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

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