Texas School Nurses Organization

President's Message

Looking back on 2018, I was surprised to realize that I have traveled over 8,300 miles on behalf of Texas School Nurses just since January giving my voice and presence to advocate for school nurses and the children we serve. And that was just me. Collectively all of us have, no doubt, traveled countless miles, collaborating and networking with the goal of making sure that we are expertly caring for our students with professional and evidence-based practice.

As you prepare for a new school year, I urge you to review the Code of Ethics and School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice. Our students and school communities expect that we are competent and professional. These foundational documents serve as our minimum level of competence. Being a school nurse can often feel like we are on an island where no one speaks our language. Don’t do this alone. If you are not a member of NASN/ TSNO, I encourage you to belong. Be a part of the support and network that extends throughout Texas and across the nation. As we enter a legislative year, adding your voice to over 2,300 Texas school nurses who are already members can only make us stronger.

I encourage you to step up and embrace your leadership role. John C. Maxwell said that “Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flow charts. It is about one life influencing another”.

Take the time to view the YouTube Ted Talk below - "Every kid needs a champion" with Rita Pierson.

"Every kid deserves a champion; an adult who will not give up on them, someone who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be".

This year- Be a CHAMPION!

Sláinte (health) to you,

Lisa Sicilio, MEd, BSN, RN, NCSN

What is Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?

"The most common definition of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is from Dr. David Sackett. EBP is “the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient. It means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.” (Sackett D, 1996) EBP is the integration of clinical expertise, patient values, and the best research evidence into the decision making process for patient care. Clinical expertise refers to the clinician’s cumulated experience, education and clinical skills. The patient brings to the encounter his or her own personal preferences and unique concerns, expectations, and values. The best research evidence is usually found in clinically relevant research that has been conducted using sound methodology. (Sackett D, 2002)"

NASN's 2018 Back-to-School Office

Make sure you check out NASN's 2018 Back-to-School Interactive Health Office. Just move your cursor over items to reveal links to resources and programs.

While you're there, look at the checklists and templates from NASN. Click on the images to enlarge or download. Also offered by NASN is a template letter from the school nurse regarding back-to-school vaccinations.

And, from the American Lung Association, a Back to School with Asthma Checklist.

Mental Health First Aid

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.

Mental Health First Aid teaches about recovery and resiliency – the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better and use their strengths to stay well.

The Mental Health First Aid Action Plan

Assess for risk of suicide or harm
Listen non-judgmentally
Give reassurance and Information
Encourage appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help and other support strategies

Endometriosis

School Nurses, who are on the front lines of care, can be the first ones to notice students who have repeat menstrual pain and other related symptoms. There are resources for nurses to help those suffering with endometriosis to be empowered with more support. Endometriosis can significantly impact a young woman's ability to attend school as well as attend social events. It truly impacts every aspect of her life. Educating and empowering women truly makes a difference when battling such a devastating disease. School Nurses are great partners to impact change.

Endo What - Nurse's Toolkit attached below.

Endometriosis prevalence:

https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/28/8/2026/661259

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12742180

Here is a great article talking about our work and the push to help adolescents with endometriosis:

https://www.mdedge.com/obgynnews/article/167038/gynecology/push-recognize-endometriosis-adolescents

NASN 2018 - Power of the Past, Celebrate the Present, Force of the Future

NASN is celebrating 50 years of supporting school health and school nurses! At the June NASN conference in Baltimore, NASN begins a year-long 50th-year celebration. Begin by reading the first open-access article in the NASN School Nurse magazine which explores the history of NASN’s first 25 years. It reveals the solid foundation of our national organization and the school nursing leadership in having a voice, being recognized and to support student health. NASN continues its celebration by posting NASN affiliate blogs and stories from nurses across the nation. TSNO school nursing is also rich with a mighty past. You can read it here along with other affiliates.

Another exciting and new initiative was unveiled at the NASN conference. The new national data collection initiative, Every Student Counts has been posted on the NASN website under the research tab. Every Student Counts is designed to capture school health data that can influence local, state and national school health policy. I challenge you to obtain your school district's school health data for this upcoming school year. More information will follow from NASN and TSNO about this initiative, so stay tune.

Data increases knowledge and changes attitude. “Reform can be accomplished only when attitudes are changed.” –Lillian Wald, founder of school nursing

Be that transformational school nurse leader in the advancement of school health and school nursing.

In your service,

Francis Luna, BSN, RN, NCSN

NASN-TX Director

Creating a School-Wide Culture of Wellness

"Wellness is determined in great part by where children live, learn, and grow. Recognizing this, schools across the country are collaborating to create a culture of wellness that extends beyond the health clinic walls into school hallways, classrooms, cafeteria, teachers’ lounges, and campus spaces.

Over the course of four years, and with funding from Kaiser Permanente, the School-Based Health Alliance joined with 13 established school-based health care programs across the nation in an initiative we call Hallways to Health. In common cause with students and families, the school-based health centers, community health organizations, and schools created coalitions of stakeholders including teachers, school administrators, student support professionals, medical and behavioral health professionals. Our aim: to create and foster the systemic conditions—values, beliefs, norms, policies, practices, programs, services, and partnerships—that promote health and enable ALL children to thrive in the classroom."

KIDS COUNT

Kids Count provides state legislators, public officials and child advocates with the reliable data, policy recommendations and tools needed to advance sound policies that benefit children and families.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation today warned policymakers and child advocates of troubling consequences for the nation’s kids with the likely undercount of about 1 million children under age 5 in the 2020 census, as the Foundation released the 2018 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, its annual look at child well-being in the United States.

Texas has an over ranking of 43. See the attached Texas profile.

Children's Safety Network

The Children’s Safety Network works with state and jurisdiction Maternal & Child Health and Injury & Violence prevention programs to create an environment in which all children and youth are safe and healthy. Our goal is to equip states and jurisdictions to strengthen their capacity, utilize data and implement effective strategies to make major reductions in injury-related deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits.

Check out their website to find resources for data, fact sheets, infographics, webinars. The tab for Injury Prevention Topics has a wealth of evidence-based information all in one place.

School Nurses have the Power to Prevent HPV

You have the power to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) cancers and pre-cancers among patients in your care. HPV cancer prevention starts with you.

Download Your Action Guide here!

Looking for more quick tips? Try this CDC 5 Ways to Boost Your HPV Vaccination Rates

CDC's How I Recommend HPV Vaccination Video Series are also a great resource.

Sesame Street in Communities

https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/ has great resources providers and parents need to help the children in your care.

Foundations for Student Success

How School Buildings Influence Student Health, Thinking and Performance

In our new report, the Schools for Health team illuminate how the school building influences the student's health, thinking and performance. The report incorporates findings from over 200 research studies and considers over 70 health outcomes related to school buildings.

2018-2019 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students in Grades K-12

2018-2019 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students in Grades K-12

The 2018-2019 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students in Grades K-12 are now available.

2018-2019 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Child-Care Facilities

The 2018-2019 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Child-Care Facilities are now available.

Strategies to Improve Vaccination Rates: Webinar Series

Hello partners,

The Immunization Partnership and the Texas Department of State Health Services Immunization Unit are excited to announce a webinar series this fall focused on strategies to improve vaccination rates. Register below for each webinar.

Strategies For Increasing Pregnant Women's Vaccination Rates In Texas
Wednesday, August 15, 2018, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT
1. Review adult vaccination coverage in Texas.
2. Discuss vaccines recommended for women during pregnancy.
3. Describe recommended strategies for improving vaccine coverage in pregnant women.
Register here

Strategies For Promoting Vaccines In Texas And Educating The Public Regarding Vaccine Safety
Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT
1. Review vaccination rates in Texas.
2. Explain strategies to improve vaccination coverage.
3. Discuss the most common myths associated with vaccination and what science says about them.
Register here

Strategies For Increasing Vaccination Rates For First Responders In Texas
Wednesday, October 17, 2018, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT
1. Review adult vaccination coverage in Texas.
2. Discuss the changing environment for adult immunizations.
3. Describe recommended strategies for improving vaccine coverage in first responders.
Register here

Power of the Purse

Power of the Purse is TSNO's state conference community fundraiser in which all proceeds will benefit City House.

The mission of City House is to provide emergency shelter and transitional residential services to at-risk children and young adults who are in need due to abuse, neglect or homelessness.

Purse Donation:To make the silent auction process run smoothly, we will be collecting information electronically on your donations. Buy your purse, go to Power of the Purse "Sign up". You will have the opportunity to give a description and value of each purse. Please indicate if you are mailing or bringing to conference your donation.

Please bring your purse for donation to the conference registration desk by Friday, Nov 9th or mail them along with your name, value and description of the purse to:

Texas School Nurses Organization, Inc.

819 W. Arapaho Rd., Suite 24B, #345

Richardson, TX 75080

Time to Plan is Now

Excellence in School Nursing Poster Showcase

Please share your best practices with your fellow nurses. We want to showcase the ideas and programs that our varied and talented nurses across the state use in their practice at our Annual Conference in November in Plano. LVN abstracts must be co-authored by an RN. See "Poster Presentation - What, Why & How To", attached below.

SAVE THE DATE: TSNO 16th Annual Conference School Nurses: Practice with Purpose, Professionalism, & Passion

When

Saturday, Nov. 10th, 8am to Sunday, Nov. 11th, 2pm

Where

7121 Bishop Road

Plano, TX

More information

This CNE activity is being jointly provided by Children’s Health collaboratively with Texas School Nurses Organization.

Children’s Health is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Texas Nurses Association - Approver, an accredited approver with distinction, by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Contact hours will be awarded.

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