SCHOOL NURSES:  GOING THE EXTRA MILE!

The title of the 15th Annual FASN State Conference is a reflection of the school nurse’s daily life!  We go the extra mile with a smile on our face.  When you see a frown or a serious face, it is because something is either wrong or unfair to one of our “kids.”  As your President for the last three years, I am so proud of “my” school nurses.  I brag about you every chance I get and I make a point of telling others about the work that you do.  We are professionals and I want the world to know that.

Our state conference, February 5-6, 2010, at the Orlando Marriott - Lake Mary is an excellent way to increase our knowledge, our professionalism and network with other professionals.  The fact that speakers and professionals ask us for an opportunity to speak to the nurses is an indication of the caliber of the conference.  

It’s not too late to register!  Or to submit a poster for our poster presentation!  We have two categories: Best Practices and Research.  We had to put deadlines in place for speakers but not for the Poster Presentation.  We place a very high value on nurses sharing what they have learned with other nurses.

Remember the song, “It’s raining, it’s pouring . . .”  It seems this school year has been one downpour after another.  I have learned to give thanks for the rain.  Rain allows me to appreciate the sun and to see the beauty in the rainbow.  Pause for a moment and look at some of the rain storms we’ve had this past year . . .

School nurses may never be rich by the world’s standards, but we are rich in the things that matter: caring for others, serving the less fortunate,  professionalism, pride in our profession.  We can see a year filled with bad news or find joy and thankfulness for what we do have and what we have accomplished.

Check out the rest of the web site, especially the conference section for information on the conference and for a list of things you can bring or send with others to help our nurses that go to Haiti.  Everyone doing a little adds up to a lot!

If it is raining in the world around you, look at your school nurse.  See the sunshine in her smile.  See the beauty in all that she has accomplished.  And look for the Florida Association of School Nurses, standing behind her, serving school nurses statewide!