NJSSNA.org » Upcoming Events

Governor’s Proclamation for Nurses Week/School Nurses Day

njssna admin — Wed, 08 May 2013 02:05:39 +0000

Nurses Week School Nurses Day

May Dinner

njssna admin — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:58:18 +0000

New Jersey State School Nurses Association

Annual/General Membership Meeting

May 21, 2013

Pierre’s of South Brunswick

582 Georges Road

Monmouth Junction (South Brunswick), NJ

Off NJP and Route 130

www. Pierresnj.com

Registration: 4:30-5:00 pm

General Meeting and Recognition of Retirees begins at 5pm
Dinner with Cash bar

Evening Presentation:

“Saving Lives at School”: School Nurses Train Staff to Respond to Anaphylactic Emergencies

NASN sponsored program given by NJ Epinephrine Resource Nurses

Professional Development Hours will be awarded

Cost: NJSSNA Member $ 40.00 Non-member: $50.00

Please complete form and send with your check to:

Maureen Yanak, 5 Conover Court, Mt Laurel, NJ 08054.

NO PURCHASE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THIS MEETING.

Checks must be received by May 15^th. NO REFUNDS AFTER May 15^th.

Name _________________________________________________________________

Email address _______________________________________________

Daytime phone ____________________________________________

NASN/NJSSNA ID Number ____________________________________

Meal choice: Please circle one

Grilled NY Strip Steak

Vodka Rigatoni with Wood Grilled Chicken

Broiled Grilled Salmon

Vegetarian (chef’s choice)

Retired/Retiring during the 2012-2013 school year? MEMBERS ONLY

School/District _____________________________________

Questions: Judy Crocco @ mjcroc@aol.com or Maureen Yanak @ maurleavy@comcast.net

NASN Seeking Abstracts for 2013 Conference in Sunny Orlando!

njssna admin — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:05:21 +0000

Consider submitting an abstract for the 2013 NASN Conference. Click here 2013 Abstracts for details!

San Francisco Bound! Greetings from NASN!

njssna admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:49:04 +0000

Are you planning to attend NASN’s annual conference in San Francisco? If so, NASN wants you to know about all the exciting events it has planned to support school nursing. Click here: Greetings

NJSSNA Conference: A Smashing Success!

njssna admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 23:46:56 +0000

Marie Peppas and speaker and honoree Janice Selekman enjoy the festivities!

Past Presidents Marge Bush, Marie Peppas, and Judy Mullane

If you were not at the Hyatt in New Brunswick Friday and Saturday, March 23-24, then where were you? More than 325 of your school nurse colleagues met new friends, learned from experts, dined on great food, and earned professional development hours as well. Brenda Porter, president of NJSSNA, welcomed the Friday evening crowd and told them “we’re glad you are here!” After a wonderful dinner, the NJSSNA recognized four outstanding school nurses (see related article). Our evening keynote, Dr. Janice Selekman, spoke about children with chronic health conditions, injecting her sense of humor and personal stories to make a serious topic entertaining and informative.

Rise and shine at 7am for breakfast, sponsored by Sanofi-Aventis, with a NJSSNA business meeting at 8am. During this meeting, President Porter recognized new members, first-timers, past presidents, past board members, and county presidents. Treasurer Donna Pleus presented the budget for approval and Membership Chair Mary Blackborow told the group that we have about 1200 members. One new member was awarded free registration for the conference and several others received free books.

Executive Director Linda Morse told us more about the new member portal system and how to make it more functional and effective. Small prizes were awarded for the most “intriguing” email addresses. Participants viewed a 2012 musical slide show focused on the conference theme of Leading, Teaching, Caring! Morning speaker Sharon Murray discussed how health issues such as impaired vision, asthma, or poor nutrition impact academic achievement and urged school nurses to collect data and collaborate with other education professionals to reduce the achievement gap.

The crowds were released to visit more than 30 vendors and exhibitors—free bags, pens, and lots of advice on new products and services. We thank our vendors and really appreciate their support. The nurses were shepherded into the first of three workshops on topics such as anaphylaxis, autism, pediatric hypertension, and other issues impacting student health and school nursing. Everyone appeared engaged and there were many questions for the speakers.

By the end of the two days, everyone was exhausted and ready to hit the road. Post-conference comments have been very positive: “This was the best one yet! Can’t wait until next year!” This is the only statewide conference that focuses exclusively on the needs of school nurses. If you weren’t there, shame on you! If you were there, thanks so much for your support! Hope to see you next year!

Discover the Leader: Successful Saturday!

njssna admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:29:51 +0000

NJSSNA Leadership Academy: 100 School Nurses, 100 School Leaders!

On a beautiful October Saturday, one hundred members of the New Jersey State School Nurses Association traveled to the Star and Barry Tobias Health Awareness Center at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold to discover their inner leader. NJSSNA president Brenda Porter, school nurse in East Orange, welcomed the school nurses and then Linda Morse, executive director of NJSSNA, explained why the workshop focused on leadership: “Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them.” That quote from Robert Jarvik, inventor of the artificial heart, seemed appropriate and timely for the state’s school nurses.

In the first session, NJSSNA’s NASN Director Mary Suessmann, a school nurse Livingston, told the group how to use the mandated Nursing Services Plan to support school nursing practice. Mary stressed the importance of using standardized acuity levels to describe the level of care needed and urged school nurses to discuss the Nursing Services Plan with the school physician and the child study team. Lorraine Borek, a school nurse supervisor from Hillsborough in Somerset County, told the group how to put the “Plan into Practice.”
Lorraine spoke about nursing acuity levels in more detail and explained how health conditions impact a student’s ability to learn. She shared forms that school nurses can use
to collect information for the Nursing Services Plan. Next, Marie Peppas, past-president of NJSSNA and a school nurse in Washington Township (Morris County), spoke about 504
plans. Marie provided an overview of case law and how it impacts school nursing practice. Finally, all three presenters took questions from the participants.

The next session focused on school nurse evaluations. Linda Morse explained that the NJDOE’s Teacher Evaluation Pilot Project (http://www.state.nj.us/education/EE4NJ/faq/)
does not plan to address the evaluation of educational services personnel such as certified school nurses. In response to the pilot project, NJSSNA conducted an online survey focused on school nurse observation and evaluations. The survey revealed that most evaluations are conducted by a principal using a teacher-focused evaluation tool rather than a nursing-specific tool. As part of the survey, NJSSNA collected several sample evaluation tools that address health and education parameters and NJSSNA will consider developing sample evaluation templates. Next, Rosemary Green, NJSSNA standards and practice chair and a school nurse in East Windsor, provided an overview of the newly updated NASN/ANA Standards of School Nursing Practice. At the conclusion of the session, participants were asked “Are you ready for an evaluation based on these rigorous standards?”

Last but not least, participants were asked to develop a 30-60 second elevator speech, explaining why a school should hire a certified school nurse. Each team developed a message for a particular audience: school board members, parents of special needs children, administrators, faculty members, parents of high school kids, parents of K-8 kids, students, State Board of Education members, community health agencies and organizations and, last but not least, the Governor and State Legislature. Each message was posted and shared with the entire group. The messages will be posted on the NJSSNA website soon.

Last but not least, five lucky school nurses were selected to receive “prizes:” a gift basket full of NJSSNA-logo items, a copy of the new NASN/ANA Standards of School Nursing Practice, two copies of the School Nurse Resource Manual donated by School Health Alert, and a $25 voucher good towards any future NJSSNA-sponsored professional development workshop or conference.

By the end of the day, the 100 school nurse leaders were tired but motivated and eager to share what they learned with colleagues. But there was one last thing…….

CentraState’s very own “Bicycle Hannah” made a surprise visit and explained how she visits schools to talk about health and safety. Pedaling her way into the classroom, Hannah invited the school nurses to visit the CentraState Health Awareness Center where they could check out the “snotty nose” and learn about the many programs the center provides for children and adults. Stephanie O’Neill from the Health Awareness Center led a grand tour and explained the school outreach program. For more information on the Center, go to http://www.ambulatorycampus.com/Student-Health-Awareness-Center-SHAC.asp.

Many thanks to all the presenters, the 100 school nurses who gave up a Saturday of leisure to become better leaders, and Stephanie and the staff at CentraState for their welcoming hospitality! Remember the thought of the day: If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu!

Bicycle Hannah tells the school nurses about health and safety while Brenda Porter, NJSSNA president, and Stephanie O’Neill from CentraState Health Awareness Center stand by.

School Nurses: Leading, Teaching Caring!