Moving Upstream to Address Health Inequity: A Middle School Program to Introduce Students to a Career in Nursing.

To promote health equity and address an increasing need for nurses, educational pathways and mentorship programs for students who want to pursue a nursing career should be considered during the earlier stages of secondary education. Several school nurses in the Brandywine School District in Delaware piloted a program to introduce middle school students to a career in nursing. Recognizing the racial, ethnic, and gender disparity in the nursing workforce, nurses sought out Black/African-American, Hispanic, and male students, populations who are underrepresented in nursing. Nurses informed students about a career in nursing and offered information on pathways to pursue an education in nursing. The program is intended to give a realistic perspective on the duties of nurses and to provide a level of educational and collaborative support from parents and faculty to assist students to transition into postsecondary nursing education programs. The current nursing shortage is a multifaceted issue creating an extreme need for nurses, particularly baccalaureate-prepared nurses who provide culturally competent and safe patient care. The BSD Lifesavers program aims to create programs and policies to promote a more diverse nursing workforce that will provide equitable health care for all communities.

Power of the Past, Celebrate the Present, Force of the Future Part 4: 50 Years of School Nursing Practice-From Then Until Now.

This article is the fourth in the series examining 50 years of NASN's history. It looks at the needs of our students and the practice of school nursing from 1968 through 2018 using the structure provided by NASN Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice™. The article examines the destiny of school nursing practice as determined by the needs of our students, the strength and resolve of school nurses, and the education and resources provided by NASN.

School Nurses Can Improve the Lives of Students With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic illness that is defined and diagnosed by its symptoms: extreme fatigue made worse by physical and mental activity, pain and decreased mental stamina, among others. A long-held, erroneous belief that ME/CFS is not a physiological illness has persisted among some clinicians, leading to the denial of a patient's physical illness and attributing the symptoms to other causes. The debilitating effects of ME/CFS in the pediatric population can affect all aspects of academic, social, emotional, and physical development. ME/CFS has been diagnosed in children younger than 10 years. Therefore, the school nurse is likely to encounter one or more students in the various stages of this disease, putting the school nurse in a position to ameliorate the impact of this potentially devastating chronic condition.

A Universal Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan: Introducing the New Allergy and Anaphylaxis Care Plan From the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening emergency. In the school setting, school nurses prepare plans to prevent an emergency, educating staff and students on life-threatening allergies. A critical component of any emergency plan is a plan of care in the event of accidental ingestion or exposure to an antigen to prevent the sequelae of untreated anaphylaxis. A universal anaphylaxis emergency care plan developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and reviewed by NASN offers an opportunity for schools, family, and health care providers to use one standard plan and avoid confusion. The plan and benefits of use are described in this article.

A Day on the Hill.

This article describes the author's advocacy experience at a press briefing on Capitol Hill. At stake is the continuation of Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program-funded health insurance to our most vulnerable children-those living in poverty and those with chronic health conditions. Current legislation proposes to impose block grants or per capita caps on federal funding for Medicaid and will put the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program at risk. Schools stand to lose over 4 billion dollars in reimbursement for services that students need to succeed in school.

Innovation Relay: Empowering School Nurses to Find New Solutions for Old Problems.

NASN's 48th Annual School Nurse Conference-Learning, Linking, Leading-included the first ever innovation relay contest. The relay was based on a design developed by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement's Innovation Relay. Participation included 43 contestants from 16 states and one foreign country. Teams were given 24 hours to develop a solution. This article describes the process utilized, the problem introduced, and a brief synopsis of each team's solution. The ongoing purpose of the exercise is to encourage innovation by school nurses as they experience student health-related barriers in the academic setting.

Preventing vision loss among students through eye safety and early detection.

Childhood vision problems that are detected and treated early can, in many cases, see improved outcomes compared with those detected late. Untreated, these problems can diminish the learning potential of the student and have long-term health and vision implications. School nurses can play a critical role in improving student outcomes by bringing vision screenings and eye health education to their schools. NASN and the National Eye Institute are working together to elevate awareness in schools about the importance of early detection and eye health and safety. While vision screenings can catch potentially worsening issues early, eye health education can teach children to adopt safe practices at a younger age and recognize changes in their vision. There may be barriers, but nurses can find support from those in their schools and the surrounding communities.