As a school nurse, one of the most rewarding experiences for me has been being invited to speak at state school nurse association conferences. I never imagined, eight years ago when I started The Relentless School Nurse blog, that I would be asked to present to colleagues across the country. What an honor it is to share time, learning, and camaraderie with school nurses outside of my home state.
This past weekend, I was gifted the opportunity to deliver the opening keynote message for the Missouri Association of School Nurses (MASN) conference. I want to especially thank Eli Bruggemann, whose initial email inquiry was the beginning of a series of deeply thoughtful conversations about school nursing practice in Missouri. Building connections and engaging in conversations about school nursing practice in different parts of the country enriches my practice, and for that, I am grateful to Eli for the invitation to contribute to MASN’s educational offerings, including two breakout sessions later in the day. I also held a healing through the arts program followed by a frank discussion on school safety from a school nurse’s perspective.
The theme of MASN’s conference was “Giving Students the Best of Us.” There was beautiful imagery using strings of pearls woven throughout the weekend. The pearls were physical, from the table decor to our badge holders, and symbolic of the “pearls of wisdom” gleaned from each session and shared on large posters decorating the walls of the ballroom. The participants were asked to write the pearls of wisdom they were taking home with them from the conference. Every detail was thoughtfully planned with this theme in mind. The conference had multiple tracks for attendees to choose from including:
Whole Student Wellness
Develop Yourself
Health Conditions & Nursing Management
Self-Care & Wellness
Whole Student Wellness
Develop Yourself
Health Conditions & Nursing Management
Self-Care & Wellness
The organizers’ attention to detail and commitment to creating a meaningful and impactful experience for the attendees was evident in the seamless execution of the event. I was deeply impressed by the level of care and consideration that went into making the MASN conference a success. The attendees were warm and welcoming! I met so many wonderful school nurses who are also readers of my blog. What a thrill for me to meet them, chat, take a selfie, and share time together.
I am grateful to Conference Speaker Chair, Eli Bruggemann, MASN President, Natalie Botkin, and the MASN Executive Board for the invitation to contribute to their conference. This experience has not only been an honor but has also enriched my own practice as a school nurse. Engaging in thoughtful conversations and sharing knowledge with colleagues from different parts of the country is invaluable, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this meaningful event. It was also very special to spend time with NASN President, Dr. Kate King, NASN’s past Secretary/Treasurer, Linda Neumann (also resident photographer extraordinaire), NASN Director Stacy Whitney, and the best tour guide ever, Amberlee Miller! Forgive me if I left anyone out, but thank you to the amazing Missouri school nurses for your kindness, and hospitality!
It was such a pleasure to have you join us. It was a great experience for us to glean from your knowledge and wisdom and to hear your why. You have truly inspired my mission. Thank you so much for joining us.
Sheryl Simmons
One of my highlights was getting to meet you in person Sheryl!
Thank you so much for the kind words, Robin. We loved your talks and left feeling loved and validated!
What a thoughtful message! Thank you Peggy!
Thank you so much Robin for your kind words about our conference! It was a pleasure to have you speak to us, so we can learn from your vast knowledge and experience. We appreicate you and all you do for school nurses!
It was such a joy and honor to get to know you, learn from you, and realize we have so much in common as school nurses in all areas of the country. Thank you for joining me in a visit to see the iconic Gateway Arch!