SWOSNA April 2003 Newsletter

 March 2003

 Reflections from the President’s Corner:

                I recently came across a story written by Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards that was published on Union College’s website.  It inspired me so much, that I wanted to share it with you.  In retelling the story, I have shortened it considerably.  You can find the entire story at www.union.edu. Follow the links to the language department’s study tips. 

                The story goes that a young college student took her mom on a drive up a mountain to see the daffodils.  After following a long winding road, and questioning whether or not the drive was worth it, the two arrived at a huge field of bright daffodils.  In every direction, the ground was covered with the blanket of yellow.  In awe, the mother looked around and asked the daughter, “But how?” 

                The daughter pointed to a small house in the middle of the field and said, “Just one woman.  That’s her home.”  In front of the house was a sign that read: “Answers to the Questions I Know You are Asking”.  The answers read as follows:  “50,000 bulbs.  One at a time, by one woman, two hands, two feet, and very little brain.  Began in 1958” 

                The moment was life changing for the mother in the story.  She thought about the fact that one woman had a goal more than 35 years before this date, and through persistence and dedication had dramatically changed her corner of the world. The mother remarked to her daughter how the display made her sad to think what she could have done with her life if, 35 years ago, she had set a goal and worked towards it with the same dedication.  Her daughter answered, “Start today.” 

I thought about the interactions I have with my middle and high school students each day.  I thought about the student with social anxiety who eats lunch with me on Fridays if she makes it through lunch the rest of the week, about the student with muscular dystrophy whose mom needed a lot of convincing to take him for a chest x-ray that revealed pneumonia last week, about all the parents I pester until they take their kids in for an eye exam.  These are my daffodils.  I am sure you have countless experiences in your work as well, that, when added up, create a beautiful display.  

                As I move out of the role of president of SWOSNA, I want to leave you all with a reminder about how important, how far-reaching, school nursing is.  We all bring our strengths and weaknesses with us to work each day, but I am convinced that if we learn to see the successes as something that lasts more than a day or even a school year, we will have a deeper appreciation of our work and of ourselves.

                In this last communiqué as president, I have to take a minute to thank all the members of the SWOSNA executive board.  They have been an ever-present resource and source of encouragement to me the past two years.  Specifically I’d like to thank Bea Auciello, who is stepping down after two terms as secretary.  Her ability to make sense out of our often stream of consciousness meetings will never cease to amaze me.  Also, thanks to Michele Wood who is completing her role as treasurer.  She did an excellent job keeping our records straight, even when the bank did not!  Finally, I’d like to thank Kerry Breed, our past-president.  Kerry’s leadership and constant encouragement has helped keep things running smoothly.  Her efforts in recruiting new board members were invaluable. Thank you all for bringing your strengths to our board, and making this year a lot of fun for everyone.

Sincerely,

Shelli Turco

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2003 CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE: PRESIDENT-ELECT

Lauren M. Little, RN, MSN, NCSN                                   

SCHOOL DISTRICT SERVED:

Hamilton County Educational Service Center, Mt. Healthy City Schools

EDUCATION:             Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Cedarville University (1995)

                                    School Nurse Certification Program – Wright State University (1998)

                                    Master of Science (area of emphasis-school nursing) – Wright State (2001)      

NURSING EXPERIENCE:

                                    Operating Room Nurse – Grandview Hospital, Dayton, OH (1995-1997)

                        School Nurse – Dayton Public Schools (1997-1999),

Kettering City Schools (1999-2001), HCESC (2001-present)

MEMBERSHIP/OFFICES IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

                                    SWOSNA, OASN, NASN, Sigma Theta Tau

                                    Past co-chairperson of SWOSNA Ways & Means Committee (2002)

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2003 CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE: TREASURER

 

 

 

Kathleen O. Beekman, RN, MS

 

SCHOOL DISTRICT SERVED:

                                    Beavercreek City Schools, Beavercreek, OH

EDUCATION:

                                    Three year diploma, Englewood Hospital School of Nursing, Englewood, NJ

                                    Bachelor of Science in Nursing, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO

                                    Master of Science, Nursing education tract, Wright State University, Dayton, OH     

NURSING EXPERIENCE:

                                    Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital for Cancer Research, NYC: Peds

                                    United States Air Force Nurse Corps, Active duty: staff nurse, charge

United States Air Force Reserve Nurse Corps: Flight nurse, flight nurse Instructor, weekend supervisor military hospitals where serving.

Visiting Nurse, St. Clair County, Illinois

Children’s Medical Center, Dayton, OH, ICU, Emergency Department, Urgent Care

School Nurse, Kirkmont Preschool and Beavercreek Schools, Beavercreek, OH

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

                                    SWOSNA, OASN, NASN, Sigma Theta Tau

VOLUNTEERS ACTIVITIES:

                                    Elder and Adult Sunday School teacher at Kirkmont Presbyterian Church

School activities that require volunteers-Literacy nights, Chili supper

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2003 CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE: SECRETARY

                                                                                               

Mary Erwin, RN, BSN

SCHOOL DISTRICT SERVED:   Oak Hills Local Schools

EDUCATION: 

Diploma in Nursing-Deaconess Hospital, School of Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing - College of Mt. St. Joseph

Certification in School Nursing - College of Mt. St. Joseph

NURSING EXPERIENCE:

School Nurse - Oak Hills Local Schools District Nurse 2000- Present

                                    Rapid Run Middle School 1999-2000

Home Health Nurse - Mercy Franciscan Home Health 1986-1999

Hospice Nurse - Hospice of Cincinnati 1981-1986

Med/Surg Nurse - Deaconess Hospital 1979 – 1981

Med/Surg Nurse - St. George Hospital 1977-1979

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

OASN, SWOSNA, HCCSNA

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:

Great Rivers Girl Scout Council

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Help Needed With NASN Conference 2003 Raffle Baskets
 Karen Cameron

Any profit from the basket raffle at this year’s NASN conference, being held in Cincinnati, will be for the Ohio Association of School Nurses. To make this a successful moneymaker we are asking for donations of time, money and/or basket items. From the Southwest region, we have so far 8 basket collections in the works. The committee has asked that we make the baskets with individual themes, with a minimum content value of $75.00. Some themes that we are working on are Leisure Time Activities, "School Nurse" Goodies, and Celebration of Ohio's 200th Birthday.

We also need volunteers to man the basket tables at all times. Suggestions have been made that we recruit husbands, children and retired persons to help us with this task. If you can get or give product donations, certificates, donations of money or donations of time,  please bring these items to our next general meeting on April 9th. I will have a table area where you can sign up or donate your items. If you need to find a committee member in your area please contact me and I will try and assist you.

ANY assistance that you can give to make this a success will be greatly appreciated.
Thank You.

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OASN REPORT

By: Kathy O'Dell, SWOSNA Rep to OASN, 2001 Ohio School Nurse of the Year

The OASN Board met on 2/1/03 to prepare for the 35th Annual OASN Conference & to conduct a great deal of other business. All of Ohio's regions are gearing up for both the state conference & the 30th Annual NASN Conference in Cincinnati in June. It is indeed a very busy time for Ohio!

Added to the excitement is an exciting outcome of our meeting in Sept. with Rep. Kevin DeWine who spoke about how school nurses can become more "legislatively" involved. If you were at that dinner meeting you felt the ease with which Rep. DeWine spoke to us and how he made us feel that we really could impact children's health and safety through legislative efforts. As such, he contacted us about including us in his plan to introduce an education bill that would further clarify President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act. At the end of Feb. Rep. Kevin DeWine introduced the Omnibus Education Bill. His bill is very complex & looks at many educational issues, including the provision of school nurses in every school system in Ohio!

The school nurse language in the bill is not exactly the language that the OASN Legislative Task Force wanted, but Rep. DeWine was eager to get the bill introduced & has assured us that the language can be corrected "in committee."

The piece of language that has caused so much concern to us says "every district will employ a minimum of at least one school nurse..." which ignores those school systems who employ the health department to provide school nurses & may cause some administrators who presently employ more than one school nurse to feel that they can cut down to one school nurse. Once again, please remember that the language can be changed "in committee." The OASN President-Elect/Legislative Chair, Linda Hilvert, is in very frequent communication with Rep. DeWine's office to ensure that our concern is addressed.

Needless to say, the members of the OASN Legislative Task Force are on a steep learning curve to understand the legislative process in micro-detail. We WILL keep you informed.

Be sure to review the proposed OASN by-laws changes on the OASN web site www.oasn.org & be prepared to vote at the annual business meeting at the conference. It is a privilege to get to vote on these changes, but this privilege deserves your study in order to make an informed decision.

The NASN conference committees are picking up speed as June approaches. Baskets for the raffle are needed from throughout the region. Please contact Kathy O'Dell or Mary Norton for details about how to fill your basket(s) and if you need help getting them to Cincinnati in June. The Ohio MarketPlace table will be open during the entire conference in Cincinnati, meaning that any and all adult help in "manning" the table will be greatly appreciated! Several husbands have already offered their help & others, or adult children, who can help will be greatly appreciated. MarketPlace items include HUGS (microwaveable aromatic sacs) , appliqued blankets, Cherish the Children sweatshirts, school nurse cardigan sweatshirts, jewelry, aprons, license plate frames, lanyards, note cards----just to whet your appetite. Conference registration information will be out by the end of March. Norma Nikkola (nnikkola@earthlink.net), our OASN Rep to NASN is being assisted by Renee Besecker (rjbesecker786@aol.com) & Kathy O'Dell (odellgw@wesnet.com) to coordinate the local committees to make this event memorable for all.

OASN and SWOSNA hope to see all the school nurses in southwest Ohio at the NASN conference. The keynote speaker is David Pelser, author of "The Lost Child," " A Boy Called It," and "A Man Called Dave." His books are compelling reading! He will be available for a book signing after his keynote address so if you have any of his books take it/them along for him to sign. You will see in the conference registration, that tours include a trip to Dresden, home of Longaberger baskets. We feel that this tour will fill quickly with those from outside Ohio whose only opportunity to get to Dresden could be this June, so you will want to act on getting your name in.

OASN "Guides to School Nursing in Ohio" are available from Kathy O'Dell (see email address above). The "Guide" was revised last summer ('02). New members to OASN have received a copy as a membership benefit. If you are a new member & have not received your copy, please contact Kathy.

Linda Miller (Central) who is the 2002 Ohio School Nurse of the Year is being considered as a semi-finalist for the NASN School Nurse of the Year. Meg Bodie (NorthWest) was selected as ASHA (American School Health Association) Outstanding School Nurse of the Year.

This is an exciting time to be on the OASN Board & positions are available on committees & as an elected officer. If you are interested in any position, contact Kathy O'Dell for information about the duties & the "perks" of being an officer.

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MEMBERSHIP

By Judy Ganguly, H: (937) 429-3508, W: (937) 316-2961

We now have 183 members!  If you know of anyone else who would like to be a member, please have her call Judy for a membership form.  Only members from this year will get a newsletter next school year.  Add the following to your list of members for the 2002-2003 year.

Webmaster note:  for privacy purposes the address/phone/email has been left off the web page.  Please refer to you "hard copy" of the newsletter you received in the mail for this information.  Thanks!

1. Bizarri, Diane    

2. Bochenek, Jeanie 

3. Greenfield, Cheryl  

4. Poling, Cindy,  

5. Owens, Ruth  

6. Murphy, Susan  

7. Baker, Jamie  

8. Accurso, Dianna

9. Hoelle, Peggy  

10.Francis, Sharon 

11. Berkuchel, Sally 

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CDC Issues New Hand Hygiene Guidelines

http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/pressrelease.htm

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presented new handwashing guidelines for healthcare providers:

1. “When hands are visibly dirty or contaminated with proteinaceous material or are visibly soiled with blood or other body fluids, wash hands with either a nonantimicrobial soap and water or an antimicrobial soap and water.”

2. “If hands are not visibly soiled, use an alcohol-based hand rub for routinely decontaminating hands.

CDC experts said that the use of alcohol-based antiseptics has proved to save time for nursing staff and other healthcare providers and has resulted in better adherence to handwashing guidelines.

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Ways & Means Committee Report

By Jan Hornung

The Ways & Means Committee will have a table set up at State Conference, our SWOSNA meeting in April and at the National Conference in Cincinnati in June.  Plan to stop by and taking a look at what we have to sell.
We will have some knit fleece cardigans and some long sleeve denim shirts with a stick nurse figure embroidered on them. Also will have custom designed stamp-it cards available to purchase that would be great to send to students, staff members or friends. Plus, will have new lanyards and pins, so stop by and check us out!