May 25, 2017
Dear Colleagues,
Much appreciation and many congratulations to our presenters – both oral and poster presentations – that were featured last Thursday at our Promising Practices Day of Celebration! Wow! What a wonderful display of professionalism, knowledge of and conviction to the health and wellness of our students! Each region had an outstanding display of the work being done by School Nurses every day to improve their practice and demonstrate leadership in their schools! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Please see the attached recent edition of the SBIRT Newsletter. Just a reminder that SBIRT in Schools Trainings are continuing into June and are already being scheduled for some August dates. Please be sure to check the BU SHIELD website at www.shield-bu.org for the information on these trainings. Please also see the attached information on a webinar scheduled for June 29th from 12noon – 1PM that will discuss RECREATIONAL CANNABIS USE in adolescents sponsored by Boston University! Registration for this webinar can be found at: http://www.nephtc.org/course/view.php?id=41
School nurses have been receiving a lot of inquiries regarding the dangers of the “BLUE WHALE CHALLENGE”. Reports are that this started several years ago in Russia (a recent online post states that Russian authorities had arrested the person who was responsible for starting this several years ago). It’s not fully clear if this is urban legend or fact, but regardless, it is worth encouraging parents and educators to mention it and discuss it with your students. Here’s what I know- it was reportedly designed as an app that engages young people to follow 50, increasingly dangerous “challenges” for 50 days and report back to the “administrator” online about their success in carrying out the challenges. The final instruction to the young person is to kill him/ herself. Here is a link below the MA Coalition for Suicide Prevention has passed along: https://safesmartsocial.com/blue-whale-challenge/?utm_source=Safe+Smart+Social+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=5892f47c06-S3_Newsletter_3_Stars_5_2_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_40b34a3ccb-5892f47c06-195876353 It cannot hurt to talk with young people about this as part of an on-line literacy conversation, and part of a conversation about how to manage feelings of distress.
And finally, we would like to acknowledge the efforts of another school nurse whose efforts have saved the life of a child (please see School Nurses in the News! in the email below)! We hear these stories and know that without you and the work you do, our students would be at risk for life-threatening events and outcomes every day at school! Thank you so much for your courage, conviction and compassion as a school nurse!
Please take time to honor our fallen loved ones over the long holiday weekend. Enjoy and stay safe!
Mary Ann, Janet and Carol
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right; you’ll be criticized anyway”. –Eleanor Roosevelt
School Nurses in the News:
Please see the news story that discusses the quick actions of CARRIE CASHMAN, the school nurse at the Pakachoag School in Auburn! Carrie deserves our appreciation for saving a first grader’s life. It is clear that if it were not for her quick actions the outcome would have been much different. http://www.auburnmassdaily.com/2017/05/school-committee-lauds-first-responders/
Congratulations to Ellen Hanley Nadeau, MSN, RN, NCSN! Ellen is the winner of the JOSN-SAGE First Publication Award by a School Nurse for her manuscript entitled “Barriers to Asthma Management for School Nurses: An Integrative Review” (Nadeau & Toronto, 2016). Ellen is currently an elementary school nurse in Westwood Massachusetts.
Congratulations to the following school nurses from the Chicopee Public Schools who have recently become nationally certified:
Mary Besser, Kathy Dubour, Wendy Hollis and Heather Weinberg! Congratulations to all!!
Congratulations to Mary A. D’Amore, who works in Brookline Public Schools on becoming nationally certified as well!
Please see the article recently published by the Worcester Telegram and Gazette that includes information related to concerns about the Netflix program, 13 Reasons Why, provided by Pamela Rivers, Nursing and Health Services Director in the Fitchburg Public Schools: http://telegram.com/news/20170521/13-reasons-why-raises-concerns-about-youth-suicide
From the MDPH Concussion Program:
The MDPH Concussion Program will be sending out the electronic data collection form for the year-end report for 2016-2017 on June 5 to all school principals and superintendents. As a reminder from Mass. Department of Public Health (MDPH) per the Sports Concussion Regulations 105 CMR 201 for 1) public and charter schools and 2) other non-public schools that are subject to the rules of Mass. Interscholastic Athletic Association that have extracurricular sports in grades 6-12:
These regulations require these schools or school districts to have policies and procedures governing the prevention, recognition and management of sports-related head injuries. Furthermore, the School or School District needs to provide MDPH with an affirmation on school or district letterhead, that it has developed such sports concussion policies in accordance with 105 CMR 201 and that an updated letter of affirmation is due by September 30, 2017 upon review or revision of its policies. (105 CMR 201.006(C)) (This letter is required every 2 years per the regulations.)
From the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health:
Please see attached for a free training being offered by NFI at the Worcester Recovery Center on June 7, 2017 regarding guardianship/conservatorship. More information, including registration/RSVP information, is in the attached flyer
From the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry:
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has received a grant to provide school nurses throughout the 12 northeastern states and DC with tools, information and training designed to aid in prevention and management of health-risk pests on school properties. This project is endorsed by the National Association of School Nurses. You are invited to participate in a brief survey about pest issues and concerns at your schools. The results of the survey will be used to ensure that resulting materials and information are relevant and helpful to you and your schools. If you have any questions please contact the project coordinator, Dr. Kathy Murray at kathy.murray@maine.gov or 207-287-7616. Complete the survey by clicking here or by pasting this URL into your browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PZVGDBF.
Thank you for your participation!
From 180 Days with T1D:
Attached is the May edition of ‘180 Days with T1D’. As always, please feel free to pass this along to any of your contacts that could use the information.
From My Life My Choice, My Life My Choice and The Family Justice Center:
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From Girls Rock Campaign:
Girls Rock Campaign Boston (GRCB) is in need of a qualified volunteer nurse for each of our summer sessions to make sure everyone is safe during the week! The GRCB nurse will distribute medications and handle any medical situations, injuries or illness that may arise during the week. The nurse will also serve as part of our support crew to help the session run smoothly all week. While we would prefer to have a consistent person throughout each week, we understand that volunteering your time is not always easy and could work to accommodate part time schedules. (Session 1: July 16-22/Session 2: August 6-12 — All Day: Monday 7:30am-6:00pm, Tuesday-Friday 8:00am-6:00pm or Flexible Commitment: 1st Shift Monday 7:30-1:00, Tuesday-Friday 8:00am-12:30pm / 2nd Shift Monday 12:00 -6:00, Tuesday-Friday 11:30-6:00). For descriptions of the support crew position and more learn more about GRCB, please check out our website, www.girlsrockboston.org. Please contact Nora Allen-Wiles, nora@girlsrockboston.org if you are interested and available to volunteer during the summer of 2017!
Mary Ann Gapinski, MSN, RN, NCSN
Director of School Health Services/ School SBIRT Coordinator
MA Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street – 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
SBIRT information: www.masbirt.org/schools