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BREAKING NEWS! | |
"NCSN"
Designation Recognized by NEA & AFT | |
(See article link "NCSN Recognition" below) |
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2011 OASN Annual Conference!!!!
Mar. 3-6, 2011
"The Art & Science of School Nursing in the 21st Century"
Special Events......
NASN Executive Director, Amy Garcia, keynote speaker!!!
Possible pre-conference session on Thur. nite!
Endowment Event on Friday nite---"A Night at the Museum"
(see article below)
Break-out sessions on Sat. afternoon are medical/nursing care simulations
Special track on Sunday morning....NASN Module "Managing Asthma Triggers"
If you aren't a member of OASN, you'll want to join now to avoid paying more for the conference. | |
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| Board of Director | | |
Advocacy Committee
Executive Director-Renee Besecker
Eva Garchar- President
Public Relations Committee
Public Relations Director-Heidi Steiner
pr@oasn.org
Membership Director-Dawn Abbott
Membership@oasn.org
Programs and Resources Committee
Conference Director-Kathy O'Dell
Newsletter Director- Judy Marrinan
Librarian/Historian-Joyce Ferguson
Website Director-Juliet Kolde
Professional Issues Committee
Research Director- Nancy Mosca
Professional Issues Director- Susan Praeger
OASN Education and Research Endowment Advisory Committee
Endowment Director-Norma Nikkola
Awards Director-Mary Massey
Finance Committee
Finance Director- Joan Keith
Nominations Committee
Nominations Director-
Kate King
REGIONAL PRESIDENTS Central Carol Lynne O'Neil East Northeast Debbie Weisbarth Northwest Beth Roth Southeast Tammy Lorbach Southwest Kathy Dafler
The OASN Newsletter is published four times a year as a service to OASN members. Articles, questions and comments should be submitted to the editor at: newsletter@oasn.org
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President's Message
Dear School Nurse Colleagues,
The hustle and bustle of the beginning of the school year has finally eased, our care plans are in place, our immunization reports are in, and our screenings are underway. Our work is ongoing, but now at a more manageable pace. Each and every day we continue keeping our students at school- healthy and safe. What an affirmation we receive day in and day out of a job well done!
Moving forward we will soon see some legislative additions to our work and practice. The State Board of Education has approved and adopted the school nurse wellness coordinator endorsement to a professional pupil services school nurse license.
Effective: 10/23/2010 http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/3301-24-05
"A school nurse wellness coordinator endorsement may be added to a professional pupil services school nurse license, or to a professional or permanent school nurse certificate, following completion of an approved program of preparation for the endorsement, and upon evidence of three years of successful experience as a licensed school nurse. The approved program of preparation for the endorsement shall include a practicum experience during which the candidate shall be required to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and dispositions for the school nurse wellness coordinator endorsement as recommended by the school health services advisory council's report (available on the department's website at education.ohio.gov). Beginning January 1, 2020, initial applicants for the school nurse wellness coordinator endorsement shall hold a master's degree."
Much gratitude to all the members of the School Health Advisory Council for their diligence and effort in making sound recommendations that help ensure and protect the delivery of health care to Ohio's school children. As a member of the Council, I extend a special thank you to Dr. Nancy Mosca for her wisdom and leadership as chair of the Council.
Also effective July 1, 2011 http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3313.713 "only employees of the board who are licensed health professionals, or who have completed a drug administration training program conducted by a licensed health professional and considered appropriate by the board, may administer to a student a drug prescribed for the student."
The School Nurse Consultants at ODH have been busy creating a "Train-the-Trainer" program for school nurses to use to train unlicensed school personnel. Dawn Abbott and Ann Connelly have done a tremendous job with this. The training modules will be a great resource for school nurses.
Your OASN Board and committee chairs and members also continue their work on our behalf. The Board most recently convened in Columbus in November. We have been working on strengthening the governance of the Association by adopting new Board policies, a new handbook for Board members, and approving a new 3 year strategic plan. I must say, I am so honored to work along side so many amazing nurses who dedicate their energy, time, and knowledge for our profession of school nursing.
Our strategic plan identifies four priority goals:
1) ADVOCACY- Maintain effective statewide legislative advocacy for OASN on behalf of OASN membership and Ohio's students
2) MEMBERSHIP- Increase number, diversity of members within OASN over the next three years
3) PRACTICE- Promote standards of professional school nursing as stated in NASN/ANA Roles and Standards and within the scope of Ohio's Nurse Practice Act
4) STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and RESOURCES- To develop structures that support and govern the mission of OASN
You may review the strategic plan in its entirety here: http://www.oasn.org/Members%20Only%20Content/OASN%20Strategic%20Plan%202010%20-%20Approved.pdf
As you review the plan, think of ways that you can help implement the strategies to help meet our goals. We absolutely need you. This Association of School Nurses can only be as strong as its members. We are all in this together. Our end result: the improvement of access to health care in schools for Ohio's school children.
Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season, a time of rest, peace, and special moments shared with your loved ones.
Sincerely,
Eva
Eva Garchar RN, MS, NCSN
President OASN
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News from our Executive Director
Renee Besecker
MAKING YOUR SCHOOL TOBACCO- FREE:
SCHOOL NURSES INSTRUMENTAL IN SHAPING POLICY
You may be surprised to know that few Ohio school districts have a tobacco-free policy. Some of those policies cover school buildings but not the school grounds. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is considering a resolution urging the legislature to adopt a 100% Tobacco-Free School grounds. They are also working with Educational Service Centers to increase the number of Ohio schools with tobacco- free policies. There is also an effort to make The Ohio State University tobacco-free...OH ...IO!
School nurses can be instrumental in helping their districts become tobacco-free through policy development. The ODH has a Tobacco-Free Schools template for a model policy and tips for successful implementation. If your school district already has a policy in place, let ODH know.
As you already know, tobacco use leads to all kinds of health consequences and is quickly addictive in young users. If your district does not have a policy in place, demonstrate your leadership and expertise in school health and bring the policy to the attention of your administrator(s). Support Tobacco-Free Schools...and Kids!
Go to this link for the ODH model policy and information on implementation:
http://www.healthyohioprogram.org/ASSETS/F2E6D5A522F142CBBCB55F5F23E0B588/tfs09.pdf
OASN SIGNS ON:
Youth Risk Behavior Survey - Letter of support for conducting the survey starting January, 2011.
Child Nutrition Reauthorization
MOLINA HEALTHCARE MINI-GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED!
Each recipient awarded $1000 for a special project to promote healthy behaviors in their schools. Those awarded are:
§ Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies, Cincinnati Public Schools, Maya Shahani
§ Academy of World Languages, Cincinnati Public Schools, Barbara Wiley-Kroner
§ Eastern Local Schools, Mary Anne Moore, RN, BSN
§ JFK Elementary School, Kettering City Schools, Kay Stukenborg, RN
§ Manchester Elementary School, Manchester Local Schools, Mike Cluxton
§ Mt. Orab Elementary School, Western Brown Local Schools, Kim Scheffler, RN, BSN
§ Southern Elementary School, Southern Local Schools, Junie Maynard, RN, MSN, FNP-BC
§ Trotwood-Madison City School District, Vivian Schooler, RN
§ Union Local School District, Tracey Childress, MSN, FNP-BC
§ Talawanda Middle School, Talawanda School District, Stephanie Johnson
Congratulations!
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President-Elect
Kate King
WANTED:
Candidates for OASN Vice-President
Term: 2 years starting Summer of 2011
Duties: Plan and coordinate the OASN Conference
Sit on the OASN Board
Qualifications: OASN Member
Assistance: Committee members and plenty from the OASN Board
Application: Submit Resume and Bio to Kate King at kking22@att.net
by January 30th, 2011
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November NASN NEWS 2010
I continue to serve on the NASN Strategic Financial Committee and the Endowment Committee. These committees meet via phone conference at least monthly and have been a great learning experience.
Some highlights from NASN and this committee work:
* The financial stability of NASN is in a good position. However, it was determined that in order to grow, the membership needs to grow. Therefore.....
* NASN has launched the 1000 new members in 100 days campaign. More to come on howthis is progressing.
* NASN is open for nomination for NASN Fellow. If you know someone that should benominated from Ohio, let me know and I can get the needed information to you.
* Position statements are in the process of revision. The new NASN Director of NursingEducation is Sally Schoessler. She is the NASN staff that reviews the revised position statements for inclusion on the website. (The one that I helped to revise is Immunizations and it is now on the NASN website.)
* If you have never visited the NASN radio, I urge you to listen into one of the programs. They are very informative and timely in their information. (This is another free benefit of membership)
* Our next face to face meeting with the entire NASN Board is scheduled for January 29- February 1, 2011 in Washington DC. I will be taking the OASN conference save the date cards to give to all of the state directors. At the moment I am at a loss as to what else to pass on to the group and would love to hear any ideas.
* The endowment committee is busy planning for the event in Washington DC at the NASNConference, Vision, Voice, Visibility: Setting Sail Toward Healthy Horizons, June 29-July 3, 2011. The ideas ALL sound like fun so I am sure those in attendance will not be disappointed. Watch for specific information on the NASN website.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Inderbitzin RN, MEd, NCSN |
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November 2010 Membership Newsletter
New Campaign for 1,000 New Members in 100 Days!
NASN has issued a new challenge for school nurse to grow our membership by keeping existing members and adding 1,000 new members in 100 days!
It is time NOW for a Fall 2010 membership campaign
· Overall about 25% of school nurses are members and we want to reach the 75% of school nurses who are not yet members.
· Congress and other policy makers ask what percent are members and quite frankly they are surprised at the small percentage of members.
· We NEED to directly represent more nurses in order to have a STRONGER VOICE!
Membership in NASN is an investment with returns for the nurse and the profession. Did you know .......
· Membership cost is less than a pizza each month
· The value of free continuing nursing education offsets the price of membership
· We are holding costs steady while raising the value of membership
The evidence on why people join
· Because someone directly asked them! NASN states that this is the MOST important reason!
· OASN nurses surveyed state that it gives them more opportunities to NETWORK and to provide leadership
· We tend to emphasize "what's in it for me" but the evidence says more nurses actually join to be part of something important
Can you imagine what could happen if every member invites at least one school nurse to join or reinstate?
· It is easy! Reach out and ask a co-worker
· We need to inspire all members to reach out to their neighbor school nurse- ask them to help us be a stronger voice in Ohio and nationally!
· Information about benefits of membership is at www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=125
NASN provides the following tools for new and renewing members
· Nurses can join or renew online at www.nasn.org or by paper
R Full yearly dues (credit card, check or PO)
R Quarterly installments payments (credit card only)
OASN membership data has now been tracked for 13 months from September 09 to September 2010. We hope that this data will help us analyze trends that occur in years to come. Membership for 2010 has fluctuated from 470 members in January to a 3.62% decrease or 453 members in September.
Regions Increase/Decrease in Members since January 1, 2010:
- Northeast: -0.79% decrease
- Northwest: -4.84% decrease
- Central: -10.15% decrease
- East: 8.33% increase
- Southeast: 15.38% increase
- Southwest: -3.27% decrease
Meet the NASN challenge! Help us have a STRONGER VOICE in 2011!
R The first 350 brand new to NASN nurses will receive a free copy of the 2007 Certification Review Book
R This is exclusively for school nurses who have never been a member of NASN
R This token will help introduce the new nurses to NASN publications
Respectfully Submitted by: Dawn Abbott, Membership Director
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NEOASN News
2010-2011 NEOASN Board
President Kris Purdy
President-elect Vacancy
Vice President Maureen Barrett
Secretary Pat Kovac
Treasurer Lisa Mason
OASN Rep Patricia Forrai-Gunter
Past President Deb Weisbarth
Newsletter Susan Inscore
Membership Mary Ellen Shannon
CONGRATULATIONS HEIDI STEINER OHIO SCHOOL NURSE OF THE YEAR!!!!
The NEOASN Annual Spring Meeting will be finalized in the next few weeks. Check our website, www.neoasn.org so you don't miss out! Our fall program supported Ohio HB 19 - the Tina Croucher Act requiring each school district have a plan to address the issue of teen dating violence. To learn more visit www.thetinaproject.org. Our membership was slightly increased at the fall meeting; however, we continued to discuss ways to increase membership and the awareness of what we do as school nurses. We discussed spending money on an agenda that will benefit all of us during a time of political change. And did I say...
CONGRATULATIONS HEIDI STEINER OHIO SCHOOL NURSE OF THE YEAR!!!!
Patricia Forrai-Gunter
NEOASN rep to OASN |
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SWOSNA NEWSLETTER
November 2010
The SWOSNA Board met on October 12th, 2010 at Jeanie Bochenek's home. At this meeting were several guests including the executive director for OASN, Renee Besecker, and two School Nurse graduate students, Susan Jones and Mary MacLean. All three of these individuals graciously assisted the board in helping to find meeting places and resources for upcoming meetings for the year.
The SWOSNA general meeting was held November 16th, 2010 at West Carrollton Middle School. The meeting was a success and featured a meal catered by Ele bakery and a C.E. by Sandra Pramer on Grieving. Roz Suprenaut is the school nurse at West Carrollton Middle School and she hosted the event and arranged for the food to be provided. We thank Roz for a great job and for her service to SWOSNA.
The President-elect position was open at the beginning of the general meeting on November 16th, however Mary Kozarec of Kettering City Schools voiced her willingness to serve in this capacity. More details are to follow. Other new board members are Kathy Thomas as Treasurer, and Susan Jones as the Ways and Means Chair. Kathy Dafler also stepped up early as President from President-Elect. The Board thanks all previous board members, and also those that have stepped into these new positions.
The next general meeting will be Saturday February 12th, 2011 and will be a breakfast with resource sharing and discussion groups. The exact topics will be announced. It is our intent to invite other regions as a way to reach out to fellow Ohio School Nurses. The final meeting of the school year is tentatively set for May 12 with the topic and location TBA.
A central meeting location for members in the SWOSNA region that is close to I-75 is a key factor this year. Membership can now be purchased at a discount if members sign up for 2 years at a time. If you are not getting SWOSNA updates, perhaps your membership has lapsed. Please go to www.swosna.org website to receive a membership form. SWOSNA members are updated via constant contact email, and also through the SWOSNA website.
Keep in touch with us at SWOSNA and let us know if there is a special accomplishment, or project that either you or your fellow school nurses have been a part of. We would love to feature you. Please send this information to Jeanie Bochenek @ jeanine.bochenek@wright.edu
Lastly, planning for the 2011 OASN conference "A Night at the Museum" is underway and Kathy O'Dell is still seeking SWOSNA members to volunteer during this event. Please contact Jeanie Bochenek at jeanine.bochenek@wright.edu if you are interested.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeanie M. Bochenek
SWOSNA Rep to OASN
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BREAKING NEWS!!!!!
National Certification of School Nurses Recognized by AFT and NEA
The AFT Executive Council has adopted a resolution to recognize National Certification of School Nurses The national certification process for school nurses is now recognized as meeting the same rigorous standards as national teacher certification. In a recent posting on the school nurse list serve, Jeanne Sedgwick, RN, LSN, MS, NCSN posted the following:
"There is now national support for the NCSN from the organizations that developed the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards---AFT and NEA. If the teachers in you local are receiving compensation for their National Board Certification, then you too should bargain for contract language that recognizes the NCSN. But more important than the monetary piece is the recognition of the rigor of the certification process that measures the school nurse's ability to demonstrate competency at the mastery level. Hopefully the language in the resolution will provide you with a resource as you bargain."
You can read the resolution here: http://www.aft.org/about/resolution_detail.cfm?articleid=1606 |
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A Night at the Museum
OASN Conference 2011
"A Night at the Museum"
The Ohio Association of School Nurses would like to take this opportunity to invite you to our very special 5th annual Endowment Event to be held on Friday, March 4, 2011 in conjunction with the state conference.
We will be venturing 4 miles away from the Marriott hotel and going to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton. The hotel may provide van service or we will car-pool it. The evening will be casual, so plan to "dress-down" and be comfortable.
A marvelous Martian buffet meal will be served that promises to be "out of this world," and the Museum's unique gift shop will be open for shopping for that "special" gift. They stock many educational and scientific items, household decorations, and jewelry, etc. at a wide variety of prices.
After dinner we will be treated to a presentation entitled, "Science on the Sphere- the Riddle of Mars."
This display is housed on equipment that is only available in Ohio at the Boonshoft Museum.
The cost will be $65, with $20 being a tax-deductible contribution to our OASN Education and Research Endowment Fund. Please help our Fund grow while you enjoy this special evening!
Your Endowment Planning Committee
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A Voice for our School Children
OASN President Eva Garchar wrote the article below. It was published in the Cincinnati Enquirer on Tuesday, December 14th. Cincinnati Public Schools are considering reducing their financial burden by reducing the number of school nurses. Eva has written the article below in an attempt to bring awareness and educate the public about the impact of school nurses on the health and safety of our school children. Thank you, Eva!
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"The health needs of children during their time in school have increased significantly and are more complex now than ever before. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that between 24 percent and 32 percent of children have a chronic health condition.
Even healthy children, by the nature of their growth and development, are at risk for injury and health impairment. In a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, school related injuries account for 19 percent of all injuries to children. In addition, advancements in medical care and an increase in the special needs population in our schools bring in multiple health care issues and needed interventions.
School nurses have been caring for America's schoolchildren for over 100 years, yet the role of the school nurse and the outcomes of school nurse practice are not completely understood by others outside of the profession. School nurses ensure the health and safety of students and positively impact student attendance and educational success.
Appropriate school nurse-to-student ratios ensure that each student is provided with preventive, health promotion, early identification and intervention services. School nurse practice supports academic success in that school nurse interventions enable students to remain in school healthy and ready to learn.
It is the students at CPS who will be the ones who will be most negatively impacted by the decision to cut nursing services. Access to care and the provision of professional health services will be limited. This will lead to longer wait times to be seen, more time spent out of the classroom, increased absenteeism and of utmost concern, the health and safety of students being compromised."
Link:
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101214/EDIT02/12150348/Students-affected-most-when-school-nurse-services-cut |
SPECIAL EDITION
OASN Conference 2011 News
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Coming soon - "Special Edition - OASN Conference 2011 News"
To keep you up-to-date on the latest OASN Conference 2011 News, you will be hearing from Kathy O'Dell and the Committee Chairs as information comes in. Some of the topics coming your way...
The Banquet
The Presentations
The Silent Auction
Registration Directions
Special Announcements
And more...
So check your email for the latest information about OASN Conference 2011 over the coming weeks!!! |
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