NASN is pleased to announce that Mayumi Willgerodt, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, FNASN, is the new Editor of The Journal of School Nursing!

Dr. Willgerodt, a renowned leader in school health and nursing, will bring her extensive expertise in population health and care coordination to guide the journal's future. She succeeds Martha Dewey Bergren, whose impactful leadership has been instrumental in shaping the journal's success.

Join us in welcoming Willgerodt and celebrating Bergren's legacy as she continues contributing until her summer retirement. Learn more about this exciting transition.

NASN, seeing pressing concerns facing school health, including school nurse workforce issues, the need for sustainable funding, and a lack of robust data to demonstrate the value of school nurses, commissioned a national poll to determine public awareness of and support for funding school nurses in U.S. schools. The NASN School Nurse article Public Perceptions of School Nurses: Results From a Recent Public Opinion Poll details survey results and highlights key takeaways arming school nurses, school nurse leaders, and state/national associations with critically important data to advocate for school nurses.

Membership to NASN includes print and online subscriptions to NASN School Nurse.

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This section highlights news stories featuring NASN and school nurses. If you have a story about school nurses you'd like us to consider including, please send it to us.

• Rapid Response by Crestview Staff Saves Life of Eighth-Grade Student (Source: salemnews.net)
• 5 Staff Members Help Save Life of Child Who Choked on Food at Round Lake Park Elementary School (Source: lakemchenryscanner.com)
• RFK Jr. Could Pull Many Levers to Hinder Childhood Immunization as HHS Head (Source: the74million.org)
• Canyons School District Tests School-Based Medical Care to Fight Absenteeism (Source: fox13now.com)
• Urgent Care Coming to Utah Schools Through Enhanced Health (Source: ksltv.com)
• School Nurses Report Post-holiday Break Illness Surge Among Students (Source: inforum.com)

Processing this week's presidential transition may evoke a range of emotions and uncertainties for students. School nurses are often the initial point of contact for identifying student behavioral health and wellness concerns, determining interventions, and linking families to school and/or community resources. Visit NASN's Mental Health page to locate NASN position statements, documents, professional development, and more to support upstream approaches to improve the mental well-being of students, including the free NCPD program Improving MTSS Systems of Care for Student Mental Health: Tier 1-3.

Related Resources:

• NASN School Nurse article: School Nurses: The Sentinels of Mental and Behavioral Health for Schools, author NASN President Kate King
• Mental Health Challenges for Students with Epilepsy: Practice Considerations for School Nurses [1.0 NCPD contact hours]

Ready to see climate investments in action? Learn how schools & health systems are embracing zero-emission vehicles and clean energy through the Inflation Reduction Act. Join the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments on February 5, 2025, at 3 PM ET for a free virtual event showcasing inspiring examples you can take back to your school community! Register now!

Safe levels of fluoridation can significantly improve individual and community health outcomes. Share this Public Health Communications Collaborative resource to increase your community's understanding of fluoride's benefits.

Related Resources: NASN's Oral Health page provides resources for oral health teaching and continuing education, as well as for locating partners and protocols for prevention and treatment programs.

School nurses are well equipped to lead increased awareness efforts and help establish policies, protocols, and procedures that support a collaborative response to suspected human trafficking.

• This NASN School Nurse article reviews clinical guidance on human trafficking through a school-based lens, highlights common trafficking indicators, outlines best practices for response to abuse and exploitation, and provides additional tools and resources available to aid school nurses in their approach to caring for children experiencing trafficking.
• Explore the resources on SchoolSafety.gov to learn more about youth human trafficking and how schools can prevent, recognize, and respond to this crime.
• You can access additional human trafficking resources through the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign.

NASN Calendar of Events

This calendar includes upcoming events hosted by NASN and NASN affiliate school nurse organizations. Access the calendar.

National Health Observances Calendar

This calendar lists special days, weeks, or months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics. Access the 2025 calendar. 

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