Relentless School Nurse

MARCH 7, 2024

In honor of Women’s History Month, I am highlighting the remarkable legacy of Lillian Wald, a pioneering figure in public health and community service. Wald’s journey began in 1893 when, as a young nurse from the New York Hospital Training School, she embarked on a mission to teach home nursing to immigrant families in New York’s Lower East Side.

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Relentless School Nurse

MARCH 3, 2024

We cannot underestimate the impact of the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” movement that is sweeping across the country. On the surface, it seems innocent enough. Parents and school nurses need to be strong partners for students’ health and well-being. But when legislation passes that includes cherry-picking which “services” school nurses can provide, it becomes a quagmire fraught with barriers to care.

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Relentless School Nurse

MARCH 1, 2024

There is a concerning trend happening in state houses across the country fundamentally impacting how school health services are delivered by licensed school nurses. The most recent state is Wyoming, passing a bill that under the guise of “protecting parental rights,” requires schools to create lists of “routine” school nursing services that parents will have to agree to.

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Relentless School Nurse

MARCH 1, 2024

Eileen Gavin is President of the New Jersey State School Nurse Association (NJSSNA) and she has an important message to share about the significance of returning to in-person school nursing conferences. Her message is heartfelt and aims to encourage the return of in-person attendance as a way to reconnect and regroup. We spend so much time in isolation as school nurses, that when given an opportunity to convene face to face, it can be healing and bolster our resilience.

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Relentless School Nurse

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Embracing the Duality of School Nursing: Navigating Love and Challenges In the realm of school nursing, a profession that demands unwavering dedication, boundless compassion, and unyielding resilience, a delicate balance exists between the profound love for the job and the myriad challenges that accompany it. The intricate dance of school nursing, where passion intertwines with exhaustion, and fulfillment coexists with frustration.

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Relentless School Nurse

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

Click to view slideshow. March of 2024 will mark four years since the COVID-19 pandemic gripped our nation and the rest of the world. The first COVID-19 patient in New York was reported on March 1, 2020, and it soon became one of the largest epicenters of the disease, overwhelming the healthcare system. Dr. Cornelia Griggs, a pediatric surgery fellow, and mother of two toddlers was completing the final four months of nine years of training when she found herself on the frontline of COVID in her

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Relentless School Nurse

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

School nurses are crucial in maintaining the health and well-being of students, which in turn affects their academic success and the overall functionality of schools. The National Association of School Nurses (NASN), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American Nurses Association (ANA) have historically recommended nurse-to-student ratios, but these recommendations have evolved due to the increasing complexity of students’ healthcare needs and the lack of one-size-fits-all evidence t

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Relentless School Nurse

FEBRUARY 19, 2024

Click to view slideshow. Schools of Nursing and local school district nurses are uniquely positioned to strategically support each other’s missions and visions. How fortunate my Camden City School District (CCSD) is to have the investment and dedication of the Rutgers-Camden School of Nursing as a partner in health and learning! This collaboration began in 2022, when more than 150 CCSD student-athletes faced the risk of being sidelined due to the requirement of physical exams for partici

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Relentless School Nurse

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Judy Doran happens to be the 2023 Maine School Nurse of the Year and a valued contributor to The Relentless School Nurse blog. In this guest post, Judy poses a challenge to all of us; what if we flip the script and consider not fixing everything all of the time without needed resources? Enjoy Judy’s message! It resonated deeply with me and I am sure it will with you too.

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Relentless School Nurse

FEBRUARY 14, 2024

I often get ideas for blog posts from articles that cross my path. Today’s topic came from this headline that caught my eye: US Schools Change Health Guidelines for Keeping Students Home. The debate over when to keep children home from school due to illness reflects a broader concern about balancing public health with educational needs. During COVID, schools emphasized the importance of keeping any sick children at home to prevent the spread of the virus.

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Relentless School Nurse

FEBRUARY 10, 2024

Over the many years of writing The Relentless School Nurse blog, I have made it a priority to share perspectives from colleagues across the country. I didn’t have to look too far for this guest post, because Nicole DeBrango, RN, BSN, CSN is a New Jersey school nurse. I came across her post entitled, “School nursing? That’s an easy job,” on the NJ School Nursing Facebook page.

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Relentless School Nurse

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

It’s not too early to start planning for School Nurse Day 2024! We cannot wait for others to celebrate us, let’s show them how it’s done! I have been thinking about how to break through the log jam of misunderstanding about school nursing practice and suggest we use this year’s School Nurse Day 2024 – May 8th to EDUCATE and CELEBRATE who we are and what we do!

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Relentless School Nurse

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Meet Principal Darrin Paschke, you can tell by this photo that he has something pressing on his mind. His facial expression and body language drew me into this article: Paschke calls out district on behalf of students. Kudos to Fredonia High School Principal Darrin Paschke for delivering a fiery speech at the local Fredonia, New York, Board of Education (BOE) meeting.

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Relentless School Nurse

FEBRUARY 3, 2024

Every winter NASN holds the Winter Board of Directors meeting in Washington, DC. The three-day meeting culminates with school nurses from across the country converging on Capitol Hill to meet with our lawmakers. It is a powerful lesson in advocacy and I will never lose the feeling of awe walking the halls of Congress. I also feel a tremendous sense of purpose and privilege having opportunities to speak to Representatives, Senators, or their staffers about the work of school nurses and our impact

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Relentless School Nurse

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

A recent NRP article shared the backstory of Elmo’s question that went viral and rocked social media. According to NPR, Elmo garnered 202.6 million views and counting, by asking: Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing? Going viral takes an unexpected turn when Elmo from “Sesame Street” poses a genuine check-in on Twitter.

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Relentless School Nurse

JANUARY 26, 2024

My heart was beating a little faster today as I came across the new White House initiative for schools to promote the safe storage of firearms! While school nurses are not specifically named, we know that we are the Chief Wellness Officers of our buildings, and must be part of this new program. Nothing could be more important than protecting the lives of children in our schools. – Secretary Miguel Cardona Our first step is bringing this information to our school leaders.

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Relentless School Nurse

JANUARY 25, 2024

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) is launching the President’s Endowment Challenge for the academic year 2024-2025, and the theme couldn’t be more crucial: “Advocating for Equity.” About the NASN President’s Endowment Challenge: This initiative aims to raise funds to support research on school nursing’s influence on health and education outcomes.

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Relentless School Nurse

JANUARY 21, 2024

Halfway to summer sounds promising during the tough winter months. I have been thinking about this mark in time as a way to boost my morale. For some reason, my enthusiasm for work has been waning and it has left me wondering why it is and more importantly, how to climb out of this hole. Certainly, the birth of my first grandchild has completely refocused my world, in the very best way.

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Relentless School Nurse

JANUARY 17, 2024

Elizabeth Elliott, MSN, BSN, RN, NCSN, is the President of the Maryland Association of School Health Nurses (MASHN). In the fall of 2023, MASHN leadership was approached by Maryland Kids Code to support Age Appropriate Design Code (AADC), legislation being introduced to protect students from big tech predatory practices. Elizabeth wrote an Op-Ed for Maryland Matters about her experience advocating for this important legislation to keep our students safe in an ever-evolving digital society.

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Relentless School Nurse

JANUARY 16, 2024

The “Operation Happy Nurse” app, developed by neonatal ICU nurse Shannon McPeek, is a groundbreaking mobile application designed to provide mental health support and essential resources tailored specifically for nurses. The app offers a range of features specifically designed to address the unique needs of healthcare professionals, including guided breathing exercises, meditation and mindfulness sessions, and practical stress management techniques.

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Relentless School Nurse

JANUARY 13, 2024

The concept of relational safety in schools is fundamental to creating a supportive and nurturing environment for students. When students feel emotionally and relationally safe, it can lead to a range of positive outcomes, including increased learning, regulation, engagement, and more deliberate responses. This is because the part of the brain responsible for these functions can only fully engage when physical and relational safety are perceived.

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Relentless School Nurse

JANUARY 9, 2024

As we dive into 2024 and gear up for a new year, the importance of connections in our school community cannot be overstated. Now, more than ever, fostering a sense of safety is crucial for everyone—students and educators alike. And guess what? As school nurses, we play a pivotal role in promoting this nurturing environment too! One of the educators for whom I hold the highest regard is Lori Desautels, Ph.D.

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Relentless School Nurse

JANUARY 7, 2024

Graphic from NJ-NEW website: njnew.org Congratulations to New Jersey State School Nurse Association (NJSSNA) president, Eileen Gavin and past president Donna Pleus for their newly published article “School Nurses’ Emotional Wellbeing – May the Schwartz Be With you!” in the most recent NASN School Nurse Journal. The article is available online ahead of the print publication.

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Relentless School Nurse

JANUARY 5, 2024

On the first day back from winter break, a predictable and preventable tragedy struck Perry Middle & High School in the small town of Perry, Iowa. A 17-year-old student, armed with a shotgun and pistol, opened fire in the school before classes began. The attack resulted in the death of a 6th-grader, injuries to four other students and a school administrator, and ended with the shooter taking his own life.

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Relentless School Nurse

JANUARY 3, 2024

Imagine finding out that your school district was gifted millions of dollars to improve access to healthcare for your students and staff! That sounds like a dream for many of us, but it came true in the form of a 23 million dollar gift from two prominent philanthropists, Pivotal Ventures by Melinda French Gates (former wife of Microsoft founder, Bill Gates) and Mackenzie Scott (former wife of Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos).

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 31, 2023

The Relentless School Nurse blog has had another strong year of readership and community engagement. We are closing in on 500,000 visitors since I published my first blog in July of 2017. Since then, I have posted almost 1100 blogs and written more than 600K words. I am so grateful to my readers and especially enjoy meeting you in real life. I always carry Relentless School Nurse pens with me, so if we meet up, I have a small gift of appreciation to share.

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 29, 2023

Picking a “Word of the Year” has become a popular practice for setting intentions and guiding personal growth. It is an alternative to claiming New Year’s resolutions! As we step into 2024, the tradition of selecting a word to identify our aspirations and focus for the year ahead continues to gain momentum. This simple yet powerful concept involves choosing a single word that serves as a touchstone, a source of inspiration, and a reminder of our goals and values throughout the

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 28, 2023

More than 40% of US children and adolescents have at least one of the following chronic health conditions… The healthcare needs of children with chronic illness can be complex and continuous, involving daily management and addressing potential emergencies. According to the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) program , these conditions include chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions, and require special health and support services from sch

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 26, 2023

Judy Doran is the 2023 Maine School Nurse of the Year and a believer in the power of using her platform to write Op-Eds to address pressing social issues. Here is Judy’s most recently published public commentary for the Bangor Daily News: Bangor Daily News: Letter: Most people support common-sense gun laws. As nurses, we are the largest healthcare workforce in the United States and the most trusted.

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 22, 2023

‘Tis the season to rest, reflect, and recharge. As we begin the holiday break, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to all the relentless school nurses out there. You have poured your heart and soul into caring for our students, families, and communities, and now it’s time to prioritize your well-deserved self-care.

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 20, 2023

Photo credit: CDC Protective Factors Protective factors are individual or environmental characteristics that promote the health and emotional well-being of children and adolescents. They play a crucial role in helping children succeed despite adverse circumstances and can be enhanced to support positive health behaviors and buffer against the potentially harmful effects of negative situations and events.

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 17, 2023

The SEE YOU NOW podcast highlights real people changing the status quo in health, with a specific focus on the contributions of nurses. Hosted by nurse economist and health technology specialist Shawna Butler , the podcast provides meaningful conversations with nurses at the forefront of healthcare and innovation, covering a wide range of topics. The podcast is created in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson and the American Nurses Association, and it aims to share the human-centered so

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 16, 2023

The “Thoughts and Prayers” video by Mothers for Democracy highlights the hypocrisy of offering thoughts and prayers without taking tangible action, particularly in the context of gun violence. The video portrays individuals choosing to pray instead of intervening to save a drowning child, symbolizing the inaction of gun reform. The ad emphasizes the need for concrete measures to address gun violence, rather than relying solely on expressions of sympathy.

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 11, 2023

It’s disheartening to witness the trend of school nursing staff reductions across various districts, often attributed to the ending of COVID-19 funding. The potential loss of school nurse positions at the end of this school year is distressing considering the profound impact it will have on the well-being of the students. We need to plan ahead to be ready to speak out at upcoming school board meetings.

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 6, 2023

Judy Doran is a school nurse leader and the proud recipient of the 2023 School Nurse of the Year award from the Maine Association of School Nurses. With a rich background in healthcare, including service with the US Public Health Service in Alaska and roles in Family Care and Pediatrics, Judy has spent the last 16 years as a dedicated school nurse in a small community in central Maine.

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 5, 2023

My last blog post focused on the Fayette County Public School board’s decision to privatize school nursing services by going to the lowest bidder, a nursing agency, and discontinuing the 50-year relationship with the local health department. It seems that community outrage swayed the district’s decision. In a significant change of plans, Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) is now in talks to extend its long-standing contract with the Lexington-Fayette Health Department for school nu

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Relentless School Nurse

DECEMBER 5, 2023

Today’s guest post is from our friend Holly David one of the moderators of the private School Nursing Facebook group! Holly came across a post from one of the members who shared this message: “I love this group!! From what I have seen, we ALL need to come together across the nation as ONE!! Let us have our day that we dress up the same!!! How many of y’all will join me?!?

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