November 30, 2017
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce that the online Medication Administration in a School Setting: School Nursing Practice in Massachusetts is now available on the SHIELD website at http://bucme.org/node/1167 (please see the course announcement attached to this email). This online course replaces the formerly offered live workshop: Medication Administration and Delegation. Designed as an “on your time” training, learners may register and take this course at any time that is convenient for them. This course provides the key information every public and private School Nurse needs to know about medication administration and delegation in Massachusetts schools, including laws and regulations, school nurse role and responsibilities, and best practice approaches.
This is one of three training workshops mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in order to be licensed as a School Nurse and it is designed for:
- Nurses seeking Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as a School Nurse in Massachusetts (mandated course).
- School Nurse Managers* who are listed on a school district’s MDPH Medication Administration and Delegation Registration (mandated every five years). *School Nurse Managers must also attend the three hour live workshop for Medication Administration program managers. (See the SHIELD website for scheduled dates and locations.)
- Any School Nurse seeking to refresh their knowledge of the regulations, requirements, and responsibilities for medication administration in MA schools.
We look forward to seeing many of you (along with your school psychologists) at our statewide quarterly meeting next Thursday, December 7th in Marlboro. Please be sure to register at: http://bucme.org/live/4911 if you plan to attend!
Thank you for all you do every day to ensure our students have high quality, evidence-based care in our schools!
Mary Ann, Carol and Janet
“The useless men are those who never change with the years.” – J.M. Barrie, writer
School Nurses in the News!
Massachusetts was featured in this American School Health Association (ASHA) newsletter which highlighted (Education Weekly) article including one of our videos.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rulesforengagement/2017/11/school-based_intervention_seeks_to_address_student_drug_use_with_constructive_conversations.html?print=1 Included in this article were the videos that feature both Karen Rufo from Natick Public Schools and Katie Vozeolas from the Haverhill Public Schools!
FROM THE MDPH MA TOBACCO CONTROL PROGRAM:
Many of you have been asking for information and resources related to vaping and “juuling”. Attached are some materials from the MDPH Tobacco Control Program. Additional information can be found through MDPH’s Community Partnership programs; these partners are able to provide presentations on Other Tobacco Products (OTP) with a highlight on e-cigarettes in your district. These presentations also focus on the tobacco industry’s tactics of sweet, cheap and easy to get. Contact your regional COP representative.
- The Surgeon General’s Report on E-Cigarette Use among Youth and Young Adults is a good resource on the issue and we always refer people to this information.
https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/
- The FDA recently targeted youth and vaping in their “Real Cost” campaign:
(The videos titled “Hacked” are those specifically targeting vaping): https://www.youtube.com/user/KnowTheRealCost/videos
- The Big Tobacco Targets Kids brochure attached here) , available through the MA Health Promotion Clearinghouse, provides information on Other Tobacco Products, including e-cigarettes and provides MA-specific data on e-cigarette use.
SBIRT UPDATE:
As I have mentioned in previous emails, over 23,500 students were screened using the SBIRT process in FY17! Most districts are choosing to screen 7th and 9th graders. Thank you to our innovators, early adopters, and the early majority who have already adopted this mandate in your schools. Thank you for your efforts to implement a proven prevention model that supports students with some difficult conversations! For those districts who are implementing later this year, we know there are still concerns that need to be addressed. If we can assist your district in tackling these issues, please contact either Wanda Visnick, our SBIRT Program Coordinator atwanda.visnick@state.ma.us or myself, Mary Ann Gapinski, to help in resolving any barriers to implementation. It is ESSENTIAL that all screening staff participate in an Introduction to SBIRT program. These programs will be conducted throughout the state only until mid-January. Please see SHIELD for registration for these day-long conferences at: http://bucme.org/node/1089 After these programs, only workshops on the Essentials of Implementation will be offered both locally and statewide. Please contact Wanda to schedule an Essentials workshop at: http://www.masbirt.org/training-request Thank you!
SOCIAL JUSTICE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:
The Center for Public Health Practice at the Colorado School of Public Health is offering From Positive Youth Development to Social Justice Youth Development webinar – Learn about positive youth development and social justice youth development theories; and their similarities and differences. Positive youth development is the preeminent theory and practice model for working with youth. In positive youth development, adults and communities seek to strengthen known protective factors among young people so that young people can thrive and become productive adults. (December 14th, 2 pm Eastern Time)
Documents
New Online Medication Administration Course