They say April showers bring May flowers.  We survived a very mild winter with not much snow and ice and now we are anxiously awaiting the colorful blooms of spring.  May always brings us warmer weather and longer days and we start to think about our summer vacations and time with family and friends.  We also celebrate National Nurses Week in May and of course, we have our own “holiday,” National School Nurses Day on May 9^th.  May is a time of new beginnings but also a time for reflection on past accomplishments and challenges.

While I know we all need time to rejuvenate over the summer, I challenge you to learn something new this summer that will make you a better certified school nurse.  Read a book or article about health and learning, attend a workshop or seminar on a health issue, develop a new lesson plan for your health classes, or take advantage of technology and participate in a webinar (you can do that in your comfy clothes and no one will ever know!).

I sent a letter to every county president for National School Nurse Day.  Many of you read it at your dinner meetings but just in case you missed it, here it is.  School Nurse Day Letter 2012

Before you know it, summer will be here and we will be enjoying our time away from school.  Some of you will work summer school, some of you work camps, and others may work in acute care settings to brush up on nursing skills.  Even if you choose to spend time with your own kids this summer, NJSSNA will still be here working hard for certified school nurses.  Make sure you check your emails often and check out our website too!

Have a great May and a quiet June, July, and August!

Brenda Porter, NJSSNA President