October/November 2008
NSNA "In the Know"
October/November 2008
Message from the President
Hello, and welcome to winter weather! The membership committee is currently in the process of formatting a member email list and the minutes of our board meetings will then be sent to you through email to let you know how your board is working for you. In the meantime, here’s the rundown of the some of the things that we are working on:
- A statement from NSNA was given at the special session regarding the safe haven law.
- NSNA will be represented at the Nebraska Statewide Suicide Prevention Coalition meeting on 12/5/08.
- The board has recommended that a change be made in the statute on screening guidelines to eliminate “must be completed by the first quarter” and will be contacting senators for their support on changing the statute.
- Conversations regarding a school nurse mandate similar to Iowa’s have taken place between the presidents of NSEA and NSNA.
- NSNA is giving Attack on Asthma Nebraska funding in the amount of $500.
As always, please contact me by email at jafreema@esu1.org or by phone at 402-373-2355. I welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions!
Jackie Freeman
School Nurse of the Year
Jean Kamrath has been an RN for 36 years and a school nurse for Columbus Public Schools for 18 years. Jean was nominated by fellow CPS school nurse Janelle Ryan not only for her ability to fulfill the traditional duties of school nurse but for the extra duties and responsibilities Jean takes on to make the lives of students, parents, staff and members of the community better.
Jean is involved in numerous school and community organizations and activities. She is a member of the United Way Student Fund Committee, which helps families obtain needed medical, dental, and vision care for students. She has organized numerous food and clothing drives to help students in need. This year, she gathered with help from the Columbus High School alumni, graduation gowns, caps, and tassels for seniors who would not be able to participate in the graduation ceremony without the necessary attire.
Jean Kamrath does a wonderful job of caring for the health and medical needs of the students in her building. She also fosters relationships with the students she serves and is often given credit from former Columbus High School students as one of the adults at school that cared for them helped them to stay in school and graduate. Mrs. Kamrath cares for the whole student: body, mind, and spirit.
In the News!!
Becky Wetenkamp was recently published in the book INSPIRING THE INSPIRATIONAL: WORDS OF HOPE FROM NURSES TO NURSES. The book relates moving stories from nurses.
For your Information!
- All cough and cold medications will be relabeled to state that these medications not be used for any children under 4 years of age. Here is the CDC website about the change: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5743a5.htm?s_cid=mm5743a5_e
- The website www.otcsafety.org provides information and brochures about the changes.
- NASN's "Don't Get Sidelined by the Flu" program provides resources and tools to educate parents, faculty, and students about preventing and treating influenza. The materials are available in English and Spanish. http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=316
- Check out the NASN website for free or low cost CEU opportunities.
- TESH: Telehealth Education for School Health—next program is Nov. 20th from 3:30-5:30 central time; topic: HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention
- Update; For more info: http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/schoolhealth/
Safe Haven Law
The Nebraska School Nurses Association support revision of the Safe Haven Legislation to apply to infants up to 30days of age. The original law highlights the need for better medical access to medical and mental health care for our state’s children. Consideration of making the state Children’s Health Insurance Program available to more children in poverty needs to be a priority in legislation. Families need the support to provide for children with physical and mental health needs. Your consideration of expanding the poverty level to include more children in this health insurance for children needs to be as high in priority as changing the Safe Haven Legislation. The members of our organization serve many of the children and families who would benefit from an increase in the insurance coverage.
Rules and Regulations Report
Tammy Dean, representative from Central Nebraska School Nurses and I have been meeting with other stake-holders and members of the DHHS to determine a process for promulgating rules and regulations pursuant to Statute 79-249 (conducting health inspections). The committee was guided by the following agreed upon operating principles.
Recommendations should be evidence-based, medically sound, and consistent with contemporary public health practice.
Should encompass screening for health issues which are significant to child health and learning. And, the data derived from screening should be meaningful and useful.They should be achievable for schools and not present an unreasonable burden. The timeframe for completion of screenings should be consistent with available health needs, time and resources.
And, when possible, reflect culturally and linguistically appropriate standards of practice. During the process it was determined that the present law governing the formation of rules and regulations does not allow for them to be evidence-based, medically sound, and consistent with current medical and public health practice. The DHHS determined that requesting legislative change for this particular bill did not meet their top needs for the year, therefore, putting the issue in the hands of other stake-holders. The Steering Committee decided not to proceed at this time promulgating rules and regulations under the current law as we felt it would not be helpful to schools and the product would be unsatisfactory. On Oct 2 the NSNA Board decided to partner with CNSNA and take it upon ourselves to request legislative changes to the law. Tammy and I will be contacting Senators to hopefully find one that would be willing to sponsor the bill. Now with many new Senators this might be a bit more challenging. Our goal is to make the statutes less restrictive and more conducive to moving forward with relevant and helpful rules and regulations for school screenings.
Submitted, Jan Thede
Member News
Plattsmouth Elementary nurse Kim Hall's husband, John, died of pancreatic cancer on July 4th. Kim and her twin daughters reside at 2213 Joyce Circle, Bellevue, Ne 68005 if anyone would like to drop them a card. Kim is a former treasurer of NSNA. Congratulations to Katie Tighe on the birth of her baby girl, Olivia Marie, 7# 3 oz and 19 inches long!
Officer Information
President- Jackie Freeman
(402)373-2355; jafreema@esu1.orgPresident Elect-Carol Tucker
(402)944-7083; ctucker@esu2.orgState Director- Judy Zabel
(402) 436-1655; jzabel@lps.orgSecretary-Sue Trigg
(402)680-1724; strigg@esu3.orgTreasurer-Heather Cullison
hcullison@bpsne.org1st District Rep-Dianne Frydendall-Smith
(402)525-7239; dfsmith@lps.org2nd District Rep-Becky Wetenkamp
(402)296-3174; bwetenkamp@plattsmouthschools.org3rd District Rep-Jan Thede
jthede@gips.orgState Consultant- Kathy Karsting
(402)471-0160; kathy.karsting@dhhs.ne.govMembership-Leslie Timm
mtimmmd@ptflash.netMembership-Dusty Duis
dduis@esu5.orgLegislative-Sharon Wade
sharon.wade@ops.orgConference Planning-Sue Trigg & Jackie Freeman
Attack on Asthma- Karen Boehm
klboehm@attg.netWebsite- Jackie Freeman
Newsletter- Katie Tighe
(402)412-2884; katie.tighe@sscardinals.org
If you have any topics or tidbits of information you would like to share with other members of the NSNA, please email them to katie.tighe@ssccardinals.org.
