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"Immunizations in our country are among the top 10 greatest public health accomplishments." ~ A quote from Nichole Bobo in her blog, Speak Up to Nudge Up Vaccine Rates - U.S. Immunizations in a Time of Change. Access this blog.
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Measles is one of the most contagious of all viruses. Although eliminated in the United States in 2000, measles cases are on the rise now. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in January, 102 people from 14 states were reported to have measles. School nurses are on high alert to conduct surveillance and to educate the school community. School nurses teach respiratory etiquette and airborne precautions, as well as educate parents on the importance of having children immunized. Stay tuned for the release of an NASN Radio podcast addressing the measles outbreak and what we can do to prevent the spread of this disease.
Thank you for all you do to protect school communities from infectious diseases.
Carolyn Duff, MS, RN, NCSN, President of NASN
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Why YOU Should Attend NASN2015! NASN2015 is THE event school nurses can attend where everyone attending understands your stories, your challenges, and your accomplishments as the primary health professional caring for a school community. Sessions this year include Collaboration Works! Schools, Public Health, and Healthcare Providers Promote Immunizations. Access the full agenda, registration form, and hotel room block. |
Promoting Immunizations is Central to the Public Health Focus of School NursingNASN's recently revised position statement on immunizations states that school nurses are well-poised to create awareness and influence action to increase the uptake of mandated and recommended immunizations. Read this document and access the references used to prepare it. What is Evidence-based?Evidence-based is much more than citing references. Opinions, blogs or newspaper articles can be cited, but these citations will not make your work evidence-based. You must include research or research-based articles that have been published in the last 5 years. The Journal of School Nursing has many evidence-based research articles pertinent to your practice. An example is School Asthma Screening and Case Management: Attendance and Learning Outcomes. [NASN members have access to full-text articles.] Deadline Approaching - Call for NASN2015 Poster Presentation AbstractsSubmit on or before February 5, 2015 to share your expertise with school nurses at the NASN 47th Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Access poster guidelines and learn more. NASN is an Approved Charitable Organization in the AmazonSmile ProgramAre you making purchases on Amazon? If so, be sure to designate NASN as your AmazonSmile organization. When you do this, a portion of qualifying purchases are donated to NASN. Click here to designate NASN with your Amazon purchases. Call for Nominations: Outstanding Private and Parochial School NurseDeadline February 15thNASN's Private and Parochial School Nurses special interest group is now accepting nominations! Deadline for nominations is March 1st. Learn more. Call for Nominations: Outstanding School Nurse for Special Needs StudentsDeadline February 21stNASN's Special Needs School Nurses special interest group is now accepting nominations! Deadline for nominations is March 1st. Learn more. Browse Job Opportunities for School Nurses on NASN.orgNASN is continually placing new employment listings in the NASN.org Employment Center. Browse listing now.
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National News That Matters to You
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Free or Low Cost Health Insurance from Medicaid and CHIP Children who have coverage receive immunizations, regular check-ups, and other care they need to fully participate in classroom and after-school activities. The Health Insurance Marketplace is open through February 15 for enrollment. Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) allow enrollment year round and allow for free or low cost health insurance for students up to age 19. Access health coverage information.
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Resources for Parents About Measles and the Vaccine to Prevent ItThe best way to protect against measles is to get a measles containing vaccination (MMR or MMRV). The Center's for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has resources for parents and guardians to help educate them about measles and the importance of being fully vaccinated. A Fact Sheet on State and National School Snack PoliciesCurrently, 43 states have policies determining the types of snacks that schools may sell to students, but few have standards as strong as those issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A fact sheet from the The Pew Charitable Trusts includes data tables to help state and district stakeholders understand how their policies compare to national standards. Access this resource. 10 Warning Signs of Primary Immunodeficiencies Primary Immunodeficiencies (PI) are a group of more than 200 disorders of the immune system with varying degrees of severity. They occur when one or more essential parts of the immune system do not work correctly, and often presents in the form of "ordinary" infections. A website from the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, 10 Warning Signs, aims to assure early diagnosis. Access this website. A Webinar on Mold and Moisture Prevention Practices Mold and Moisture: Double Trouble for SchoolsThursday, February 12, 2015, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Eastern Creating green, clean, and healthy schools requires mastering the indoor environment using a comprehensive approach. Learn how to successfully institutionalize effective mold and moisture prevention practices in your school buildings. Join Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) experts as they discuss strategies for responding quickly to moisture problems and share information about proper mold remediation and clean-up practices in schools. Register today. New Oral Health Resources Available for Children's Dental Health MonthFebruary is Children's Dental Health Month and a great time to increase awareness of oral health. Resources for school nurses are provided by the National Children's Oral Health Foundation including activity handouts and information on school sealants and finding care for a child. Access these resources.
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NASN's Calendar of Events lists upcoming events for school nursing professionals. Events happening soon include:
NASN Winter Webinar Series
Webinar 3: So Much to Do - What Do I Do Next?
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
2:00 PM Eastern
65th Annual California School Nurses Organization State Conference
February 12 - 15, 2015
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