Texas School Nurses Organization
September 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.
Member Notification of Proposed Bylaw Change - to be voted on by the general membership at the Annual Business Meeting, November 15
Candidate for Secretary- Sarah Batson
Present work position
I have been a school nurse at Shallowater ISD since 2008. During that time, I have taken care of our youngest friends (Grades PK-1) at Shallowater Elementary. I am currently the only full time RN at our district, so I am available to all schools if they need me.
Education
I am a Registered Nurse, graduate of Covenant (formerly Methodist) School of Nursing in Lubbock in 2006. I completed most of my pre-requisites at South Plains College in Levelland. I also completed 14 credit hours towards my nursing degree at Frenship high school which is where I attended grade school K-12.
Professional Organizations and any offices held
As soon as I became a school nurse I started looking for education in this field, because as you know, it is a very specific field of nursing. Of course I came upon Region 17 TSNO, which was already a wonderfully established sub-organization of TSNO. I became quickly involved and in a couple years, was nominated for president elect. I was in fact elected and held that position for two consecutive years (2011-12 & 2012-13) before I took the office of President of Region 17 TSNO from April 2013-14. While representing Region 17 TSNO as president elect, our organization took on the role of planning a two day summer school nurse conference, which has continued annually since 2012. Of which, for the last two years, I have been the conference coordinator.
Work experience
When I graduated nursing school in 2006, I went straight to work in the Medical ICU at University Medical Center in Lubbock, TX. I had been working there as a nurse aid/tech, so I slid right in. I absolutely loved it! I was so intrigued by having to really look at a sick patient and study/follow their lab work, heart rhythm, nutrition and any other details that would paint me a picture of their WHOLE self. I became a preceptor there in 2008, but the Lord was calling my name in a different direction! I was a mommy of two beautiful boys and at that time they were ages 1 and 5. That meant my oldest was about to start kindergarten. With my husband and I both working as nurses (12 hr shifts), I really started feeling the pull to be a better mommy to my boys, perhaps I needed to open a new chapter to my nursing career with a job that offered more appropriate “mommy hours”. I had honestly never thought about school nursing, but God literally opened door after door after door, and I was intelligent enough to run through them and find this amazing and rewarding career, which I love equally to how much I adored the ICU (which I never thought could happen).
Statement as a Candidate for the office of Secretary
There are many reasons I would like to serve as the secretary for Texas School Nurse Organization! First, because I know firsthand how helpful and comforting it was for me when I found the endless networking capabilities I had once I became involved with TSNO. It was such a relief to meet and be able to ask questions to nurses who could provide me with such a wealth of knowledge, and I want to be able to give back to the organization that has helped and continues to help me succeed in my career. I also love surrounding myself with nurses in my peer group. To talk with sisters and brothers in your field of nursing is both humbling and empowering all at the same time, and I just want to maximize my experiences with other school nurses across our great state! I also feel like I have a lot of experience in planning and ideas for conference. Although I still know I have MUCH to learn, I know that if I’m not stretching myself, I’m not growing myself, and I have always been determined to be the best nurse I can be to my community and my students, not just here in my small community, but all across our state!
Candidate for Secretary- Adalia del Bosque
Present Work Position:
McAllen ISD Director of Health Services
Education:
Pan American University - Associative of Science in Nursing
University of Texas Pan American - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
University of Texas Brownsville - Master of Science Nursing
Professional Organizations and any offices held:
· American Heart CPR Instructor
· Vision and Hearing Instructor
· Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Other Experience, Professional Memberships & Honors:
· National School Nurse Organization
· Texas School Nurse Administrator Alliance Organization
· Texas School Nurses Organization
· Texas School Nurses Organization- Region One Member
· TSNO Region 1; Vice-President 2006, President –Elect 2007, President -2008
· Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International
· National Award for Voices of Meningitis Challenge 2010 - Vaccinate Before You Graduate Vaccination Campaign
· Awards for Excellence in Texas School Health 2012- Discovery Award “Improving Asthma Knowledge in Schools”
· South Texas Immunization Coalition Committee Member
· Asthma Coalition Project Committee Member
· American Heart Association Board of Directors
· American Cancer Association Board of Directors/ Relay For Life
· South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association Board of Directors Member
· American Diabetes Association
· March of Dimes Executive Committee
· Texas School Nurses Organization “Voices of Meningitis”
· Region One - Educational School Nurse Conference
· IZSA Immunize San Antonio Bexar County’s Immunization Collaborative
Statement as a Candidate for the office of Secretary
I believe school nursing is about opportunity, change, teaching, and making a difference while working with children and those who care for them. In my 27 years as a school nurse, I have served as a school nurse in all three grade levels, Wellness Specialist, and currently the Director of Health Services. I have become an advocate for my students, their families, and the community by instituting interventions to protect, promote and optimize their health and safety, thus improve learning in the educational setting. I have the genuine desire and passion to help students knowing that every child is unique and therefore ultimately guiding me to make a difference one child at a time. I have been an avid advocate and member of NASN, TSNO as well as at the local level. If elected as secretary I pledge to do my best to honor the responsibilities and duties of secretary.
Thank you for your vote! Voting is now CLOSED.
Register Now for the annual TSNO Conference!
The 2015 TSNO Annual Conference Brochure is now available for download. Click here for conference details. Hope to see you in Dallas - November, 13-15
Registration is now available.
Texas School Nurses Organization Annual Conference at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel
Friday, Nov 13, 2015, 08:00 AM
Sheraton Dallas Hotel, North Olive Street, Dallas, TX, United States
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
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