Florida Association of School Nurses








		Welcome to the Florida Association of School Nurses (FASN) web site. A word from the President Another school year has come to an end. It has been a long, sometimes overwhelming, year for all of us. Still, we have much we can take pride in. In lieu of my letter to you, I want to share the thoughts of Donna Johnson, Pasco County Liaison. Enjoy! “Walk softly and carry a big stick, you shall go far” — Teddy Roosevelt 1900 Seventeen years working as a school nurse have passed by so quickly! Similar to the analogy: "with a blink of an eye and your children are grown.” At the end of every school year, I try to reflect upon what I have accomplished, did not accomplish, and what I would like to “wish” for the next year. However, I must truly admit, this past school year has been one of the most challenging years. Hard economic times, along with the uncertainty of school district budget cuts, have presented the most incredible challenges for many school nurses. It’s no secret that school nurses play a vital role in bridging the gap between academics and medicine. Teddy Roosevelt’s famous quote, “Walk softly and carry, a big stick, you will go far” summarizes the role school nurses play today in bridging and closing the widening gap between education and medicine. These famous words of wisdom could not describe the functions of school nursing any more eloquently or more precisely. The beginning of this school year in itself was a whirlwind. School nurses in many states encountered the Swine Flu epidemic in full force having to create and become resilient in addressing this worldwide epidemic. Public fears and anxiety created additional tensions and numerous misunderstandings. Immunizations clinics throughout school districts were efficiently conducted with the collaborative partnerships. More importantly, school nurses became more visible as a cohesive group of health care experts seen within our community. Our phones constantly rang in August and September, as we began to coordinate and work closely with each other in teams providing this community heath initiative service at our school sites. Throughout the fall, we balanced our duties along with the added responsibilities of Swine Flu clinics. Other responsibilities were postponed if they could be, as the priority of completing these clinics throughout many school districts took precedence. School nurses became proficient in their triage skills, troubleshooting school health issues that seemed overwhelming, but we persevered! January seemed as though, for many of us, we were just beginning the school year! What had we done? The urgency of catching up with health care plans, screening referrals, and other school wide meetings seemed endless! Before long, health education classes were being planned and the thought of summer break seemed as though it would never arrive, but here we are…. sigh! Throughout the years, the numbers of children with medically complex needs have increased tremendously. School nurses are not in the clinic placing band-aids. Conversely, school nurses today spend a large amount of their time case managing, assisting struggling families, allocating resources, and delegating safe effective care at each school site. In addition, the lack of health care insurance and the increasingly identified homeless families present areas of focus where we cannot easily measure our time spent in assisting these families. Every school nurse has their own story to share about the special children that were helped along the way. My own personal reflection of this past year highlights assisting a 4th grade student to be placed in free braces, which decreased his drooling and improved his speech. His peers no longer ridicule him,and he smiles ever so sweetly from ear to ear whenever I see him. Another personal reflection this school year involved an 8th grade middle school student who had a brain herniation requiring immediate surgery. I was able to locate a physician who performed surgery within two weeks. Since then, this student has returned to school and is able to complete her final middle school year without severe headaches and dizziness. Again, these are only two of the countless stories told by my professional school nurse colleagues. A well-rested summer break is always soothing for all of those who work in education. Resting and rejuvenating themselves; gearing up for a new school year in August. If there could be one wish granted, it would be for there to be a better understanding of the role and legal responsibilities school nurses are challenged with each and every day. Often times, they seem to be insurmountable. School nurses are health care professionals who work behind the scenes of education to ensure student health and safety. Every school administrator, faculty, staff and parent should understand and become familiar with the role of school nursing today, which has changed significantly and is by far deeper than what is visible on the surface in the world of education. School districts should encourage everyone to personally get to know their school nurse, understand the depths of their responsibilities, including the challenging legal issues required for safe delegation. By far, school nurses are a dedicated and committed group of health care professionals who work collaboratively as a team providing excellence in the oversight of health to support every child’s ability to learn, regardless of their medical issue. As we conclude this school year and look forward to the next year ahead, school nurses will continue to work together cohesively and continue to champion one another in creating a team of excellence for every school district. We will walk together, with our sticks, standing tall and speaking ever so softly to ensure the health and safety of our school children. Well spoken, Mr. President! Reflections of a School Nurse Donna Johnson Pasco County Liaison June 2010 Thank you Donna for being such an eloquent voice for school nursing! Karen Karen Thoennes FASN President Check it out! School Nurse Advocacy Day Video FASNating News-letter online! School Nurse Advocacy Day Photos Our 2010 State Conference - See the Photos!