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
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 Some came back from the conference to learn their travel approval had been rescinded.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
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
Kathleen C. Rose, RN MHA NCSNGreetings!
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
Kathleen C. Rose, RN MHA NCSN
President, Florida Association of School Nurses
President@FASN.net
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
Kathleen C. Rose, RN MHA NCSN
President, Florida Association of School Nurses
President@FASN.net
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