Archive for the ‘National Association of School Nurses’ Category

National Association of School Nurses 41st Annual Conference

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

09_conferenceAnnual Conference brochures will not be mailed this year in order to be environmentally conscious and better manage resources. Click here to download the brochure to your computer and read through at your convenience.

Professional development is essential in a tough economy and having access to the latest practice, health promotion, leadership, research and legal issues can only be found at the National Association of School Nurses’ annual conference. Now more than ever, school nurses need to define and communicate their role as the critical link between health and learning.

Register today to join your colleagues in learning, networking and recharging!

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NASN Elections Are Coming

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

FASN members,
If you have not already, you will soon be receiving a ballot for the NASN elections. Every vote does make a difference, so please be sure to vote! Both candidates for President-elect have sent us information. It is posted here to help you make a more informed decision. Let’s make sure that Florida’s voice is heard!

Kathleen C. Rose, RN MHA NCSN
President, Florida Association of School Nurses

The candidates for NASN President-Elect:
Beth Mattey
Linda Davis-Aldritt

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December 2008 President’s Letter

Saturday, December 6th, 2008

Holiday Greetings!

I hope that each of you will find some time to rest and reconnect with those you love.  This has been a challenging school year so far and we expect even more challenges in the months to come.  As I talk to nurses from around the state, I hear recurring concerns.  The acuity of the students we serve is increasing and the economic crisis in our country is placing added stress on the families in our schools.  Yet the resources we need to help our students are diminishing.  More and more families are asking the school nurse to decide if their child needs to go to the doctor.  Our need for information and assessment skills that are accurate and effective is more important than ever.

The theme of our state conference this year is “School Nursing: Putting the Pieces Together.”  The education committee has looked at the school nurse’s need for effective assessment skills and accurate information in a wide variety of areas.  The result is a conference with 12 different sessions covering a wide variety of topics from asthma to ethics to mental health and much more in between.

The information to be presented is so important that the conference has been expanded to two full days and all participants will get to hear each of the speakers.  New this year, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a “Blessing of the Hands” - recognizing the importance of our hands and our touch in the healing process.

Click on the conference link to register and pay for the conference and to make your hotel reservation.  Application forms for a scholarship for FASN members or to do a Poster Presentation can be found on the same link.  As we get closer to the conference, those attending will be able to download the speakers’ information and power points.

As important as our professional development is, participation in our professional organization is equally important.  Each FASN member is encouraged to go to the Members-Only link and vote for the next recording secretary and membership secretary.  Voting goes from December 8th until January 8, 2009.

FASN supports school nurses statewide.  On the Announcements page, you will find other information and events that school nurses may be interested in.  Through our state conference, regional events and voting, we hope you will support FASN.  Often school nurses feel isolated in their practice, FASN provides support and a network to help you succeed in your practice.  As the new year begins, let’s work together to make a difference in school nursing and in the students we serve!

 Moving forward, together!

 Kathy 

k_rose_photoKathleen C. Rose, RN MHA NCSN
President, Florida Association of School Nurses
President@FASN.net

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October 2008 President’s Letter

Sunday, October 5th, 2008

Greetings!

Welcome to a new school year!  It has been a busy start for everyone, especially as many school districts have had to function with fewer school nurses this year.  FASN has had changes as well.  Our web developer resigned (for a good reason!) and we needed to find a new person.  He is on board now and you will begin to see updates and new information.

The national conference in Albuquerque was an excellent learning experience.  Five scholarships were awarded to cover conference registration.  Those scholarship winners have written articles about a session they attended.  You will be reading them in our fall newsletter.  At the President’s Luncheon, the presidents of each state were asked to bring copies of their state newsletter to show others.  Every copy of the newsletter and the copies of the “More FASNating News” addendum that is on this web site that I brought  were taken.  Our newsletter is a hit!  And we have some pictures for our photo gallery, of course!

FASN is becoming recognized within the state as well.  An “Open Comments” presentation was made to the Governor’s Children and Youth Cabinet.  We learned that this was the first presentation by a school nurse.  I have been invited back to do a formal presentation when they meet in Tallahassee.  The photo gallery will have some pictures from that day as well. 

FASN is one of the organizations developing the strategic plan for the School Health and Education Consortium at their meeting in October.  We are also on the bimonthly conference calls discussing Response to Intervention.  There are counties where the school nurse is an active, contributing member of this process.  This group, under Diane Mennitt’s leadership, is working on ways for this to happen in every county.

We are also active within FASN.  Over the summer, a new Regional Representative and several new County Liaisons have accepted their positions.  And, we aren’t done yet!  The Conference Committee has begun its work for the February State Conference.  The Awards Committee has sent our School Nurse of the Year packet to national to compete for the national award.  And the Nominations Committee is seeking nominations for the two open positions this year: Recording Secretary and Membership Secretary.  We need your input as well.

Finally, our membership is growing.  Several Lions Clubs throughout the state are deciding to form a partnership with FASN.  They are sponsoring memberships to FASN and those nurses are applying for the VSP Sight for Students certificates that help needy students receive a vision exam and glasses, if needed.

 It certainly appears our quiet summer wasn’t quiet at all!  Welcome back!

Kathy

k_rose_photoKathleen C. Rose, RN MHA NCSN
President, Florida Association of School Nurses
President@FASN.net

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October 2007 President’s Letter

Friday, October 5th, 2007

When there is a reason to celebrate, my daughter will often shout “Woo-Hoo!” That is what I feel like shouting right now. Last month, I asked you as private citizens, voters, nurses and parents to contact your legislators and tell them, “No!” to any budget cuts in school health services. Our legislators listened. Although $1 million dollars (total) was cut from local health departments across the state, NO school health services monies were touched! Thank You! Thank You!! Thank You!!!

 

A huge thank you also goes out to our conference committee. We have an awesome conference planned. School Nurses Educate for Life! It all begins Friday night with a keynote address from NASN President, Donna Mazyck. We end Saturday with a panel of school nurses discussing best practices in our state. The hours in between are filled with opportunities for learning, networking and browsing the Marketplace and Vendors, as we all share in some good FASN fun!

 

The conference will be held February 8-9, 2008, at the Orlando Marriott - Lake Mary. Once again, we will have on-line registration through the area AHEC. Look in the “Conference” link for copies of the brochure, the registration form, the scholarship form and the Poster Presentation form. We’ll even have a link to the hotel so you can reserve your room early. At only $96 a night, you’ll want to be one of the first to get your room!

 

Get the word out! There has never been a better year to belong to FASN. Make sure your own membership is up-to-date! Thanks to a wonderful partnership with Florida’s AHECs and FASN’s commitment to education, there are over 75 scholarships now available to FASN members for this conference and the number is growing!

 

It’s not too late to send in an application with your nomination for this year’s School Nurse of the Year. Click on the SNOY link for the form! Rejoicing in School Nursing!

Kathy

k_rose_photoKathleen C. Rose, RN MHA NCSN
President, Florida Association of School Nurses
President@FASN.net

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August 2007 President’s Letter

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

It may be the middle of the summer, but school nurses can still make a difference.  Those who attended the NASN national conference heard many instances where school nurses are making a difference.  Some questions we were asked include:  Are all of us out there telling our story?  Do others know how proud we are of our profession?  Do you value yourself and your job?

 

So much happens at a national conference, it’s impossible to squeeze it all into a letter.  Check out the pictorial gallery for some pictures from the conference.  And our fall newsletter will have articles from each of our scholarship winners covering a different session at the conference.  The newsletter should arrive just in time to whet your appetite for the state conference in January.

 

I want to ask each of you the question we were asked at the conference: are you telling your story?  As a 501(c)3 organization, we cannot lobby, but we can tell our story!  We are the foundation of health care in our schools.  Not only do we give basic first aid, but we save lives and help students learn.  Take some time this summer to compile your stories and collect your data.  How many health problems are in your school?  How many students come to the clinic?  What percentage are you able to send back to class?  Is it higher the days you are at the school?  Have you reduced absenteeism?  School nurses are very credible, but we must be well prepared on two fronts:  we need to have our numbers and our stories.  Combined, we have a very powerful message to give others.  And we need to give that message:  to our principals, our colleagues, our School Health Advisory Committees, our parents and our legislators.

 

Enjoy your summer!  Rest, relax, and start collecting!

Kathy

k_rose_photoKathleen C. Rose, RN MHA NCSN
President, Florida Association of School Nurses
President@FASN.net

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