This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week and, as school nurses, we are acutely aware that mental health is critical to academic success. According to mentalhealthscreening.org, in the United States alone, almost 50 percent of people with eating disorders also meet the criteria for depression. School nurses work closely with students and make timely referrals. The NASN Position Statement on Mental Health of Students emphasizes that school nurses promote positive mental health outcomes in students through school/community evidence-based programs and curricula. Thank you for all that you do to promote student mental health and success, Carolyn Duff, MS, RN, NCSN, President of NASN
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Quick Poll
Who do you consult with when you suspect/know a student has an eating disorder? Take this week's poll.
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NASN 2015 School Nurse Survey - Complete by March 10, 2015NASN wants to hear from all school nurses! Your input is important to see what you are doing and where NASN is performing well and needs to improve. The survey is open to all NASN members and ALL nurses working in schools (head start/pre-k through high school), so please feel free to pass the survey along to other nurses who work in schools and may not be NASN members. All participating school nurses are eligible for at least 2 prizes! NASN members are eligible for all 4 prizes! Access the survey. Scholarships are "proudly sponsored by LysolŪ - our Healthy Habits Program provides free resources to teachers everywhere to help them keep classrooms healthy." Call for Nominations: Outstanding School Nurse Educator AwardNASN's Consortium of School Nurse Educators special interest group is now accepting nominations. Deadline for nominations to the special interest group is March 8, 2015. Learn more. NASN is Now Accepting Applications for Research Grants - Deadline March 1, 2015 Funding for NASN Research Grants may be used for conducting the actual research, substitute stipends, applicant's release time for purpose of the research, supplies, clerical assistance, travel expenses, or other appropriate expenses directly related to the research project. Research projects shall be completed within 2 years. Learn more and access the application. Couple Experience with EvidenceCreating an evidence-based practice means basing it on the best research available, personal experience, resources, and population characteristics. Years of experience must be coupled with the best and most current (less than 5 years) evidence available because we are always learning more. If you exclude the evidence, your practice becomes outdated and less effective and respected. Read how one nurse used experience and evidence to change a lice policy in this NASN School Nurse article. [Members of NASN have access to full-text articles online.] Tune in to NASN Radio for Heart Health: The Importance of Teaching Students CPRSchool nurses play a pivotal role in limiting the number of student deaths due to heart attacks in school. Listen Now!
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School Nurses in the News
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Anoka-Hennepin Minnesota's First Seizure Smart School District
ABC Newspapers / Minnesota
After more than a year of hard work, Anoka-Hennepin is the first school district in Minnesota to be named a Seizure Smart School District by the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota. NASN Member Cynthia Hiltz, the health services coordinator for the district, said, "During the 2012-2013 school year, staff responded to 514 seizures and knew of 585 students who experienced seizures. Last school year, an additional 50 students experienced seizures and staff responded to 804 total." Cynthia said that Anoka-Hennepin was already doing great work, providing staff education, training school nurses and drafting individualized care plans for students with epilepsy. Access the article. |
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National News That Matters to You
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Tackling Eating Disorders With School-Based Initiatives
U.S. News and World Report
Advocates are pushing for school-based initiatives to raise awareness about the dangers of eating disorders, which kill more Americans than any other psychiatric illness. The National Eating Disorders Association is encouraging schools to take a more active role to address eating disorders by reaching out to students in grades five through 12. Some schools are already taking a proactive approach. Access the article.
Double Jeopardy: Addressing Diabetes and Eating Disorders Among Adolescents in the School Setting
Eating disorders are more common in youth with diabetes and school nurses may be the first to recognize eating disorders. This NASN School Nurse article is brought to you through a partnership between NASN and the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP). Access free article.
HPV Vaccine Recommendation Update Webinar
Friday, March 6, 12:00 -1:00 p.m. Eastern
The Center's for Disease Control and Prevention's Dr. Lauri Markowitz will present a webinar to provide an update on HPV vaccine recommendations. Click to Register.
Flu Care in Day Care: The Impact of Vaccination Requirements
A Report by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
Young children have an increased risk of exposure to flu viruses and a higher risk of serious illness and complications. A new report from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the Association of Immunization Managers details how preschool and day care flu vaccination requirements can be an effective way to ensure that all children are protected.
CHIP Extension and Improvement Act Introduced
Congressman Gene Green (TX-D) introduced HR 919, the CHIP Extension and Improvement Act, as did Senator Sherrod Brown (OH-D) who introduced, S 522, the Senate companion bill. In 1997, Congress passed the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) on a bipartisan basis, which has been a vital healthcare program for children and their families. CHIP provides quality health care for more than eight million children whose families incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private health insurance. However, CHIP funding is due to run out October 1, 2015. Click for more on NASN's advocacy efforts. |
Eating Disorder Awareness Screenings and Toolkit
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, February 22-28
Screening for Mental Health (SMH), a national nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness for mental illness, recognizes this week as National Eating Disorder Awareness Week to bring attention to the critical needs of people with eating disorders and their families. In partnership with the National Eating Disorder Association, SMH provides anonymous eating disorder screenings. Visit SMH's website for an informational toolkit and access to the screening.
School Nurse Role in Eating Disorders
Detecting Symptoms, Early Intervention, and Preventative Education: Eating Disorders & the School-Age Child
Learn the difference between anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, how to recognize the symptoms, preventative education, the importance of early intervention, and treatment options. Access this NASN School Nurse article.
How to Tell When a Child is Emotionally Struggling
The National PTA partnered with the American Psychological Association to host an important conversation: How to Tell When a Kid is Struggling Emotionally. Listen as three psychologists speak frankly with parents and educators about how to recognize when a youth is struggling, and what to do about it when you know a child or teen needs help. Access this conversation and additional mental health resources from the National PTA.
Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) - School Nurse 2015 Leadership Award
Applications due by March 9, 2015
This award recognizes excellence in school nursing and promotes the importance and value of school nurses. Through the award process, HSC will collect best practices, highlight exceptional examples of leadership and innovation, and identify areas where school nurses have made substantive changes to their school, district or state policy to better support student health. Access more information.
Resource on Turner Syndrome
February Designated Turner Syndrome Month
School nurses, families, and primary care providers can work together to communicate the recognition and importance of early diagnosis of Turner Syndrome, a random chromosomal disorder affecting only women. A toolkit has been adopted to assist all awareness advocates in their outreach efforts. Get more resources from the TS Awareness Month toolkit.
How Health Coverage Affects your 2014 Federal Income Tax Return
Many families who have Marketplace coverage may have questions about Form 1095-A and other tax implications. For example, if you had non-Marketplace Essential Health Coverage for every month of 2014 you'll just check a box on your tax return. However, if you enrolled in a health plan through the Marketplace in 2014, you'll get Form 1095-A in the mail from the Marketplace by February and if you did not have health coverage for all or part of 2014, your income taxes could be affected. Access tips, forms, and guides for health care taxes from the marketplace.
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NASN's Calendar of Events lists upcoming events for school nursing professionals. Events happening soon include: Winter Webinar from NASN
Delegate or Not to Delegate - That Is the Question!
March 11, 2015
Maryland Association of School Health Nurses Conference
March 14, 2015
Ocean City, Maryland
Somerset County School Nurses Association Spring Meeting
March 18, 2015
Green Brook, New Jersey
School Nurse Emergency Triage Training (SETT)
March 21, 2015
Stevenson, Washington
School Nurse Emergency Triage Training (SETT)
March 26, 2015
Lebanon, New Hampshire
Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners Annual Conference
March 27 - 29. 2015
State College, Pennsylvania
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