Hello everyone:
To keep you up to date regarding the work of the Joint School Health Committee, here are the
Minutes from January meeting .
School Nurse Image
1 year ago
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Update on the Joint School Health Committee
Hello All,
I have attached the minutes from the Joint School Health Committee (JSHC) meeting in October (just received this week). The first agenda was for the introduction of various members of the JSHC to represent their goals and values. The Agenda for 1/13/10, the 2nd of the anticipated 4 meetings this school year, went directly to a topic of concern to our specialty practice--"School Nurse Ratio".
The sub group of school nurses participating on the JSHC (me, Mary Gill, Linda King) along with Emily Pastore and Breena Holmes met prior to the meeting this past Wednesday, 1/13/10, to plan for an effective presentation about the topic. In summary, we presented a Powerpoint that moved the discussion away from the unrealistic "Ratio" numbers to one that gave an overview of what school nurses do and how they represent a complex set of standards and services in support of educational success for children and youth in Vermont.
The members of the JSHC then heard some concerns of budgetary realities faced by school superintendents, principals, and school boards. Funding sources for school health services are needed.
We learned from Emily about a system in place in MA where there is an adopted "Essential Health Services" model. This is operated with a model of "Lead Nurses" responsible for a team of nurses who come from different preparations. The lead nurse is accountable for the planning, supervision, training, and evaluation to achieve improved outcomes for students. This role is akin to that of the curriculum director in a school system.
The JSHC is a forum where school nursing issues and concerns are being discussed. There is representation on the committee by several practicing veteran school nurses. We are part of the discussion, and are in a position to act in an advisory role to the commissioners of health and education about what is best for our practice.
I welcome your carefully and thoughtfully composed ideas to bring forward to our next scheduled meeting on 3/8/10. Please consider becoming informed about the various models of nursing services provided by districts in our state and in others. I will prepare a summary of your ideas for consideration by the members of the JSHC. Now is the time for our professionalism to show.
Sincerely,
Eileen J. Crawford, MSN, NCSN, RN
President
Vermont State School Nurses' Association
vssna.org@gmail.com
www.vssna.org
I have attached the minutes from the Joint School Health Committee (JSHC) meeting in October (just received this week). The first agenda was for the introduction of various members of the JSHC to represent their goals and values. The Agenda for 1/13/10, the 2nd of the anticipated 4 meetings this school year, went directly to a topic of concern to our specialty practice--"School Nurse Ratio".
The sub group of school nurses participating on the JSHC (me, Mary Gill, Linda King) along with Emily Pastore and Breena Holmes met prior to the meeting this past Wednesday, 1/13/10, to plan for an effective presentation about the topic. In summary, we presented a Powerpoint that moved the discussion away from the unrealistic "Ratio" numbers to one that gave an overview of what school nurses do and how they represent a complex set of standards and services in support of educational success for children and youth in Vermont.
The members of the JSHC then heard some concerns of budgetary realities faced by school superintendents, principals, and school boards. Funding sources for school health services are needed.
We learned from Emily about a system in place in MA where there is an adopted "Essential Health Services" model. This is operated with a model of "Lead Nurses" responsible for a team of nurses who come from different preparations. The lead nurse is accountable for the planning, supervision, training, and evaluation to achieve improved outcomes for students. This role is akin to that of the curriculum director in a school system.
The JSHC is a forum where school nursing issues and concerns are being discussed. There is representation on the committee by several practicing veteran school nurses. We are part of the discussion, and are in a position to act in an advisory role to the commissioners of health and education about what is best for our practice.
I welcome your carefully and thoughtfully composed ideas to bring forward to our next scheduled meeting on 3/8/10. Please consider becoming informed about the various models of nursing services provided by districts in our state and in others. I will prepare a summary of your ideas for consideration by the members of the JSHC. Now is the time for our professionalism to show.
Sincerely,
Eileen J. Crawford, MSN, NCSN, RN
President
Vermont State School Nurses' Association
vssna.org@gmail.com
www.vssna.org
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Relationships & Compassion
As I review the role and responsibilities of the President of the VSSNA, I am humbled by the trust that is put in me by the voting members of the Association. I am a "big picture" thinker who strives to include every contributing member of our professional specialty practice when making decisions that will guide our practice.
At this time, I am reflecting on the considerable accomplishments of past presidents, coupled with the climate of political and economic pressures that impact our school systems currently. I plan to communicate regularly with as many school nurses as possible, using this column to provide information for all licensed school nurses in VT that will help to guide them as they develop and update their individual practices.
Communication and collaboration are essential tools of an effective community of people sharing a passion for their work. These tools have a direct impact on those that we serve: practicing nurses and the children and youth of our respective communities. Our work is based on relationships and compassion. I appreciate your support as I guide our professional organization, reflecting the mission of the VSSNA: To advance professional school nursing practice and to provide leadership in the delivery of quality health services in Vermont school communities.
News
The Vermont Department of Health has appointed Emily Pastore, RN, BSN, member of the National Association of State School Nurse Consultants, to serve as Vermont's state school nurse consultant.
The Vermont Department of Education and the Vermont Department of Health have established a formalized relationship reflected in a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The purpose of this partnership is to help strengthen school health services, and to provide support to school nurses throughout Vermont.
The Joint School Health Committee (JSHC) is being organized to provide a means of communication and coordination of efforts of members of school health services communities state wide. The overall goal of the Committee is to bring all the parties involved with school aged health to the table for discussion about standards, support, education and coordination with the medical home. This group will include the commissioners of health and education, along with members of the medical and school nursing communities. This group will meet quarterly, and include the President of the VSSNA and several other practicing professional school nurses. The health department is so committed to school nurses and their involvement on the JSHC that they have secured funding to pay the school for sub time to assure the nurse availability at these meetings.
The School Health Standards of Practice Committee (SHSPC) is being organized to provide a means of reviewing and updating the School Health Standards of Practice manual, last revision published in 2005. This group is functioning as an updated and streamlined version of the former School Nurse Advisory. Its members will consist of practicing professional school nurses with a strong commitment to the standardization of school health services, reflecting best practice and current research, serving their colleagues state wide.
Summary
As President of the VSSNA, I have been invited to contribute to the discussion about the structure and function of the JSHC and the SHSPC. The effect is that we will have a voice and presence at the decision making table. This has been a long time goal of the VSSNA. I appreciate learning your thoughts on the recent changes in our structure of leadership in VT, and your concerns about the place that school nursing will find in this new collaboration. I believe that we will end up in a much better position as far as the balance of power is concerned. I know that I can count on your support as we move forward in achieving our mission.
Eileen Crawford
President, VSSNA
At this time, I am reflecting on the considerable accomplishments of past presidents, coupled with the climate of political and economic pressures that impact our school systems currently. I plan to communicate regularly with as many school nurses as possible, using this column to provide information for all licensed school nurses in VT that will help to guide them as they develop and update their individual practices.
Communication and collaboration are essential tools of an effective community of people sharing a passion for their work. These tools have a direct impact on those that we serve: practicing nurses and the children and youth of our respective communities. Our work is based on relationships and compassion. I appreciate your support as I guide our professional organization, reflecting the mission of the VSSNA: To advance professional school nursing practice and to provide leadership in the delivery of quality health services in Vermont school communities.
News
The Vermont Department of Health has appointed Emily Pastore, RN, BSN, member of the National Association of State School Nurse Consultants, to serve as Vermont's state school nurse consultant.
The Vermont Department of Education and the Vermont Department of Health have established a formalized relationship reflected in a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The purpose of this partnership is to help strengthen school health services, and to provide support to school nurses throughout Vermont.
The Joint School Health Committee (JSHC) is being organized to provide a means of communication and coordination of efforts of members of school health services communities state wide. The overall goal of the Committee is to bring all the parties involved with school aged health to the table for discussion about standards, support, education and coordination with the medical home. This group will include the commissioners of health and education, along with members of the medical and school nursing communities. This group will meet quarterly, and include the President of the VSSNA and several other practicing professional school nurses. The health department is so committed to school nurses and their involvement on the JSHC that they have secured funding to pay the school for sub time to assure the nurse availability at these meetings.
The School Health Standards of Practice Committee (SHSPC) is being organized to provide a means of reviewing and updating the School Health Standards of Practice manual, last revision published in 2005. This group is functioning as an updated and streamlined version of the former School Nurse Advisory. Its members will consist of practicing professional school nurses with a strong commitment to the standardization of school health services, reflecting best practice and current research, serving their colleagues state wide.
Summary
As President of the VSSNA, I have been invited to contribute to the discussion about the structure and function of the JSHC and the SHSPC. The effect is that we will have a voice and presence at the decision making table. This has been a long time goal of the VSSNA. I appreciate learning your thoughts on the recent changes in our structure of leadership in VT, and your concerns about the place that school nursing will find in this new collaboration. I believe that we will end up in a much better position as far as the balance of power is concerned. I know that I can count on your support as we move forward in achieving our mission.
Eileen Crawford
President, VSSNA
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