to her willingness to help people and her compassion towards the students and parents. When we had children that were terminally ill, she would go visit them at home and make herself available to the parents if they needed anything. When the time would come and the child was very ill, she would stay with the family until the child would pass.” Diana adds, “To me she was more than a supervisor, she was a friend, always there to listen. Even when she was going through tough times she would still offer words of encouragement to others.”
Working with Maggie for the past 10 years, K. Hale, RN, noted, “Maggie Perez loved being a nurse. She took her profession and the care of her ‘babies’ very seriously. The students of L.F.C.I.S.D. were of primary importance in Maggie’s life, and she knew them well. If I ever had a problem getting a response or action from a parent or guardian, I had only to talk with Maggie about the situation. Invariably, she knew the family from the parents to aunts, uncles, grandparents, and sometimes even great-grandparents, and what their connections were in the community. She was wealth of knowledge and was always eager to pass it on to her peers.” Nurse Hale remembers Maggie always responding, “I am blessed!” whenever someone would ask how she was doing. “I am blessed that Maggie Perez touched my life, and I am a better person, a better nurse, for it. She set an excellent example of prudent, nurturing nursing care.”
Ronda Cantu, RN recalls when she visited Maggie shortly before her passing, “As she was lying in bed, she was still worrying about school and making calls. She told me to help her and tell everyone to listen to their bodies and get help before it was too late because Maggie always put her family, friends and school (the children) before her needs. Maggie was a giving nurse, a mentor and a true friend.”
Current L.F.C.I.S.D. Coordinator of Student Health Services, Diana Davis, RN notes, “Nurse Maggie was the Coordinator of Student Health Services for the school district and to her that meant not only the students but her nurses, school teachers, administrators and all of the other employees at the schools where her concern.” Nurse Davis adds, “Nurse Maggie was a member of TSNO and enjoyed the education and camaraderie from belonging to this organization.”
Region 1 Education Service Center Certified Prevention Specialist, Clara Contreras, remembers, “Ms. Maggie…ready to serve and step up to the plate, never saw problems, but challenges! She was a woman of faith, touched many and left her footprints behind. I remember a time when I could not find a CEU provider for the School Nurse Conference and I send out an email to the Nurse Coordinators in desperation, letting them know that we might not be able to provide that service after all! Ms. Maggie, being a woman of faith, called and said, ‘Don’t worry Clara, we are going to pray about it and God is going to grant us a miracle by Easter Sunday.’ Well, what do think? Of course our miracle was granted; with Ms. Maggie and her connections to the heavens, all things are possible. So thank you Ms. Maggie for the honor to witness your faith and your tenacity to life and giving unselfishly to the children and community in Los Fresnos and to your School Nurse peers in the region with training.”
Nurse Maggie will never be forgotten, but live forever in our hearts. Respectfully submitted by Isabel Zavala, RN- TSNO Region 1 President.
Texas School Nurses Organization Annual Conference
Friday, Nov 13, 2015, 08:00 AM
Sheraton Dallas Hotel, North Olive Street, Dallas, TX, United States
Every Voice Counts
Do you think your one voice can’t really make a difference in politics? That is what I thought until I went to ANA’s Nurse Day at the Capitol this past January. I have not been involved politically before except to vote and the occasional letter to US Congressmen. Texas Legislature is different than in Washington and I knew even less about their workings so I decided to go with two other colleagues to Austin.
The main activity when going to Nurse Day is to visit with your local Representative and Senator. For the most part ANA has made the appointments for you. Not everyone is lucky enough to speak directly to their Representative or Senator; many times you are seen by a legislative aide. There is nothing wrong with that. Their job is to listen to the constituents’ ideas, take notes and advise the elected officials.
I was fortunate enough to meet both my Representative and my Senator. They asked questions about health bills using my expertise as a nurse to describe why I supported certain bills and what my opinion was on others that I had not weighed in on. I followed up with both of them giving information I did not have with me that day and thanking them for their time. While I visited with my Representative, Angie Chen Button, she invited me to be on her Round Table for Health and Human Resources. I didn’t give it much more thought until several weeks later I was formally invited to the first set of Constituent Roundtables of 2015 while my Representative was in town.
The Roundtables focus on a variety of different topics and bring together those involved with the industry, local leaders, and concerned citizens to voice their opinions on each issue. Round-tables are open to the public with the only stipulation that you must either live or work in that particular House District. I learned a lot at that meeting as under Health and Human Resources fall things from disposal of animal remains and food inspections of home kitchen serving the public food to licensing for doctors. I met someone form the school board, the head of the local Health Department and business owners among others. The Round-tables are small, usually not more than 10 people. I was the only nurse there so I was asked to express my opinions on any of the bills, but was especially listened to concerning bills on immunizations, stock EpiPens, mental health and several more.
Texas Legislature spends only part of ½ year in Austin voting on bills and such. The other year and a half the legislatures can be found at their local offices. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce yourself and talk with your elected Texas legislatures. All of them have some kind of public hearings that you are free to attend. It doesn't matter if you voted for your official or not or belong to their political party. Few people go to these. Sometimes no one weighs in with their opinion on certain subjects. Your elected officials cannot know something about everything. So if their voters don’t have an opinion they think it isn't important. Every call, email, fax or personal letter sent to your representative or senator has to be logged in. Legislators detect and respond to your passion, so feel free to share personal stories about how the legislation affects your job/life.
If you do not know who your elected officials are go to this website and enter your address, it will give you their names and addresses. http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx
Don’t just complain about the government, get involved. It is your right and responsibility.
Kathy Powell MSCHA, RN, BSN, NCSN
Pearce School Nurse
Lunch & Learn: Strategies for Improving HPV Vaccine Uptake
Houston, TX
Join us April 23 for our Community Immunity Spring Luncheon, where keynote speaker Micah Kramer will share the unforgettable story of his daughter Chloe's hospitalization from the flu.
APRIL 23, 2015 AT 11:30AM TO 1:30PM, RIVER OAKS COUNTRY CLUB
Odessa, TX
MAY 28, 2015 AT 12PM TO 1:30PM | ODESSA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, 520 EAST 6TH STREET, ODESSA, TX 79761
Join The Immunization Partnership for this FREE provider education event, where participants will learn about:
- HPV-associated cancers and prevention, including information about the recently approved 9-valent HPV vaccine
- How providers, medical personnel, and other immunization stakeholders can give a strong recommendation that encourages HPV vaccine uptake
- A step-by-step guide on how to address concerns from patients or parents specific to HPV vaccination, including key talking points to share with patients and parents
Lunch will be provided for all registrants.
TSNO Executive Committee
PRESIDENT Francis Luna - Region X
PRESIDENT-ELECT Lisa Sicilio - Region 6
TREASURER Joan Cary - Region X
NASN DIRECTOR Laurie Combe - Region 4
SECRETARY/ EXHIBIT LIAISON Lisa Formby - Region 16
NOMINATIONS COORDINATOR Katie Morton - Region X
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Diane Hunt Bullard - Region 20 tsnornplanner@gmail.com
ADVOCACY CHAIR Julie Lindley - Region 11
SCHOOL HEALTH ISSUES Karen Schwind - Region 13
MEMBER SERVICES Linda Howard - Region 8
REGION PRESIDENTS COORDINATOR Ramon (Art) Oaxaca - Region 19
Email: lsicilio.tsno@gmail.com
Website: txsno.org
Location: Richardson, Tex, United States
Phone: (979) 694-5800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Texas.School.Nurses.Organization
Twitter: @TxSchlNurses