Healthy Schools Campaign

Celebrate School Nurse Day

Today we have a guest blog from Donna Fishman, HSC’s School Nurse Program Director

Today, May 7, 2008, is School Nurse Day.  I would like to take the opportunity to send best wishes to all the school nurses making a difference for the health of their students.  I especially would like to thank the school nurses that have and are currently participating in our School Nurse Leadership training.  We at HSC are constantly amazed by the intelligence, commitment, energy and wisdom of the school nurses we meet in our trainings—not to mention the phenomenal school nurse educators and leaders that comprise our School Nurse Advisory Committee.  I wish everyone knew how important school nurses are to the health and education of our children.

I hope the sun shines everywhere over school nurses today, and that you enjoy the day!

School Nurses Making a Difference through Advocacy

Today we have a guest blog from Linda Gibbons, Director of the School Nurse Certification Program National-Louis University and Illinois Director to the National Association of School Nurses

WOW!

Thanks to the sponsorship and support of the Healthy Schools Campaign, 40 Illinois school nurses traveled to Springfield and spent the day making a difference and advocating for our students and the need for professional school nursing support. 

 
We were able to present our petition for a State School Nurse Consultant at the Illinois State Board of Education meeting with more than 20 nurses present.  Mark Bishop (of Healthy Schools Campaign), Linda Gibbons (of the Illinois Association of School Nurses) and Vyki Jackson (the Illinois School Nurse consultant) presented compelling testimony about the need for coordination at the state level within the Board of Education. The Board members were very supportive of our position, but cited the need for funds and the ability to add positions within the agency.

It was a real "high" for all of us!

Then, we convened with the entire group of school nurse advocates at IEA headquarters for some briefing and to receive materials to bring to the Capitol.  At the Capitol, we were generally well received by both our representatives and senators, and we took commitments that they would vote to support school health and school nursing on a number of specific bills. 

When we reconvened, it was with a group of school nurses who were feeling very empowered to make a difference and to continue the contact with our legislators next week when they are back in their home districts.

It was an exciting day that we hope to make an annual event.

Many thanks to Healthy Schools Campaign for the organization, lunch and support of this important endeavor.

School Nurses left excited about what we can do and energized to really make a difference through legislative advocacy.

School Nurses Key in Preventing Cardiovascular Disease

by Mark Bishop, HSC Deputy Director

At HSC, we believe that school nurses play an important role in children’s health. As the only medically-trained health professional in the school setting, a school nurse can be key to identifying opportunities for improvement and ultimately providing a healthier learning environment.

We’ve worked with school nurses on developing wellness policies, implementing indoor air quality plans, tracking asthma episodes, reporting BMI and many other issues central to school health.

Last week, a new report was released in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association that shows the breadth and importance of the impact a school nurse can have.

The report shows that, as the primary health contact for many students, the presence of a school nurse can be one of the most important factors in reducing children’s risk for cardiovascular disease:

"Not all children receive regular physical examinations or well-child care outside of that provided by schools,” said Laura Hayman, Ph.D., R.N., head of the statement writing group and professor of nursing in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at New York University.  “Identifying risk factors for CVD is a key component of primary prevention; thus, schools, preschools and other community-based settings where childcare is provided are important places to begin educating children and families about CVD risk.  Because they’re knowledgeable about resources in their communities, school nurses are well positioned to provide appropriate referrals for children and their families once a risk factor is identified."

This research reinforces what we know about the vital role that school nurses can play in schools. We’re continuing our work with school nurses at our upcoming training on improving schools’ environmental health. To learn more, check out the school nurse leadership page on HSC’s website.

HSC Releases Quick & Easy Guide to School Wellness

by Jean Saunders, HSC School Wellness Director

We're very excited to announce the release of The Quick & Easy Guide to School Wellness, a multi-media how-to guide filled with comprehensive information, practical advice, tools and resources to help you take action.

The guide includes sections on improving food available at school; increasing physical activity; teaching good nutrition; encouraging staff wellness; and engaging parents. It also includes case studies and advice for long-term success.

HSC launched the guide with School Health Corp. to rave reviews two weeks ago at the National Association of School Nurses annual conference in Nashville, where nearly 500 school nurses picked up their copy of the guide.

With the Quick & Easy Guide, developing and adopting a school wellness program doesn't have to be overwhelming: It is a process that can be accomplished in steps or phases, with positive results at each stage.

Register today to access the guide online, or place your order and we'll send your guide in the mail!

Schools Need School Nurses

Today we have a guest entry from Martha Dewey Bergren, HSC Board member and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Nursing.

Last month, the Chicago Tribune ran an article about 7-year-old Sophie Elder's struggle to get support for her health-care needs in school ("Girl, Interrupted," March 4). The story describes Sophie’s struggles as a child with diabetes -- she needs blood tests throughout the day -- and her family’s efforts to find support for Sophie when she is in school.

However, the story did not mention the obvious solution: a school nurse.

The health care needs of all children are important, whether they have diabetes, seizures, anaphylactic food allergies, asthma or the accidents and injuries that occur every day at school.

In the absence of a registered nurse with school-nurse certification, lay persons, secretaries or other school personnel are expected to administer medications, including injections, and perform other nursing procedures unsupervised and without the appropriate training.

Many school districts staff each building with a school nurse, but there's no national standard specifying a nurse-to-student ratio. (The National Association of School Nurses recommends minimum ratios of nurses to students depending on the needs of the student populations.) And Illinois is not one of about a dozen states that have some guidelines regarding the number of school nurses in districts or schools.

Why doesn't Illinois think the health of all children in school is important enough to have a school nurse in every building? It is important for parents to investigate who provides care in their child's school. And it is time for Illinois to move forward with a nurse-to-student ratio that will protect the health of all children.