NASN Past President Susan Lordi (1990-1991) passed away on July 23, 2016. A celebration of her life is scheduled for August 11, 2016. NASN is grateful for the knowledge and expertise Susan generously served NASN and school nurses. Susan encouraged and mentored school nurses in all positions.

Approved by the NASN Board of Directors June 2016.
"School nursing, a specialized practice of public health nursing, protects and promotes student health, facilitates normal development, and advances academic success. School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice, are the leaders that bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potentials." View the definition and access other resources on the role of the school nurse.

We are pleased to announce that the Vermont State School Nurses' Association has voted to become a unified affiliate with NASN. Unification means that if you are a member of one organization, you are automatically a member of both. Please visit our NASN member center for more detailed information.

NASN STRONG members are growing NASN and earning e-commerce credits through a member-to-member referral initiative. Print and/or share at school nurse meetings the updated initiative flyer to remind all members of this opportunity. E-commerce credits can be used towards dues renewal payments, conference registration, and more.

The NASN Weekly Digest will not be published the next two weeks but will resume on August 25th. Enjoy the final few weeks of your summer break! Catch up on archived issues!

At this summer's NASN board of directors' meeting, an updated definition of school nursing was approved. Read the definition and then let NASN President Beth Mattey know what you think by responding to her discussion post.  Go to the homepage of SchoolNurseNet, login and click on the discussion link, which is right on the home page.

 

NASN has a new fact sheet, Clarifying How School Nurses and School-based Health Centers Collaborate. Take a look at it and then share your thoughts in a discussion post from Nichole Bobo. Go to the homepage of SchoolNurseNet, login and click on the discussion link, which is right on the home page.  

NIAM is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. This month-long recognition is to raise awareness about the important role vaccines play in preventing serious, sometimes deadly, diseases. For more information on the observance, visit NPHIC's NIAM website.

The U.S. Department of Education shared interim guidance from the Centers for Disease and Prevention to address concerns about the risk of Zika virus infection in K-12 schools in the United States. The guidance provides school districts with information for planning school-related activities, and recommends actions that can be taken, in consultation with local public health authorities and government officials, to reduce the potential risk of Zika virus transmission on school premises and among members of the school community. Access additional information about Zika and how to prevent.

During 2011-2013 and 2015, nonpregnant and postpartum women at risk for unintended pregnancy, and sexually active female high school students, more often used moderately effective and less effective contraceptive methods than highly effective methods. CDC prevention efforts include targeted education about Zika virus and contraceptive counseling. Learn more.

The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services released a national report and state reports that show Early Learning Challenge states are rapidly improving the quality of early learning programs while enrolling more children, especially from low- and moderate-income families, in these high-quality programs. The report comes from the annual performance reviews for the 20 states who have received Early Learning Challenge grants since 2011.

The U.S. Department of Education released guidance to states and school districts about the new provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act for supporting homeless youth. The new provisions address the needs of homeless individuals, and ensure educational rights and protections for homeless children and youth. The guidance will assist state and local partners in understanding and implementing the new law to better protect and serve homeless students and help schools in providing these students with much needed stability, safety, and support. Learn more.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Health Information Technology play a critical role in improving vaccine uptake in the U.S. The Immunization Integration Program is a collaborative effort between Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc., HIMSS, and ICSA Labs. Working to disseminate, support the use of, and gain input on software capabilities, guidance, and test tools to advance the integration of immunization-related capabilities within EHRs and other clinical software across the county.  School nurses have the opportunity to provide feedback by August 12th. Click here to learn more and provide feedback.

Tuesday, August 16, 2016, 2:00-3:30 P.M., Eastern
Chronic absence - missing 10% of the school year for any reason - has negative consequences for students. Yet with the combined efforts of parents, schools, communities, and agencies, it is a solvable problem. This is the third webinar in the 2016 Attendance Awareness Month series. Register today.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016, 4:00 P.M., Eastern
School nurses know that September is just around the corner and Dr. Bryan Martin, President of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, will share data and a clinical view of the increase in asthma during this pivotal month. He will also offer practical information on managing asthma as the Fall arrives. Register today at the Asthma and Allergy Network.

Thursday, September 1, 2016, 1:00-2:00 P.M., Eastern
Join the American Academy of Pediatrics for this free webinar designed to educate practitioners on issues pertaining to adolescent transitions from the medical home, with practical tips to start using immediately, and a particular emphasis on successfully transitioning adolescents with asthma and allergies to independent living. Register today.

This calendar includes upcoming events hosted by NASN, officially endorsed by NASN, and/or hosted by one of NASN's Affiliate school nurse organizations.  Access the calendar. 

This calendar lists special days, weeks, or months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics. Access the 2016 calendar.