The ESC Region 11 Stethoscope
The Ears of the School Nurse
April 2023
"Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death."
— Albert Einstein
This year has me entering my second year of school nursing, and I have learned so much. The amount of courage and knowledge you have in your clinic astounds me daily. I am proud to know so many wonderful nurses.
Even in the last two years, school nursing has changed (for the better in some ways), and I see you all adapt and learn to provide your students with better care and increased help with mental health. I know several districts have implemented telemedicine, and I see how it has positively impacted your school. Keep up the professional growth — we all benefit from it!
— Tyfani
School Nurse Huddle
Email us with any questions!
Shelby — slampley@esc11.net
Tyfani — turrutia@esc11.net
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2023, 02:00 PM
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APRIL AWARENESS MONTHS
911 Education Month
Meet Cell Phone, Sally — she teaches kids when/how to dial 9-1-1 for help.
Abbey Dudek is the Tarrant County District Communicator for 9-1-1. She has created an education program for students in 2nd-4th grade called Safety Smart Rally. This year's calendar is full; however, she has started booking for next year, so don't wait if you want her to present to your students. She can be reached at adudek@tc911.org, 817-820-1189 (office), or 682-215-2002 (cell).
How and when to teach a child to call/dial 911
- Parents.com has a great read about how and when to teach children about 911.
- A book called Impatient Pamela calls 9-1-1. Youtube has a reading of it for you, too!
- Kidshealth.org — Teach your child how to use 911
- Verizon wireless — Teach children how to dial 911
Autism Awareness Month
- According to the CDC, about one in 36 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- ASD is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
- ASD is more than four times more common among boys than among girls
- About one in six children, ages 3-17, were diagnosed with a developmental disability. These included autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, blindness, and cerebral palsy, among others.
- CDC Data
Honestly, we are all a little on the spectrum. Be nice. Be understanding. Learn what you can do to help your students.
Resources
- Fact sheet English
- Fact sheet Spanish
- Texas Health and Human Services
- Role of a Nurse from Philadelphia Children's Hospital
Education opportunity
This module aims to equip Texas Health Steps providers and others to recognize autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents and to provide guidelines for diagnosis, referral, and continuity of care in a primary care setting.
Child Abuse Month
National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect is held virtually over two weeks in April 2023. This will offer a unique opportunity for thought leadership and action-oriented dialogue around the theme of this year's conference. "Doing Things Differently: Moving from the challenge to the Change."
Dates: April 11-13 and 18-20, 2023 — More information and link to register.
Additional Resources
- National Child Abuse Prevention — link for more information
- Recognizing signs of child abuse — link from DSHS
- Educators Guide from — TEA
- Children's Advocacy Center of Texas — link for information
Stress Awareness Month
There are three types of stress:
- Acute Stress — usually brief, most common, and frequent, caused by reactive thinking.
- Episodic Acute Stress — People who frequently have acute stress and lives present frequent triggers of stress.
- Chronic Stress — The most harmful type of stress that can deteriorate your mental and physical health.
Ways to help manage stress:
- Exercise — 20-30 minutes of walking can help reduce stress, get your mind off the stress, and has other health benefits.
- Relaxation — more challenging than it sounds, I know. Try to learn to incorporate some relaxation techniques into daily life, like meditation, journaling, yoga, or breathing exercises.
- Have fun! — spending quality time with family and friends, watching your favorite show, or just something that helps to distract you for a little bit.
- Doctor visits — They can help assist you on your path to decreasing your stress.
- Eat well — The gut and brain are connected; you eat poorly and feel bad. Keeping your gut healthy makes your brain healthy and happy!
- Sleep and Rest — Try to disconnect from technology one hour before bed, try relaxation techniques, and see how you feel after a few weeks.
Combating your stress:
- Recognize what you can't control and let it go.
- Try not to get anxious about situations that are out of your control.
- Shift your focus to things you can change. (You can't change that you have a flat tire and will be late, but you can change how you handle the stress). Start with small changes in your focus, then move to bigger things.
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Conference Opportunities
MSNAA Spring Conference
Time: Breakfast 7:45 a.m.
Conference 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: McKinney ISD | 4201 S. Hardin Blvd. | McKinney, TX | 75070
Registration: Link
Please sign up as soon as possible. Breakfast and lunch are provided.
Texas School Safety Conference
TSSC is hosting their conference themed Developing School Safety leaders, June 18-22, 2023
in San Antonio.
Register by May 26, 2023, to receive a discount.
Link to register and more information
SHARS 2023 Conference
Thursday, May 4, in-person only
Pre-conference: noon - 4:00 p.m.
Networking event: 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Friday, May 5, hybrid
Conference 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Texas School Nurse Administrators Association
Live by Loews | Arlington Texas
DFW — June 11-13, 2023
For Eventbrite Registration Link, email TSNAA.exec@gmail.com.
Texas Tobacco-Free Conference
When: Sunday, July 23- Wednesday, July 26
Where: Double Tree by Hilton Austin | 6505 N. IH 35 | Austin, TX 78752
Registration link. Log on to also view more information.
Texas State School Safety Center
To request a kit!
TSNO Conference 2023
School Nurses Leading the Way
November 4-5, 2023
Embassy Suites, San Marcos, TX
Registration is coming soon — mark your calendars.
National Association of School Nurses (NASN)
Building for the Future: Health, Advocacy, and Leadership
In-Person • June 30-July 3, 2023
Preconference June 29, 2023
Orlando, Florida
Virtual • July 10- July 12, 2023
For more information, visit NASN.org for rates and bundle options.
Connecting Families and Communities using Culturally Congruent Approach
Visit UT Health for more information.
Trends in opioid use and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) rates have increased.
Educating healthcare providers in using evidence-based methods for screening, identifying, and managing substance use disorders in women is critical for addressing gaps in knowledge and supporting healthy outcomes for mothers and infants affected by NAS.
When: June 25-27, 2023
June 25 • Pre-Conference sessions — $35/ea Link
June 26-27 • Symposium — $75 Link
Location: Corpus Christi | Omni Hotel Link
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CEU Opportunities
Low Cost CEUs
April 25, 2023
Virtual School Nursing Professional Development Series
Skin Diseases and Rashes
Time: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Cost: $5.00
Contact Hour: 1
Human Trafficking for Providers (Virtual Course)
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $10.00
Contact Hours: up to 1.5
May 16, 2023
Virtual School Nursing Professional Development Series
Orthopedic injuries
Time: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Cost: $5.00
Contact Hour: 1
Virtual School Nursing Professional Development Series
Allergies and Anaphylaxis
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $5.00
Contact Hour: 1
Website to sign up for courses
HHS Learning Portal
The HEART training teaches healthcare practitioners how to identify and respond appropriately to protentional human trafficking victims in healthcare settings using victim-centered approach practices and trauma-informed care principles.
Contact Hours: 1.5
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WEBINARS
Free Webinar
When: April 6
Time: 4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
Contact Hours: 1.25
Where: Live webinar
Objectives
- Current trends in alcohol use by adolescents
- Science-supporting interventions to reduce alcohol misuse
- Specific evidence-based interventions
Free: Evaluating a Newly Developed Tool to Assess Students who are Experiencing Homelessness
Free — 1.0 CE
Objectives:
- Describe how homelessness is a key predisposing factor directly affecting students' health and well-being.
- Identify key elements of a newly developed tool to identify and assess the needs of students experiencing homelessness.
- Describe the usability of the newly developed Homelessness assessment tool.
Link to register
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TRAININGS
DITEP Training
We have the class for you!
Join us on April 18 and 19 at ESC Region 11 for a free two-day course on DITEP training.
It is 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. You must attend both days to receive credit. Lunch will be provided.
Use this link to register to ensure you receive credit and get your certificate of completion.
The deadline to register is 04/13/2023.
Please email me once you signup turrutia@esc11.net
There is ONE spot left — Sign up before it is gone!
Ascender Health — End-of-Year Training
Agenda: Learn how to run end-of-year reports in Ascender and gather data for the screening reports due in June!
Link to register
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REPORTING
Vision, Hearing, and Spinal Screening Reporting Period is open
Reporting began January 15, 2023, and closes June 30, 2023.
Submit to DSHS through the Child Health Reporting System (CHRS). You'll need to log in and submit through the link. Late reporting is not accepted. I would only submit it once you are out of school to ensure you do not get a new student, but you can log your information and save then go back and change it as needed. Once you submit it, it cannot be changed or altered. Do not submit until you are ready. We strongly recommend waiting until school is out for the summer.
More information — Link
Children's Health Annual Event
When: April 14
Time: 6:30 - 11:00 p.m.
Enjoy shorter lines and lots of fun! The annual event benefits Children's Health.
Tickets cost $50. Purchase parking in advance online and receive a $5 discount.
Link to purchase tickets online
Questions? Email sixflags@childrensauxiliary.org.
Tickets can also be purchased at select Tom Thumb stores for a discounted price!
Locations below:
- Tom Thumb — 7000 Snider Plaza | Dallas, TX | 75205
- Tom Thumb — 7117 Inwood Road | Dallas, TX | 75209
- Tom Thumb — 3757 Forest Lane | Dallas, TX | 75244
- Tom Thumb — 4001 Villanova Drive | Dallas, TX | 75225
- Tom Thumb — 5809 East Lovers Lane | Dallas, TX | 75206
- Tom Thumb — 3878 Oak Lawn Avenue | Dallas, TX | 75219
- Tom Thumb — 1501 Pioneer Road, Mesquite | TX | 75149
- Tom Thumb — 7700 Northwest Highway | Dallas, TX | 75041
System of Care (Project T.H.R.I.V.E.)
When: May 20th
Time: 9:00 a.m. - noon
Where: Weatherford College
225 College Park Dr. | Weatherford, TX | 76068
They will have a variety of services offered. A formal flyer will be out soon.
Please print and place it where your families can see it and hopefully attend.
Here is also information on Childhood Suicide Prevention: Resources for Elementary School Personnel and Parents/Caregivers.
Continuous Medicaid Coverage ended March 31, 2023
Child Advocacy Day!
In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Our ESC counselors are excited for "Round 2" of their Child Advocacy Day on April 11 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Dallas Children's Advocacy Center will join that day in sharing information on reporting child abuse and internet safety. They are super excited about the poverty simulation that will also take place that day. We encourage you to invite all educators out to take part in this day, as we feel everyone will walk away reignited.
The cost is $25, and lunch will be provided.
Registration Link — Spots are limited!
Eye Injuries
This is a good read/refresher on how to care for an eye injury.
Thank you, Amy, for this find!
DSHS Skilled Procedures
Cook's School Nurse Resource
- Continuing Education
- School Nurse Advisory Council
- Resources for students and family
North Texas Poison Center
You can request FREE materials HERE. Several education classes are available and offer CEUs for nurses and Health and Community Fair Options.
- Liz Petty — Public Health Education Manager | lizbeth.petty@phhs.org.
- Anelle Menendez — Clinical Educator | anelle.menendez@phhs.org.
The resources they have are great. I definitely recommend taking a look at what they can offer.
Lego Land Braille Bricks
Thank you, Allison — this is neat!
CPR training from home
- Two-year certification
- Interactive, remote, online learning
- Hands-on skills training
- Live instructors provide real-time feedback
Link for more information
Discuss with your manager or organization — I know some places only want CPR certification from AHA.
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Updates
Link with new information from DSHS
Lilly Investors cut insulin prices.
Read the article and when it comes into effect. Link
Severe strep on the rise
Symptoms to note:
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- chills
- weakness
- lightheadedness
- confusion with the above symptoms
I also learned this week that pain in one leg in children could also mean strep!
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Tyfani Urrutia — ESC Region 11 Nurse Manager
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Email: turrutia@esc11.net
Website: www.esc11.net/nurse
Location: 1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX, USA
Phone: 817-740-7655