During the first weekend in February, 150 nurses took time from their professional and personal lives to attend our state school nurse conference, School Nursing: Putting the Pieces Together. For two days, they increased their knowledge and professional skills. Check out the Photo Gallery for pictures from the conference.
They came back to their districts and shared some of this knowledge with their colleagues. Check under Clinical Updates for the notes from many of the sessions. Many spent their own money to come to the conference. Some came back from the conference to learn their travel approval had been rescinded. Some were told at the last minute that their travel had been denied.
At a time when more and more families will be using the school nurse as their primary health provider, the opportunity for that nurse to increase her competency was denied. Our legislators are looking closely at the budget because state finances may be even worse next year. If they do not understand what we are doing, if they do not realize that school nurses actively work to keep students in school and engaged in learning, then legislators will see school nursing as a line item that can be cut. What Gov. Crist has proposed and what the final budget will actually be are not the same!
With that reality before us, our Legislative Chair, Mary Jackman, has been working with Dianne Mennitt and Laura Brazell to develop a School Nurse Advocacy Day in Tallahassee on March 27th. Called “March Into March,” we are asking as many school nurses as possible to make the trip to Tallahassee to educate our legislators about school nursing. For many of us, myself included, it will mean taking a personal day to do this, but the stakes are too high not to do it!
We need each of you to do join us on March 27th. Check out the Legislative Page for information on finding who your legislator is, how to contact them, talking points for a conversation, and places to stay. If you can go, it is important to email or call for an appointment to see your legislator ASAP. And if your legislator cannot meet with you, but their administrative aide can, go! Never underestimate the power of personal contact.
And if you cannot go with us? Write a letter, send an email, make a phone call. Make sure that our legislators, no matter what part of the state they represent, know that March 27th is School Nurse Advocacy Day! Help us to deliver an accurate picture of what school nurses do, day in and day out for the students of this state.
Kathy
Kathleen C. Rose, RN MHA NCSN
President, Florida Association of School Nurses
President@FASN.net