Sunday

A dynamic presentation providing targeted strategies for accurate and compliance-based charting. Electronic Health Records will be discussed in detail. Documentation examples will be provided. Diversity, equity, and inclusion issues will be discussed. Specifically, the cross-section between diverse students along with their families and school nurses with an emphasis on documentation of issues pertaining to diversity. NASN’s School Nursing Practice Framework™, with particular emphasis on the interface between electronic charting, handwritten documentation, and the legal system will be addressed.

In this day and age, most schools are well-versed in prevention and intervention strategies for school crisis management, but how well is your school equipped to fluidly handle the events after a crisis unfolds? How and when is information verified and shared with staff and the school community? What is a “Flight Team” and how do they help the day after, and in the days to come? What do we do with the empty desk? And finally, what is the school nurse’s role in all of it? Cheri Lovre is a teacher and national speaker who has 35 years of experience in working with schools in the aftermath of a wide range of events like hurricanes Sandy and Katrina, multiple school shootings including Columbine High School and the Nickel Mines Amish School, and most notably, Cheri spent 2 years in NYC after 9/11 working with the 29 schools in and around Ground Zero. Cheri has authored many books and manuals, created videos and training materials, and provided in-person training for schools, districts, and school nurses. Joining Cheri in this presentation are practicing school nurses Susy Marcum and Carol Carter, along with retired school and ISU instructor Michelle Maurer. After Cheri presented her information at a conference at ISU-Mennonite College of Nursing last summer, the life-changing lessons she taught were taken back to their schools. They will share their stories and provide an interactive work session to empower you to bring postvention strategies to your school! In all crises, whether natural disasters or man-made, what happens afterward is a crucial part of the pathway to healing. We invite you to step into a learning experience where postvention becomes prevention, and people have an opportunity to unite around a common goal – moving forward.

Schools are an ideal environment to provide case management services for children and families. While attendance is mandated and schools are generally geographically accessible to families, school nurses and other educational professionals develop relationships with students and can identify health disparities, concerns, and the impact of the Social Determinants of Health (SDH). This case study presentation will explore a quality improvement program designed to identify and provide interventions for students referred by school staff who exhibit academic, emotional, behavioral, social, and/or physical health risk factors. We will explore how to bring components of the of the Care Coordination principle from the School Nursing Practice Framework™ from theory to practice. An effective Care Coordination program seeks to minimize duplication of supports and services, prevent gaps in service, and efficiently utilize available local interventions and supports. School nurses and core team members meet to discuss student concerns, coordinate interventions, and measure progress. School and district-level data including attendance, behavior tracking, health measures (i.e. blood sugar control, episodes of exacerbation of chronic illness), school health office visits, and academic achievement are examined to measure the effectiveness of a Care Coordination program (Bonaiuto, 2007). Evidence-based assessments may also be used to track responses of individual students to Care Coordination interventions. Supplementary project outcomes will be shared, including an electronic referral form and intervention record for School Health Service and team use, community resource materials, professional development programming, and a tool bank for reducing anxiety symptoms in the school setting.

It is common for school nurses to encounter ethnic and racial diversity in K-12 schools, among students, staff, and caregivers. As school nurses, we must advocate for equity and inclusion of the diverse populations in our school community. Communication technology and travel opportunities for professional exchanges allow school nurses to gain firsthand knowledge of other cultures and best evidence-based practices. In February of 2023, an invitation was extended through the Citizens Ambassador Program from Dr. Sumaya AlBlooshi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Director of Nursing, Ministry of Health and Prevention to members of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) to visit the UAE. In May of 2023, a NASN delegation of 13 school nurses from 13 states traveled to the UAE for a cultural and professional exchange. In alignment with NASN’s School Nursing Practice Framework™, the delegation focused on the principles of care coordination, leadership, quality improvement, and community/public health. Increasing our understanding of other cultures adds to the inclusivity of our school community. As our cultural and professional exchanges unfolded, we experienced evidence-based best practices in school health and discussed opportunities for collaboration.

School nursing services and school health teams are important structures within the local school community to address health inequities among children. These inequities were underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic as school nurses provided a pivotal bridge to underserved populations. This session presents findings from two bi-coastal projects that have relevance to and are aligned with the five principles of NASN’s School Nursing Practice Framework™. First, we will present the results of a landscape assessment of school nursing services in Washington State that utilized surveys (n=297), interviews (n=10), and focus groups (n=6). Data indicate that districts with higher rates of children with unstable housing, English language learners, and migrant students are allotted fewer hours of RN care as opposed to other health services team members, such as LPNs and UAPs. Second, we will present findings from a similar assessment in Maine, utilizing surveys (n=224) and interviews (n=8). Urban schools were more likely to provide comprehensive health services compared to rural schools and utilize unlicensed school personnel (UAPs) to assist the school nurse. In both states, RN and RN+LPN were the most common staffing models, and interviews highlighted the complexity of school nurses' roles and their ingenuity. Similarities and differences across Washington and Maine will be discussed and commonalities that all school nurses can apply will be discussed. Participants will be engaged to share experiences from their area. Policy recommendations to advance school nursing practice, particularly regarding addressing health inequities, will be included.

In today's diverse educational landscape, school nurses play a crucial role in ensuring students' well-being. The interactive presentation, "Data-Driven Student Care," aims to equip school nurses with the knowledge and tools to provide better, safer, and more comprehensive student care. This session focuses on harnessing data collection and utilization to improve cultural competence and multilingual support. By tracking student demographics and family backgrounds, nurses can gain insights into their students' unique needs, aiding in comprehensive care and budgetary decision-making. Importantly, we will explore an array of tools and techniques suitable for any budget to collect and examine data effectively. The presentation also encourages school nurses to explore their cultural norms and needs, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves to better serve their diverse student population. The data collected can reveal critical information, including the frequency, timing, and the students served by each nurse, improving resource allocation and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within their nursing practice. By the end of this presentation, school nurses will gain a practical understanding of how data-driven approaches can revolutionize their practices. This will result in more inclusive and effective care for all students, while also supporting their school's budget and DEI goals. Learning how data can transform student care, and how connecting with our cultural competencies is the first step towards providing culturally competent care.

The field of school nursing has changed tremendously in the past century. Originally intended to be a temporary experiment with public health nurses, this trial project instead became a complex, demanding, and rewarding career in nursing. The modern-day school nurse not only addresses first aid and chronic health conditions, but also must meet the demands of a specialty that requires staying abreast of technology, education, and leadership. NASN’s School Nursing Practice Framework™ lists “Leadership” as one of the five key principles of exemplary practice. Within this principle, there are many subcomponents that all guide the school nurse toward professionalism. However, the principle of Leadership may seem unattainable for many busy nurses, and it is often the least understood of all five principles. This session will help break down the myth that achieving professionalism and leadership qualities in school nursing is “for others” who have more time and fewer visits to manage. Learners will be guided through a simple, step-by-step process to help enhance the leadership potential we all have inside! The speaker has 20+ years in school nursing and will share tips and insight on how to easily incorporate leadership into your practice.

School nurses play a major role in school readiness and emergency management, collaborating and leading efforts to ensure the overall wellness of each child. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a growing concern among students and schools are a place of gathering, not only for our students and educators, but also for the community. In fact, 2023 has been a flashpoint for SCA awareness with recurring incidents of cardiac arrest in the public eye, including high-profile athletes who had the benefit of a robust team of athletic and medical personnel at the ready. Public and private K-12 schools do not have the level of resources as professional sports teams, yet every youth deserves the same chance at survival. What's more, studies show lower SCA survival rates in low-income and racially diverse neighborhoods, with CPR being 41% less likely among Black and 22% less likely among Hispanic children as compared to White children. With an estimated 356,000 out-of-hospital cardia arrests every year, including in 7,000 to 23,000 youth under 18, and SCA reported being a leading cause of death in student athletes and on school campuses, implementing a school Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) provides a lifesaving resource for the entire community, thus removing race and gender barriers by providing an overall wellness environment for each student. Schools that have a CERP and conduct drills have a 70% survival rate versus the mere 10% for those without. School nurses are ideally positioned to affect community health by advocating for coordinated prevention and emergency response standards, which pulls from each principle of NASN’s School Nursing Practice Framework™. This presentation reviews the incidence of SCA, the latest preventative cardiac screening guidance, and follows one school district’s efforts to create a culture of prevention using readily available resources.

As school systems continue to prioritize the health of students and staff, breaking down barriers between school departments is critical. School staff and students are exposed to pollutants through inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption. Younger students and those without access to quality healthcare are more vulnerable to pollutant exposure due to frequent hand-to-mouth behavior, higher respiration rates, and closer proximity to the ground. This session will serve as a guide for school health staff to collaboratively address the emerging challenges posed by climate-related events, such as wildfires and extreme heat, focusing on indoor air pollutants, such as those from 3D printers, vaping devices, and biological aerosols. Our research findings will center on the Quality Improvement and Community/Public Health components of NASN's School Nursing Practice Framework™. Additionally, this session will emphasize the importance of health equity, ensuring that strategies to improve indoor air quality are inclusive and address the disparities that may affect vulnerable populations within the school community, ensuring all students have access to a safe and healthy learning environment and highlight opportunities for school health staff to collaborate in creating healthy learning spaces.

Professional liability data provides insight into the underlying causes of liability cases as it can reveal missteps, clinical errors, patterns of communication, and judgment failures that contribute to adverse events. This session provides nurses with practice recommendations that they can use to help prevent or defend against malpractice allegations, while also enhancing patient safety.

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease and a common reason for pediatric emergency medical treatment. While asthma affects children across all ethnic groups, the burden is disproportionally placed on children of color and those who are economically disadvantaged. In Illinois, for example, over 80% of recent asthma-related EMS visits to schools were to non-white students who comprise just 54% of students statewide. As children spend the majority of their waking hours in a school setting, schools must respond to asthma emergencies. This session will focus on the adoption of undesignated stock emergency asthma medication in a growing number of U.S. schools. It will provide an overview of the current stock albuterol landscape and information on best practices for legislation. It will also provide information on how to begin the implementation of stock inhaler programs. Presentations will highlight the alignment of these efforts with NASN’s School Nursing Practice Framework™, touching on the advocacy required to establish these student-centered programs, access to care, and quality improvement on the front end (comprehensive training) and throughout implementation (evaluation). They will also demonstrate how undesignated stock emergency asthma medication programs lead to fewer hours of missed classroom time.