Email from National Association of School Nurses Weekly Digest from NASN View as Webpage April 10, 2025 Save the Date & Spread the Word! Virtual toolkit available. New DEI Special Interest Group Learn more about NASN SIGs and enroll. Latest from NASN See more. Upcoming Events See more. Weekly Digest Archive See past issues. President's Message School nurses are the heart of student wellness and keep the school and broader community safe and healthy. NASN is proud to partner with Mediaplanet on their recently published Infectious Diseases campaign. This initiative aims to enhance public understanding of the risks and effects of infectious diseases while equipping individuals with essential resources to protect themselves and their loved ones. You can explore the campaign and see my Op-Ed piece about how school nurses are on the front line against infectious diseases. Through our expertise as public health professionals, school nurses lead in providing evidence-based disease prevention and immunization information. Research has shown that parents and caregivers overwhelmingly support required vaccines for school attendance and trust school nurses as reliable sources of vaccine information and that effective communication around required vaccines should be brief, respectful, and informative. If you missed Alliance for a Healthier Generation's webinar on Vaccines for School Attendance: How to Talk So Parents Will Listen last week, you can watch the recording here, featuring NASN's own Amy Dark as a speaker. We've highlighted two upcoming webinars from Healthier Generation further down in this issue. Kate King, DNP, MS, RN, LSN NASN President Better Health. Better Learning.™   NASN News and Highlights NASN Statement on NINR Staffing Changes NASN is deeply concerned about the significant staff reductions at the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), including the recent removal of Director Dr. Shannon Zenk, and calls on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and federal decision-makers to take immediate action to protect and restore the integrity of NINR, recommit to its mission, and prioritize the support of research that directly informs and advances school nursing practice. The future of school health depends on it. View the full statement.   Paid advertisement We Want to Hear From You | Impact of Medicaid on School Nursing Services The relationship between Medicaid and school nurses is significant, and cuts to Medicaid will jeopardize school health programs, student health, and learning. NASN is gathering input from school nurses to better understand how Medicaid is used in schools, districts, and states—and how potential funding cuts could impact school nursing services. Your insights are vital in helping us advocate for policies that protect student health. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey. NASN Position Statements Are in Every Issue of JOSN In this month's The Journal of School Nursing (JOSN) podcast, Outgoing Editor Martha Dewey Bergren welcomes NASN President Kate King and Executive Board Member Connie Griffin to discuss the NASN Position Statements found in the April issue of JOSN, including Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) Orders in School. Listen now! Related Resources: NASN's new learning center program Supporting Students with DNAR Orders in the School Setting (1.0 NCPD contact hours)   The following are paid advertisements   See What More Pediatricians Prescribe! Studies show OTC medications for head lice don't work anymore. Learn what does!   Explore an Award-Winning EHR Manage students' physical, mental, and behavioral needs in one software system so you can better serve the whole child. See it in action   School Nurses in the News 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. Health Experts Urge Caution as Maine Lawmakers Revisit Vaccine Exemptions (Source: mainemorningstar.com) Houston ISD Has Half as Many School Nurses as Last Year. The District Says That’s Not a Problem (Source: houstonpublicmedia.org) Maryland School Nurse Administrator Of The Year Award Goes To Harford County Staffer (Source: patch.com) Eastern Iowa School Nurse Recognized for Helping Kids Learn About Conditions, Supporting Families (Source: b100quadcities.com) Sheila Story of Carson City Named Nevada’s School Nurse Administrator of the Year (Source: carsonnow.org) Falls County Community ARC Coalition: Supporting a School Nurse (Source: newsbreak.com) Role of a School Nurse in the Management of Type 1 Diabetes in Schools: Teachers' Perspectives (Source: triblive.com)   NASN2025 Key Details Registration Rates Register online by May 1, 2025, to get the early rate. Join NASN first and save! Make your travel plans. Learning: NCPD info View the agenda: In-Person or Virtual. Check out the conference blogs. See the FAQs. Join us for our annual In-Person and Virtual educational conference, NASN2025 Stronger Together, offering three registration options to suit your needs.  Remember, the best rate is available now—REGISTER by May 1 to secure your spot. Why should you attend one or both conferences? This year's exceptional learning experience unites school nurses and other members of the school health team from across the United States and around the globe, with new content that emphasizes evidence-based approaches to keeping students healthy and in school. The Justification Toolkit offers additional reasons to attend in person, virtually, or both. It also provides a customizable template letter to share with administrators or employers, helping to articulate the value of your attendance. Have a group of 10 or more? A 10% discount may apply. FMI: Contact Christopher Cephas at [email protected]   Managing Chronic Health Conditions Obesity in Children & Adolescents | Physical, Mental & Academic Health According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 5 U.S. children and adolescents live with obesity. Beyond the physical health implications, children with obesity often face weight bias and stigma, leading to emotional distress, social isolation, and academic challenges. School nurses are uniquely positioned to address these issues. View NASN's Childhood Obesity resource page to explore evidence-based guidelines, toolkits, campaigns, programs, initiatives, and more to help you serve as an advocate and educator within the school community. Physical activity is a critical component of a healthy school. Join Alliance for a Healthier Generation for two upcoming webinars focused on physical activity and student engagement: Enhancing Student Engagement Through Movement with The Walking Classroom on April 22, 2025, at 5:30 PM ET. Learn more and register. Active Students, Engaged Learners: Boosting Student Engagement through Physical Activity on May 7, 2025, at 1 PM ET. Learn more and register.   Improving School Community & Student Health April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Prevention services and supports developed by this collaboration can help parents, caregivers, and communities protect children and strengthen families. Related Resources: Child Maltreatment Prevention and Management (NASN Position Statement) Eating Disorders Screening Tool Eating disorders deeply impact emotional, physical, and social functioning as they often co-occur with anxiety, depression, and body image concerns. Early detection of an eating disorder can help children get the help they need sooner. Please use the National Eating Disorders Association's online screening tool to determine if a child/student you care for is at risk. Measles Cases, Outbreaks & the Critical Role of Vaccines As of April 3, 2025, a total of 607 confirmed measles cases were reported by 22 jurisdictions. Ongoing outbreaks underscore the real-world impact of vaccine hesitancy and access for parents and caregivers to reliable information about childhood immunizations. Research shows that school vaccine requirements lead to higher immunization rates, reducing the risk of vaccine-preventable outbreaks. Every vaccine recommended by the CDC has undergone multiple rounds of testing and years of monitoring to ensure its safety.   Mark Your Calendar Deadline: 2025 NASN Election Voting April 15 Learn more and vote now. Early Registration Deadline for NASN2025 Register by May 1 to take advantage of the early rates! Learn more. Save the Date & Spread the Word: School Nurse Day | May 7  Since 1972, National School Nurse Day has honored the contributions of school nurses. The proclamation, logo, posters, and social media toolkit for #SND2025 are available at schoolnurseday.org. Help us amplify the critical role, impact, and need for school nurses.   In-Person | June 26-29 | Austin, Texas Virtual | July 7-9 | Online Join us in person, virtually, or both! Don't miss the chance to connect with fellow school nurses and leaders in school health. Learn more and register by May 1 for the best rate!     State Associations of School Nurses' Conferences 2025 Alaska School Nurses Association Spring Conference - School Nurses: Bridging Healthcare and Education - April 11-12, 2025. Learn more. Oregon School Nurses Association Spring Conference - Riding the Wave of Current Practice - April 17-18, 2025. Learn more. Utah School Nurse Association Spring Conference 2025 - May 1-2, 2025. Learn more. 2025 New England School Nurse Conference - School Nurses: Caring for our Future - May 2-4, 2025. Learn more. 2025 Nebraska School Nurse Association Summer Conference - June 2-3, 2025. Learn more. Mississippi School Nurse Association Conference 2025 - Together For Health - June 3-5, 2025. Learn more. Alabama Association of School Nurses Annual Conference - June 3-5, 2025. Learn more. New Mexico School Nurse Association Annual Conference - June 9-11, 2025. Learn more. School Nurses Organization of Arizona 36th Annual School Health Conference - Protect Your Practice: Emergency and Legal Preparedness - June 12-13, 2025. Learn more. NASN Calendar of Events This calendar includes upcoming events hosted by NASN and NASN affiliate school nurse organizations. Access the calendar. NASN 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. OBSERVANCES CALENDAR Acceptance of advertising on the top or bottom ad banner or other ad placements in this newsletter or resource information listed within in no way implies endorsement of advertised or listed products or services by NASN. No endorsement is intended or implied.   NASN | nasn.org National Association of School Nurses | 1100 Wayne Avenue Suite 925 | Silver Spring, MD 20910 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice