National Association of School Nurses Weekly Digest
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"The school nurse is well-poised to create awareness and influence action to increase the uptake of mandated and recommended immunizations." ~ A quote from the NASN Position Statement, Immunizations

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August 13, 2015


Do you have resources in place to improve vaccine uptake in your school community this year? Although levels of vaccine-preventable diseases are low, gaps in vaccination coverage still exist. You can make a difference by providing evidence-based information, implementing evidence-based strategies, and being a role-model in immunization compliance.

On the immunization resource web page on NASN.org, you will find helpful resources including a blog post with highlights from the most recent National Immunization Conference and an adolescent vaccine letter to share with parents.

School nurses make a difference for student health. Here's to a healthy new school year.

Beth Mattey, MSN, RN, NCSN
NASN President
Quick Poll
Which of the following vaccines do you recommend to school staff? Take this week's poll.

Call for Abstract Submissions - NASN2016, the 48th Annual NASN Conference
NASN invites you to share your experience and expertise with attendees at NASN2016, Learning, Linking, Leading. This event, the 48th Annual NASN Conference, will take place at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana from June 30 - July 3, 2016. Access conference objectives and learn more
Association News
Tell Us What You Think!!
NASN's proposed Framework for 21st Century School Nursing is in development.  Your feedback is vital!  Please read about the Framework and then complete a short survey.  Thank you for helping us create a framework school nurses can use to define and articulate their role and skills in current school nursing practice.

Podcast with Authors Highlights Body Mass Index Research Article
Hear from authors, Dr. Susan Malone and Dr. Babette Zemel, and access a full-text version of The Journal of School Nursing article, "Measurement and Interpretation of Body Mass Index During Childhood and Adolescence."  Authors share insights and the article provides an overview of body composition during childhood and adolescence, an introduction of strategies to improve the accuracy of BMI measurements, and an exploration of the school nurse's role in BMI surveillance and/or screening activities.  Learn more

Video Tutorials Help You Navigate and Use SchoolNurseNet
Be sure to utilize the library of short FAQ video tutorials that show you how to make SchoolNurseNet your most valuable resource.  Tutorials will guide you in editing your profile, changing your privacy settings, sharing documents, and more.  Access the tutorial index.

Support NASN When Making Purchases on Amazon this Fall
NASN is an Approved Charitable Organization in the AmazonSmile Program.  If you shop on Amazon, you can support NASN by having a portion of qualifying purchases donated to NASN. Learn more by accessing Amazon through AmazonSmile.   
National News That Matters to You
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)
In conjunction with the annual observance to highlight the value of immunization across the lifespan, the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers a comprehensive communication toolkit to promote the importance of immunizations.  The toolkit includes materials for all age groups.  Visit NPHIC to access.

Public Service Announcement has Meningococcal Booster Vaccination Message
Actress and singer Lucy Hale joined NASN in this year's Voices of Meningitis campaign, encouraging teens to "raise their voices" for meningitis and calling attention to the importance of receiving the meningococcal booster vaccination. Lucy, along with meningitis survivor Jamie Schanbaum, star in a new public service announcement delivering this important message with the help of some teens. View and share the PSA.

Article Outlines Research Connecting Sleep and School Start Times
A new article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, School Start Times for Middle School and High School Students - United States, 2011-12 School Year, includes a discussion about this topic, evidence-based references, and tables showing the average start times by state. Access this article and also the press release that includes a summary and infographic.
School Nurses: The Voice for Children's Health
Advocates for Children with Asthma Attend Collaborative Meeting
NASN represented school nurses at a recent event hosted by the Children's Asthma Leadership Coalition (CALC).  This meeting provided a platform to collaborate for best practices and inform legislators about what is needed for children with asthma.  Learn more about CALC and its partners.

Tackling Health Disparities - Congressional Briefing
NASN recently attended Tackling Healthy Disparities in Children: The Role of Medicaid and CHIP in Reducing Disparities and Improving Health Outcomes for Children of Color in Washington, DC.  Learn more about this meeting and access a fact sheet.
Health Office Toolbox
Articles Remind Parents What Pediatric Medicine was Like Before Immunizations
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is highlighting a series of first-person articles about diseases like measles, meningitis and diphtheria that have been largely eradicated by vaccines. The series was written by a team of distinguished senior AAP pediatricians, and a gynecologist writing about HPV, and they are powerful. Access these articles on AAP's HealthyChildren.org website.

Resources from the Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign
School Nurses are natural partners to reach and enroll eligible students in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.  Daily, they see the need for students to have access to medical, dental, and vision care. School nurses can identify and refer those in need by integrating coverage status questions into annual health and emergency contact forms.  Learn more about this campaign and access resources to share with students and families.

Tools and Tips to Get Started on Reducing Chemical Hazards Inside Schools
Find ways to help your school use greener products with resources found in a recent newsletter from the Coalition for Healthier Schools, Back to School with Green and Healthy Products 2015-16.  Maintaining a healthy learning environment is an important part of making sure that every child can learn. Read this issue to access a back-to-school action kit and more.

Webinar Offers Planning Ideas for International Walk to School Day
The 6 E's of Walk to School Day Encouragement
Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - 1:00PM - 2:00PM Eastern
This free webinar is hosted by Safe Routes to School National Partnership in preparation for the one-day event occurring during Walk to School Month in October.  Learn more or register.
What's Happening
NASN's Calendar of Events lists upcoming events for school nursing professionals.  Events happening soon include:

Top 10 Things You Can Do With SchoolNurseNet - Webinar
Wednesday, August 26, 2015 - 6:00 PM

Healthfinder.gov's National Health Observances site lists special days, weeks, or months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics.