Email from National Association of School Nurses Weekly Digest from NASN View as Webpage November 13, 2025 Wildfires, Extreme Heat, Students & School Staff  NASN's new NCPD course helps you better understand the health impacts. Listen to the Latest Beyond Bandaids Episode Vaping and the Adolescent Brain: Why School Nurses Matter Latest from NASN See more. Upcoming Events See more. Weekly Digest Archive See past issues. President's Message As we celebrate American Education Week—next week, November 17-21, 2025—we honor the incredible team of professionals who help our nation's students succeed. Within the weeklong observance, Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day on Wednesday, November 19, recognizes the essential contributions of ESPs—including school nurses—who serve with compassion and professionalism to keep students healthy, safe, and ready to learn. School nurses are indispensable to the health and future of our nation's children. Yet, the workforce faces ongoing challenges—staffing shortages, funding gaps, and evolving responsibilities. NASN's 2025-2026 School Nurse Workforce Study will help illuminate these issues, capturing vital data to better support the professionals who make school health accessible and empower students every day. Next week, let's celebrate the dedicated individuals who make public education possible for all. Lynn Nelson, MSN, RN, NCSN NASN President Better Health. Better Learning.™   NASN News and Highlights Protect the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) NASN's Advocacy Action Center makes it easy for you to advocate on the policy issues that matter most to school nurses. Recently, the U.S. Department of Education implemented layoffs at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), jeopardizing federal oversight of IDEA. Write your congressional representatives and urge them to immediately restore staffing and reaffirm the federal government's full commitment to IDEA implementation.   Paid advertisement Check Out the Candidates for the 2026 NASN Election Your voice matters in shaping the future of NASN. Take time to meet the candidates running for Vice President and Nominating Committee Member. The election will be conducted online in the spring of 2026—make sure you're ready to participate. Empowering School Nurses to Promote School Connectedness School connectedness encompasses protective elements that enhance students' academic and health outcomes, yet clarity of the concept is needed as it relates to school nursing services. The Journal of School Nursing (JOSN) article, "School Connectedness and School Nursing Services: A Concept Analysis," aims to clarify the meaning of school connectedness, describe its uses, attributes, and characteristics in relation to school nursing services, and provide sample cases empowering school nurses to identify at-risk students and foster a supportive, inclusive environment for all. NASN Members, Read This Article Now Not yet a NASN member? Receive complimentary subscriptions to JOSN and NASN School Nurse. Join The Only Professional Organization Dedicated Solely to Empowering School Nurses—Today!     The following are paid advertisements   Supporting Kids’ Mental Health: A Guide for Parents Provide parents with the tools to support their kids’ mental health and empower kids to say “NO” to unhealthy coping strategies like underage drinking. Learn more       Earn a PK-12 School Nurse Certificate at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. As a School Nurse, you can greatly make a difference in the lives of young children, our most vulnerable members of the community. If you’re ready to embark on a rewarding journey in the field of school nursing, submit an application. Get started now.   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. Four Aquebogue Elementary Staffers Honored for Helping Injured Student (Source: riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com) Midland School Nurse Honored With “Shine Like a Mustang” Award (Source: whiterivernow.com) Tri-City United Public Schools Recognizes 4 Exceptional Staff Members (Source: southernminn.com) Red Bank Primary School Nurse Named ‘Unsung Superhero In Education’ (Source: patch.com) How One Nurse’s Snack Closet Is Changing Lives at a Small-Town High School (Source: nurse.org) With Quick Thinking and Skill, MIS/HPMS Nurses Save a Life (Source: peoplenewspapers.com)   Managing Chronic Health Conditions Supporting Student Mental Health: Learning Opportunities for School Nurses School nurses are essential to student mental health—supporting assessment, intervention, and care every day. Explore these Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) programs focused on student mental health—each offering evidence-based strategies to foster resilience, safety, and emotional well-being in every student you serve. Evidence-Based Initiative to Integrate Mental Health and Enabling Services in the School-Based Setting [1.25 NCPD contact hours] Mental Health Assessment in the School Setting: An Update on Assessment, Interventions, and Treatment [1.0 NCPD contact hour] The Invisible Backpack: Trauma-Informed Approaches for School Nurses [1.25 NCPD contact hours] Promoting Student Resilience in a Changing Climate: Strategies for School Nurses [1.25 NCPD contact hours] Impacts of Social Media on the Health of Kids and Teens: Considerations for School Nurses [1.25 NCPD contact hours] These sessions, new to the NASN Learning Center, were initially presented at Virtual NASN2024 and are part of the Back-to-School Success Series—15 on-demand, school nurse–focused programs (17.0 NCPD contact hours) available FREE with NASN membership.   Improving School Community & Student Health Children's Grief Awareness Day: Tools to Foster a Compassionate School Environment In honor of Children's Grief Awareness Day on November 20, NASN—proudly a founding member of The Coalition to Support Grieving Students—is pleased to share the resource "Recognizing Grief Awareness Day in Your School." This guide offers practical ways schools can acknowledge and support grieving students. Together, we can reduce feelings of isolation and ensure every student feels seen and supported. Developing a Comprehensive, Energy-Efficient Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Plan Poor IAQ in schools has been linked to adverse health effects, increased absenteeism, and worsened academic performance. The School District Energy Efficient Indoor Air Quality Management Plan Toolkit, from the Center for Green Schools, provides helpful resources for school districts to develop and implement a comprehensive, written energy-efficient IAQ management plan, which can help communicate how health, sustainability, and budgetary goals align to support student success and long-term operational efficiency. Join Us in Spreading Hyperhidrosis Awareness Three hundred eighty-five million people worldwide live with hyperhidrosis—a condition that's often misunderstood and underdiagnosed. November is Hyperhidrosis Awareness Month, and together, we can amplify the message that excessive, uncontrollable sweating is a serious medical condition that deserves serious attention.   Corporate Sponsor Highlight MannKind Corporation is a company focused on developing and providing innovative inhaled medicines and devices to help people living with diabetes and other serious health conditions, including rare lung diseases. MannKind's goal is to improve the lives of those with unmet medical needs through convenient treatment options.   Mark Your Calendar   Application Deadline: Fellows of the National Academy of School Nursing Nominations November 30 Learn more. Save the Date: NASN2026 Stronger Together  In-Person | June 29 - July 2, 2026 | Las Vegas, Nevada Virtual | Dates to be announced | Online    State Associations of School Nurses' Conferences Utah School Nurse Association Fall Conference - November 14. Learn more. School Nurse Organization of Minnesota 2025 Conference - November 14-15. Learn more. Delaware School Nurse Association 2025 Fall Conference - November 20. 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