Wow, is summer over already? It seems we just had our "end of the year celebration". I hope that you have all had a very restful or adventurous (depending on what you consider fun) vacation. So as we get ready to take care of Ohio's children, I hope you have had a chance to recharge your batteries.

In order to turn this in to the newsletter on time for publication, I am actually writing to you in early August. At this point, I am looking forward to going back and taking care of "my kids". I also have an opportunity to speak to a parent group about the important contribution that sleep makes in a successful educational experience on the Saturday before school starts.

I am not going to list for you all of the activities that I, and the rest of the board, have been involved in, because I don't want to bog you down in detail. Rest assured, we have been busy! A couple of focus areas right now include:

1. A group working on getting "rules" written to the current medication in schools law. The current law has never had "rules" written (which is a little unusual), and this is an opportunity to get some safety measures entered into Ohio Revised Code when children are receiving medication at school from unlicensed providers.
2. The Governor's project on education reform is still in the midst of "town hall" type meetings across the state. There are many that are still coming up. I believe the last two are in Mahoning County on September 3rd, and in Richland County on September 15th. We have had a nurse or two at EVERY single meeting. Thanks to those who went and spoke up for children's health, and to Renee for organizing the volunteers. We must STAY engaged during this formative change process. Please read and respond to your alerts from OASN. E-mail is an excellent way to be heard, especially if sent early in the broadcast. E-mail from a parent would be even better. So far, the response has been positive, and I think this Governor truly strives to improve Education in Ohio.
3. We have a very brief phone survey coming up in November. We NEED YOUR HELP to make it a success. Your regional representative will be asking for volunteers to come to a training meeting the very first week of November. This is so survey takers can be trained to administer the survey. The more participants, the fewer calls each have to make. Larger regions should have at least 10 members helping (more is better). This is a one-time commitment and means a lot to the organization when we have to meet with legislators. The purpose of the survey is to get an EXACT count and snapshot of which districts do or do not have health services and WHO is providing those services. This can also help individual regions develop contacts to improve membership numbers.

If you would like to know more about a specific project or get involved, please attend any OASN Board meeting. These meetings are open to all members. I encourage you to talk to a regional rep about attending a board meeting or work group. Work groups for the next Board meeting on November 1st will include: Medication Rules committee, OASN Fitness contest committee (a new and exciting project, get in on the ground floor), training for regional reps for survey, finance committee and budget, and conference committee and endowment.

We have a lot more than two people to thank for the contribution they are making and have made to school nursing in Ohio. But, I would really like to say a hearty thank you to two of them, and I hope you will join me in making an effort to say thank you to them as well.

The first is:
Dorothy Bystrom from the Ohio Department of Health, who, if you have not yet heard, will retire as the Supervisor of the ODH School Nursing Program as of August 29th after 9 years of service at ODH. Dorothy has guided school nursing and been a strong voice for the best interest of the health of Ohio's school children. I know many of you will miss her dearly and remember calling to ask her advice and guidance many times. Of course the department and its great work will go on, but we will surely miss her expertise and sense of humor. You may still contact the school nursing program at ODH through the following e- mails: ann.connelly@odh.ohio.gov, janet.householder@odh.ohio.gov, or angela.norton@odh.ohio.gov. We will miss you Dorothy, but you have surely made your mark before retiring, and deserve a happy retirement.

The second is:
Renee Besecker, our Executive director of OASN, has had to work harder than I think we have ever had an executive director work before. Because of the great interest of the current Governor's Administration in Education reform, she has been diligent and relentless in attending meeting after meeting (sometimes on short notice) to keep our concern for the health of Ohio's school children to the forefront. Please thank her whenever you see her, or send her an e-mail to rjbesecker786@aol.com . She is also working multiple legislative issues and licensure issues, which are interlinked. Be assured that the voice of advocacy is alive and well in her. If it comes down to the "last man standing" for the health of our children, I know it will be Renee.

So, in closing, have an incredible year! Stay in touch through our fabulous web site at www.oasn.org and read and answer those e-mail alerts!

Respectfully submitted,

Deborah L. Strouse
OASN President

president@oasn.org

OASN Signs On!

Starting with this edition of the OASN Newsletter, we will be letting the membership know of letters of endorsement or support that OASN has provided to various agencies or groups whose work is in alignment with OASN's mission and have been approved by the OASN Board of Directors.

Endorsed - American Lung Association's campaign to correct the tobacco products tax inequality to fund tobacco prevention/cessation programs.
Agreed to Sponsor - Nurses Visit to the Statehouse, March 25th, 2009.
Support - Jan Lanier, candidate for State Representative, second district.
Support - Ohio Department of Health, Support for Building a Healthy Nation-Strategic Alliance for Health, CDC Grant.
Support - Healthy Families Act - A probable November ballot initiative as sufficient signatures have been collected, however, they are in the process of being validated by the Secretary of State's office. Initiative provides for seven paid sick days for businesses with 25 or more employees and use of sick days for prevention care. A compromise between the Governor and the authors of this initiative is also a possibility.

TIMELINE FOR EDUCATION REFORM IN OHIO: HOW SCHOOL NURSES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN FOR A WORLD CLASS PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

• Fall 2007 - OASN and other instructional support personnel invited to attend meeting with Governor Strickland to contribute ideas for education reform. We learn that the Governor wants Ohio to have a "world class public education system". OASN described how Coordinated School Health could make a positive difference in student and staff health.
• February 2008 - Governor Strickland outlines elements of his six point plan for public schools.
• May 2008 - Bi-weekly meetings of educator stakeholders begin and OASN is again at the table. Those in attendance at these meetings represent a wide spectrum of educators and others with vested interests in education, such as businesses. The facilitated meetings begin with the group thinking about what we would like a reformed system to look like. Ideas broad in scope and included anything that could be conceived relating to education. Stakeholders asked to submit an executive summary and to address nine policy points ( more specific than the six point plan for public schools). OASN submitted a document keying on safe and healthy schools. Each meeting has resulted in the narrowing down of key issues. As of the last meeting, the top four issues were: 1) focus on the learner; 2) focus on the teacher; 3) funding; 4) safe and healthy schools. Specifics related to each of these headings were identified. Under safe and healthy schools, ratios of students to support personnel; qualifications of support personnel; and enforcement of qualifications were listed.

• June 2008 - Governor's Summer Institute attended with President Deb Strouse and Lauren Brown. Dr Daniel Kim facilitated the daily meetings. He engaged the audience of about 300 educators and those with a vested interest in identifying our mission, vision, core values , and strategies for developing a creative and innovative educational system for Ohio. Deb, Lauren, and I tried hard to work the need for school nurses and school nursing into our conversations with others and seized every opportunity to talk with state school board members, superintendents, and others. The First Lady was often in attendance and joined in a skit put together by our work group (see picture above).
• July 2008 - Regional meetings and "watch" parties underway. OASN has been allotted one or two seats for the 12 counties where the regional meetings are to be held. These meetings will be live broadcasts on PBS hosted by Gov. Strickland. Enough school nurses have been recruited so that all 12 county regions will have the quota OASN has been allotted. I am pleased to say that not a single school nurse asked to attend, refused. School districts asked to put on their own "watch party". School nurses asked to engage parents, students in submitting supportive emails during the broadcasts. Facilitated meetings followed the broadcasts so there was opportunity to submit ideas even if audience members did not get a chance to speak.
• August - December 2008 - Regional meetings to continue until mid-September. Educator stakeholder meetings suspended until September when they will resume and continue through December or January. Governor Strickland promises to return to Ohio counties to discuss school funding. A plan for a "world class public education system" to be unveiled in 2009.

The SWOSNA board /transition meeting was held June 6, 2008 at the home of SWOSNA President Judy Marrinan in Beavercreek.

The officers for the 2008/2009 year are:
President - Judy Marrinan
President Elect - Crystal Thornton
Membership - Judy Ganguly
Treasurer - Cheri Hunkemoeller
Secretary - Marian Doukour
Newsletter - Peggy Brockmeier
OASN Rep - Jeanie Bochenek
Historian - Jenny Boles
Public Relations - Andrea Smalls
Webmaster - Juliet Kolde
Ways and Means - Kay Larson/Pat Roach

This year SWOSNA will be looking at the strategic plan of the organization as well as focusing on a year of rebuilding. SWOSNA membership has dropped for this year from 181 to 159 members. Currently, a needs/wants survey is being developed to find out how the organization can better meet the needs of the members (meeting times & places, topics, etc.).

SWOSNA is proud to announce that Kathy O'Dell has been chosen as a 2008 Cameos of Caring Recipient that is hosted by Wright State University in the fall.

The first SWOSNA Board Meeting for the 2008-2009 school year was held on August 12, 2008. The first general SWOSNA meeting has not been scheduled.

Jeanine Bocheneck
Representative to OASN

The NWOASN board conducted a business meeting on August 13, 2008. Board members are:

President: Denise Kaufman
Ways & Means: Mary Schwartz
President-Elect: Beth Roth
Membership: Ann Cipriani
Past President: Laurie Gladiuex
Newsletter: Mary Martin & Mary Beth Durbin
Secretary: Meg Sullivan
Website: Jan Overmeyer
Treasurer: Alice Bruning
Conference Chair: Maureen Knowles
OASN Rep: Marie Kraus

The Treasurer reported that there is a balance of $9843.54 in the checking and certificates of deposit accounts.

Membership lists a total of 99 NW members. Renewal notices will be sent by email in August. A follow up will be sent by U.S. mail by Sept 15th to those members who fail to renew with the initial email notice. The board also agreed to consistently apply the membership discount for NW continuing education offerings.

The website will be updated to include the new board members and the frequency of the newsletter.

The NW fall meeting will include a CE presentation on Cystic Fibrosis. The presentation and meeting will be conducted at Stone Oak Country Club on Thursday, October 9, 2008.

The deadline for the next Newsletter is September 1, 2008. Members are encouraged to send information to Mary Martin or Mary Beth Durbin.

Maureen Knowles (OASN VP) updated the board on conference planning. Committees are selected and in active stages of planning. The next conference- planning meeting will be August 18, 2008. Maureen advised the board of a scholarship for NW Ohio high school students from Promedica Health Corporation for developing healthy lunch menus. Information should be available on the Promedica website in the near future and through High School Guidance offices.

The OASN rep reported on the Board retreat from July. Regions will be surveying public school districts regarding school nursing services in their respective regions. Nancy Moska will be training OASN board members on implementing the survey at the Board meeting on November 1, 2008. The NW board agreed to assist with the survey and will meet on November 5th to receive further training and information on the survey.

Denise Kaufman and Marie Kraus attended the Governor's meeting in Lucas County on August 20th. Members were encouraged to email comments during the meeting.

The next meeting is scheduled for October 9, 2008 at the Stone Oak Country Club.

Respectfully submitted,
Marie Kraus, NW Rep

SE officers are:
President - Tammy Lorbach - Jackson Schools - Jackson County
Vice President - Angie Lewis - Rock Hill Schools - Lawrence County
Secretary - NONE at Present, but Treasurer may fulfill duty until someone steps up
Rachel Klaiber - Rock Hill Schools - Lawrence County
State Rep - Annette Scott - Ironton Schools - Lawrence County

Annette Scott attended the Educational meeting with Governor Strickland in Chillicothe at Ohio University, on August 12th. She represented the school nurses in the South East region and OASN. She was able to speak during the conversational section and stressed the need to have mandated school nurses and also spoke on the need to have support services (social workers, counselors, etc) the conversations can be heard at this web site: www.conversationoneducation.org

Welcome back to school!

Annette Scott, RN, BSN
SE representative to OASN

COASN invites all school nurses in our central Ohio counties to go to our website- www. coasn.org and sign up to join! Our membership fee includes three membership meetings a year for which you earn nursing CEU's. We will need the CEU's to renew our nursing license in 2009. The COASN board met July 31st, 2008 and made the following plans for this year. Please join us and meet your nursing colleagues in central Ohio!
Meeting Dates:
October 22 - Choice of Sports Medicine Review or Asthma Update at Villa Milano
January 22- Diabetes Update and "Hands on with various pumps" at Villa Milano
May 5- To be announced

Our Goals for 2008-2009 are:
1. COASN will increase membership from more counties within our COASN region.
2. COASN will offer more services to COASN membership.
3. COASN will participate in one to two community projects this year.

We are happy to say that eight COASN members attended the NASN conference this summer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. School nurses hearing the great topics presented were: from Columbus City Schools- Bev Carter, Kay Gordan, Judy Hicks, Debra Judy, Nancy Lynskey, Helen Schweitzer and Deborah Strouse as well as Joan Keith from Upper Arlington City Schools. We are proud to say that our OASN president, Deborah Strouse taught the NASN Disaster Preparedness Course during a pre-conference day. Also Joan Keith attended the Leadership Training pre- conference day at the request of our OASN board as she is OASN treasurer this year. They came back with a CD of the conference that you may borrow as a member of COASN.

Our COASN Board members and Committee Chairs for 2008-2009 are as follows:
President- Juanita Smith (Columbus City)
President Elect - Carol Lynne O'Neil (Columbus City)
Vice President -Programs - Debra Judy (Columbus City)
Treasurer - Laurie Tufts (Columbus City)
Secretary - Liz Jones (Columbus City)
OASN representative- Ann Underwood (Groveport Madison Local)
Fundraising- Chris Ungar (Olentangy Local)
Hospitality-Nancy Lynskey (Columbus City)
Newsletter - Debra Stoner (Hilliard City)
Membership- Nancy Click (Columbus City)
Research/Awards - Lynn DiLoreto (Urbana)
Library/Historian- Sharon Clay (Columbus City)
Public Relations- Barbara Snyder (Upper Arlington City)
Legislation - Kate King (Columbus City)
Webmaster - Ginny Black (Columbus City)

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Underwood, R.N. B.S.N.
COASN Rep. to OASN

Ten members of the NEOASN Board met for a dinner meeting on Thursday, July 10th to plan for the upcoming year. Our program chairs, Pam Katz and Rita Roth, are in the process of finalizing the date and speaker for our fall meeting. The proposed speaker is Dr. Tanya Edwards from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. She has an excellent presentation on integrative medicine and wellness. The meeting date is yet to be determined but our first choice is a Saturday morning in late October. An evening presentation would also be a possibility. If CEU's are not already available for her program through the Cleveland Clinic, the process needs to begin ASAP to arrange for them through OASN.

The winner of our $500 scholarship drawing for the NASN conference this year was unable to attend. Four additional members whose names were drawn as back-ups were also unable to attend, some due to short notice. This year the drawing will be held at the fall meeting rather than the spring meeting so that more time is allowed for the winner to plan their trip. A response deadline will be given so that if the winner is not able to attend, a replacement can be found in a reasonable timeframe.

The newsletter will no longer be mailed but will be available on the website with an e-mail alert to members when it is available. There are approximately 20 members who have not given an e- mail address who will still receive a copy by mail.

The current NEOASN Board members are:

President: Amy Anter
Past President: Elizabeth Anderson
President Elect: Deb Weisbarth
Vice President: Pam Katz
2nd Vice President: Rita Roth
Secretary: Cathy Fedor
Treasurer: Lisa Mason
OASN Rep.: Mary Massey
Membership: Chris Bell
Newsletter: Susan Inscore

Mary Massey
NE Rep. to OASN

The North West school nurses are hard at work planning the next State conference scheduled for March 27-29th at Sawmill Creek Lodge in Huron Ohio. Please stay tuned for great speakers with timely information you can put to use in your schools! Look for further information this fall on the OASN website: www.oasn.org.

Maureen Knowles
Vice president/OASN conference chair

I attended the 2008 NASN Pre-Conference leadership training and have a wonderful tip to pass on to all regions regarding building membership and meeting kids vision needs through partnering with community organizations. A Florida Association of School Nurses member shared an intriguing success story of how to meet the vision needs of children and obtain "grants" for non-member school nurses to join NASN/FASN!

She asked her local Lions Club if they would fund FASN/NASN memberships for each school nurse in her county, in turn, each nurse could then access the Sight for Students Program* and use the Vision Service Plan Gift Certificates (available to each NASN member). Previously many of her district's children were going without needed vision care. The great news is that the local Lions Club took her up on the offer and all of this county's School Nurses got their FASN/NASN memberships paid for, the Lions Club stretched their money for helping with kids vision needs and the needy kids received necessary vision care! A win- win for everyone! This Florida school nurse shared that the word spread and other organizations in surrounding Florida counties want to help, too!

Think about it. If OASN can access the same support from community organizations like these innovative school nurses in Florida, we, too, can partner with our community organizations to help stretch our budgets, build up our membership roster and most of all, find an EFFECTIVE resource for meeting kids vision needs while helping many families in need.

--- EXAMPLE: For the price of an active member status OASN/NASN membership $150.50, twenty five students could receive vision care. Let's use $100 for a vision exam and glasses for this example. Twenty five VSP Scholarships x 100 cost per child = $2500. Sponsoring organization cost for paying for School Nurse membership $150.50. Savings to sponsoring organization = $2500-150.50 = $2349.50. Now multiply these savings by the number of School Nurses needing help meeting kids needs!

I applaud these Florida nurses for sharing their success and challenge Ohio School Nurses to try new ways to work with their community organizations such as the one above to stretch today's shrinking dollars to meet our school children's needs.

Let me know your region's success stories!
Joan Keith
OASN treasurer
jkeith3647@att.net

*Sight for Students is a program founded by Vision Service Plan (VSP). The program provides vision exams and glasses to uninsured children across the country. NASN is a partner organization helping to locate those children in need. As a member of NASN, you can apply to VSP to participate in their program. Although NASN does provide the application on the NASN website, please know that the program is fully administered by VSP. All questions about the program should be directed to VSP. You can call them toll-free at 1-800-852-7600 or visit them on the web at www.sightforstudents.org. (source NASN website)

Our third annual Endowment Event, "A Tate of Ohio," was held on April 3rd, in conjunction with the annual OASN conference. The 37 attendees enjoyed a social evening of tasting local Ohio wines while feasting on a variety of cheeses and delicious Hors d'oeuvres. An informal fashion show was presented by the Shoppes at Sawmill Creek and many lovely pieces of apparel found new homes with OASN members! As a result of this event, the OASN Education and Research Endowment Fund now stands at $14,242.05. Many thanks to all who have contributed!

There will not be a "mass mailing" of donation pledge cards this fall, but the Board hopes that you will continue to make your donations via the OASN Website. Remember-credit cards are acceptable when using this method to donate. As soon as we have additional donor cards printed, they will be available at the regional meetings. Please see your regional representative at that time to obtain one. She should also be able to answer any questions you might have about the Endowment Fund, but remember that you may also contact me or any Board officer for additional information.

The OASN Educational and Research Endowment Fund supports the Pat Baum Educational Scholarship, the Carolyn Azbell Research Award and provides a lucky conference attendee who wins the NASN raffle, $500 to use toward expenses of attending the national conference. The criteria information and applications for the Educational Scholarship and the Research Award may be found at: www.oasn.org. Check it out!

Your Endowment Fund committee is already busy brainstorming for next year's event, so if you would like to share your ideas and/or assist with event planning, please contact us. In the meantime, please help our Fund to continue to grow by making your personal donation in an effort to show your support for school nursing in Ohio. Your donation meets the IRS's requirement of a non-profit donation and can therefore be considered a tax deduction!

Norma Nikkola, Endowment Chair
nnikkola@earthlink.net Donate online

Vice-President Opening for 2009-2011 Term

There will be an opening for the Vice-President position this Spring. Please be thinking of nominations or stepping forward to work with the dynamic, passionate group of school nurses presently serving OASN.

This position includes chairing the Conference Comittee. The nominee, or yourself, would work closely with committee members and the OASN Executive Director to plan the annual OASN conference. Maureen Knowles has done a wonderful job planning the 08 conference at The Lodge at Saw Mill Creek and I'm sure she'll bring us more great speakers and a wonderful time of networking for 09. So if you, or someone you know, wants to be part of an awesome team advocating for school nurses, please email me at presidentelect@oasn.org.

Thanks!
Eva Garchar RN, MSN, NCSN
President-Elect

I am in awe of what the NASN does for school nurses!! They are a hard working group of women and men dedicated to the health of our nation's children. This board meeting was my first and I was humbled at the workings of this great organization. Some highlights of the board of directors meeting and the NASN task forces that I was assigned to are as follows:

• I was assigned to the task force that is to strengthen affiliate organizations. NASN with the input of this group is going to revamp the CD entitled "You Can't Afford to Not Have a School Nurse". There will also be a PowerPoint developed for states to use that show the benefits of membership. More information on this will be coming with greater use of the "members only" section of the NASN website.
• The other task force that I was assigned to looked into talking points for communicating with school boards and other policy makers. This group dovetailed into the other group's idea of revamping the same CD. A motion was made and passed for funding to do this project.
• NBCSN status has increased with accreditation given by the ANA. Now to be NCSN you are recognized along with 40 other nursing specialties. AND to help with studying for the national certification test there is a new book that was just published, School Nursing Certification Review. I purchased a copy to loan to interested school nurses in my region and would challenge other regions to do the same. National certification verifies your expertise!!
• The biggest news is the H.R.6201. This is called the Student to School Nurse Improvement Act of 2008 or the Ratio Bill. As we hear more about this bill we will be asked to notify our congressman to support the bill. The entire conference had the opportunity to wear stickers in support of this bill.
• The discontinuing of the School Nurse of the Year and School Nurse Administrator of the Year at the national level drew so much discussion that it has been tabled until the January meeting. In the mean time a committee is looking into the pros and cons of this action.
• The NASN Journal has a new publisher-SAGE. You will notice a different format and look beginning in August 2008.

Sincerely,

Kathy Inderbitzin, RN, BSN, MEd.

Ohio School Nurses Attend National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico

During the past ten years there has been a dramatic rise in childhood obesity and the associated physical, mental, emotional, psychological and economic consequences. NASN has developed this program for school nurses in an effort to provide strategies to address the assessment, treatment and prevention of childhood obesity and the management of children with Type 2 Diabetes.

S.C.O.P.E. is a comprehensive, live, full day education program offering 6 Continuing Nursing Education contact hours upon its completion. Topics include: Identifying the most current assessment techniques for determining overweight and obesity by using the BMI measurement; identifying evidenced based prevention and treatment methods that work in schools; receiving documents that may be used to communicate screening results to both families and health care providers; relating ways to promote a healthier lifestyle to students, staff and parents; the necessity to build community relationships and resources to address this problem; identifying the cause, prevalence, assessment, treatment and prevention of Type 2 diabetes in children and identifying the role of the school nurses in the assessment and management of children with the condition and an overview of hypertension.

The course materials that attendees receive include: a course notebook, BMI wheel, BMI Index charts, and introductory letters for parents, referral forms for health care providers, blood pressure tables and numerous resources related to healthy lifestyles.

I would strongly recommend this course to any school nurse who may have the opportunity to attend.

Norma Nikkola RN, MS

Snus: Another Deadly Tobacco Product

What is snus?
Snus (sounds like "snoose") is a smokeless tobacco product, similar to snuff and chewing tobacco. The moist, ground tobacco often comes in small teabag- like pouches that are placed between the cheek and gums. Snus are flavored, scentless, spitless tobacco. With a variety of flavors (original, frost, and spice), snus appears strikingly similar to chewing gum.

Who uses snus?
Designed to eliminate the need to spit, snus has become an attractive product to youth in schools and other settings where smoking is prohibited. In general, tobacco use is higher among male students for all products except cigarettes.

• Smokeless tobacco use is higher among male high school students (13.4%) than female students (2.3%)
• 7.9% of high school students and 2.8% of middle school students are current smokeless tobacco users
• 10.3% of white high school students, 4.7% of Hispanic high school students, and 1.2% of blackhigh school students are current smokeless tobacco users

• oral cancer
• pancreatic cancer
• gum disease
• sores and spots on mouth