Texas School Nurses Organization
June 2017
Mission Statement
To promote, protect, and enhance professional school nurse practice through advocacy, evidence-based education, collaboration, and partnerships that support each student’s well-being and readiness to learn.
CALL TO ACTION
June 2017
My fellow school nurses,
We need your help to protect children from losing vital healthcare services in schools.
The American Health Care Act (AHCA) is now being reworked in the Senate and expected to be introduced for a vote in the next two weeks. This bill would dramatically change Medicaid's structure through a per capita cap. A per capita cap means that there is a fixed amount for each child, no matter how sick or disabled that child is, or what is services would be necessary to ensure that child is healthy and ready to learn. These changes will impact the ability of students with disabilities and students in poverty to receive many critical health services in schools. This includes services provided by the school nurse for example, vision and hearing screenings and management for students with diabetes, asthma, sickle cell disease and other health conditions that need management during the school day. Many schools are able to provide these professional services with Medicaid funding.
In addition, our most vulnerable students may not be able to get the healthcare, treatments and medication they need due to lack of insurance coverage through Medicaid.
Someone once told me to "Speak what you see". I am asking you now to "Speak what you see". We must take action now to stop America's most vulnerable children from losing vital healthcare services. Children will be affected by this loss in Medicaid funding and most of us have seen the devastating impact on children when access to health care is limited.
Call or email your Senator to urge them to vote NO on the American Health Care Act, that places arbitrary caps on how much Medicaid funding a child receives. Call the Senate switchboard and ask to be connected to your Senator at 202-224-3121.
Use these talking points:
As a constituent and a school nurse, I oppose the passage of the American Health Care Act. Rather than close the gap and eliminate the rate of uninsured children in America, the current proposal will ration the health care America's most vulnerable children receive and undermine the ability of school districts to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities and students in poverty.
Currently $4 to 5 billion dollars (one percent of Medicaid) flows to school districts every year to address potential barriers to education for students with disabilities and co-existing health conditions. The current proposal will jeopardize students' ability to receive comprehensive care at schools and create barriers for preventive and chronic medical care.
Schools are part of the safety net for children and Medicaid plays a significant role, particularly in the funding of needed medical services for children in special education under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) through their IEP (Individualized Education Program), but also for those students without IEPs who are eligible for Medicaid.
Increasingly, schools are partners in health promotion and interventions for students' physical and mental health that helps them be successful and ready to learn.
See below for sample Social media messages shared with us by the Save Medicaid in Schools Coalition and adapt with your Senator's name and handle (sample graphics can be found in the attached letter.) The Twitter handles for all U.S. senators can be found here.
Our future depends on educating children for success who can live the healthiest life possible. We need to support the Medicaid funding that helps to keep children healthy and in school learning!
Beth Mattey, MSN, RN, NCSN
President
National Association of School Nurses
Lead School Nurse
Brandywine School District
Wilmington, DE
President's Message
Summer is finally here. Maybe you didn't wait for that last day of school to ease on into a summer state of mind. There have been years that I began the countdown to the last day well before Christmas and there have been times that the last day came very quickly. Now that it is here, what are you doing for you?
Nurses have been voted once again as America's most trusted professional. The reason... we put a lot of emotion and compassion into our practice. Being a nurse is not just what we do, it is who we are. If we do not practice self-care, then everything we do will suffer.
Summertime is a great time to do a self inventory. Begin self-healing and self-care by using whatever physical body self-care techniques that slow us down. Sitting on a beach, reading a book, yoga, painting, relaxation exercises- whatever works for you.
My hope for you is that you are able to practice self-care, recharging your compassion reserves so you when you return to school your effectiveness as a school nurse will increase!
Sláinte (health) to you,
Lisa Sicilio, MEd, BSN, RN, NCSN
Legislative Priorities
TSNO has monitored closely school nursing related legislation in the 85th Regular Legislation Session and has taken precise and assertive action. TSNO Bill Status Report will offer further information and the ability to see the stages of action for each bill. This report will be posted to the TSNO website under Legislative Priorities and Resources.
HB 1076 relating to the mandatory spinal screening of public and private school students passed and was signed by the Governor. The effective date is 9/1/17, but to begin the 2018-2019 school year. It will take DSHS one year to write the Rules for this Law. More information will follow from their office.
SB 196 relating to the notification requirement if a public school, including an open-enrollment charter school, does not have a nurse, school counselor, or librarian assigned to the school during all instructional hours was Vetoed by the Governor on 6/15/17. TSNO will continue to take assertive action during the Special Session which begins on July 18th in seeking options to add this language as an amendment if possible. Parents have the right to protect their child’s health and keep them safe at school. Your Leverage in Power as a respected and knowledgeable professional nurse is needed. Look to the TSNO SchoolNurseNet community for future discussions and action steps.
Texas Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention Summit
Groups who are encouraged to send attendees are: youth; parents; business communities; media; schools/universities; youth-serving organizations; law enforcement agencies; religious or fraternal organizations; civic and volunteer groups; healthcare professionals; state, local or tribal agencies with expertise in the field of substance misuse; and other organizations involved in reducing substance misuse."
Will You Be in San Diego? #NASN2017
#NASN2017 is just around the corner and I am excited that you will join the fun and excitement in sunny San Diego. Here are some items for your calendar and an action item for the Purses for Nurses Auction in support of the NASN Endowment.
CALENDAR: Saturday, July 1st
7:00 pm -9:00 pm - Purses for Nurses (PFN) Endowment Fundraiser Live Auction - GRAND BALLROOM 5-9
Join in the fun as PFN expands to a live auction. Purses and jewelry open for bids. Funds raised provide grants in support of NASN Research Priorities and Endowment Scholarships.
ACTION ITEM: To expedite auction registration, fill out the attached form and EMAIL the Word document (no pdf) to: NASNauction@gmail.com PFN will assign you a paddle number and enter it on the paper. You can enter your credit card number the night of the event. It will be helpful if you name the document with your name for ease of identification
CALENDAR: Sunday, July 2nd
3:00 - 3:30 pm- TSNO Affiliate Rally - LOCATION TBD
Wear White top with Khakis or Jeans. We will provide a Texas bandana.
3:30 - 6:00 pm- NASN Business meeting and installation of officers. Please join us as Laurie Combe assumes the office of President Elect. - GRAND BALLROOM 5-9
6:00 - 8:00 pm - TSNO Affiliate Night Out - MARINA KITCHEN located at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. TSNO will provide plenty of appetizers. Purchases form the cash bar are your responsibility.
8:00 - 9:30 PM - President's reception in celebration of Nina Fekaris' installation as President of NASN.
NASN 2017 From Evidence to Action
TSNO Scholarships
CNE Scholarship
This scholarship is provided by funds TSNO has obtained from conference profits and other donations. TSNO has continued to budget and annually provide educational scholarships to TSNO members who are enhancing their education within school nursing. The individual scholarship amount will be up to $200. Requirements: Current active member for the previous two years, current license as nurse in state of Texas, and current full time employment in a school setting EC-12. Access Guidelines & Application
Education Scholarship
This scholarship is provided by funds TSNO has obtained from conference profits and other donations. TSNO has continued to budget and annually provide educational scholarships to TSNO members who are advancing their education within school nursing. The scholarship amount will be up to $1,000 annually. Requirements: Current active member for the previous two years, current license as nurse in state of Texas and current full time employment in a school setting EC-12. Access Guidelines & Application
NBCSN Exam Scholarship Reimbursement
This scholarship supports national certification of school nurses by providing partial reimbursement of the NBCSN Examination Fee up to $200. Requirements: Current active member for the previous two years, current license as nurse in state of Texas, current full time employment in a school setting EC-12, exam must have been taken in the current calendar year, candidate must have passed the certification exam and candidate is not seeking reimbursement from another source. Access Guidelines and Application
Summertime- Well Worth Watching!!
Save the Date: Texas School Nurses Organization 15th Annual Conference at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott
Friday, Nov 10, 2017, 08:00 AM
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, TX, United States
TSNO Executive Committee
ELECTED OFFICERS:
PRESIDENT Lisa Sicilio - Region 6
PRESIDENT-ELECT Lisa Formby - Region 16
TREASURER Aida Salazar - Region 19
Secretary Adalia Del Bosque - Region 1
adaliadelbosque.tsno@gmail.com
NASN DIRECTOR Laurie Combe - Region 4
NOMINATIONS COORDINATOR Laurie Smith - Region 8
STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT / NURSE PLANNER Lisa Blackmon-Jones Region IV
ADVOCACY CHAIR Chanthini Thomas - Region IV
SCHOOL HEALTH ISSUES Karen Schwind - Region 13
MEMBER SERVICES Art Oaxaca Region 19
APPOINTED COORDINATORS:
Membership Coordinator Linda Howard - Region 8
REGION PRESIDENTS Coordinator Sarah Batson - Region 17
EXHIBIT LIAISON Diane Hunt-Bullard - Region 20
EXECUTIVE BOARD LIAISON/ WEBSITE & MARKETING COORDINATOR Kara Delay - Region 8 kdelay@atlisd.net
Email: lsicilio.tsno@gmail.com
Website: txsno.org
Location: Richardson, Tex, United States
Phone: (979) 764-5540
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Texas.School.Nurses.Organization
Twitter: @TxSchlNurses