Diane Lynch, MSN, RN, Historian
The general membership meeting started at 6:03 PM, and President Pagnotta announced there are hosting opportunities and if anyone is interested in mentoring a student nurse to please reach out to her for a School Nurse Peer Resource form, available via a link provided. Gius encouraged school nurses to consider mentoring and to please download the form. “We are trying to match up mentors with mentees.” Gius also mentioned she retired from school nursing on October 1, and started academia on January 12, 2024. Katie Perrotto introduced the guest speaker for this meeting, Gina L. Campanella, Esq. The presentation titled” Who is RaDonda Vaught?” pertained to legal considerations for professional nurses. Ms. Campanella stated Rabonda Vaught was a former nurse from Tennessee who was criminally prosecuted for a fatal medication error that happened when Ms. Vaught was employed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Vaught administered 10 mg of Vecuronium instead of 1 milligram of Versed to a 75-year-old patient who was being prepared for a PET scan. Within 30 minutes, the patient was unresponsive; 12 hours later she died. Per Ms. Campanella, Vaught did not record administering the medication, nor did she properly monitor the patient’s response. Campanella also said Vaught was confronted and confessed her error and told the truth. Vaught was indicted by a Tennessee Grand Jury of gross negligence (overarching incidents of poor judgment), a Class D felony. Campanella said it is very important to know what this is -a criminally indictable charge/offense. Ms. Campanella again emphasized, if you’re ever approached by superiors about a situation in which led to patient harm, to get an attorney or union representative first, before talking. Campanella stressed, although this was a hospital incident, as school nurses we should be very careful. “Things are heightened when you’re working with children,” she said. Another takeaway is to speak up about about any existing policies and procedures which are potentially unsafe, as reportedly was the case with the hospital unit’s medication dispenser system. Talk to your supervisor, and formally document it. Campanella imparted, “Send an email to your supervisor, don’t just put the concern in your personal notes”. To (legally) protect yourself, document everything. Bring problems to someone’s attention, and work to change a policy that is not optimally suited to the workplace. Formally voice your concerns. Campanella added that, if you’re fired after doing so, then that’s retaliation and an employer can get sued for that. The general meeting ended at 7:05pm. by Diane Lynch, MSN, RN, HIstorian
The general membership meeting started at 6:02 PM, and President Pagnotta announced her retirement from school nursing, per se, and encouraged the general membership to join the Executive Board. She emphasized, “It is within your reach, it really is!” Gius also said we, as an organization, are there to help along the way. For any questions, please feel free to reach out to [email protected]. Gius also mentioned the May 8 dinner meeting next year and encouraged members to come to this “live” event, to be held at Spring Lake Manor. Gius then announced Gail Hall as first presenter, to “translate” current proposed bills and legislation. Gail Hall, MSN, RN, CSN- NJ, gave an in-depth overview on legislative updates, and briefly described how a bill evolves and goes through (often laboriously slow) motions in the NJ State Assembly and Senate before it is passed (if it gets passed). Among the legislative processes and topics covered were social media usage, employees’ use of sick time, funding of feminine hygiene products in schools, training of bus drivers to administer epinephrine in emergency situations under certain circumstances, and various mental health issues. At 6:48pm Gius introduced guest speakers Suzy Dyer, Esq., CHC and Susan Gibbons, BSN, RN (a retired school nurse), from the Parker Family Health Center (PHFC) a nonprofit volunteer-based, free healthcare medical clinic for uninsured residents in Monmouth County. There currently are approximately over 36,000 uninsured county residents under the age of 65; 10% of the uninsured are over 65. Ms. Dyer and Ms. Gibbons gave an overview of multiple services - including immunizations, dental, pre-employment and school physicals, a hypertension clinic, diabetes management, on-site phlebotomy services, and eye care. screenings, mental health - provided for children and adults. Ms. Dyer mentioned a sobering statistic: mental health services for children ages 3 and older have increased 250%. The PHFC also offers telehealth services and Uber transportation is also provided for patients who cannot drive or are without a means of transportation. Ms. Gibbons stated a large number of uninsured patients are from Long Branch, Neptune, and the Bayshore area. The PHFC has over 130 volunteers, and 90 are health care practitioners. Ms. Gibbons are Ms. Dyer encouraged school nurses to consider working as a volunteer. Ms. Dyer can be reached at (908) 578-5801. In conclusion of the meeting, Gius again urged members to consider joining the Executive Board. The meeting ended at 7:31PM. by Diane Lynch, RN, MSN, Historian
On December 2, 2022, Amerigroup Insurance held a networking event for organizations, individuals, and county agencies.
Amerigroup has been serving New Jersey's most vulnerable populations for over 25 years by providing New Jersey families with access to quality health care with a focus on whole person health. Amerigroup serves all counties statewide and we are excited to meet with our Monmouth County Community Partners. This event will provide an opportunity for Monmouth community organizations to network, meet the Amerigroup team, and hear about exciting work occurring at the state level. Together, we can work to strengthen the health of Monmouth families. Amerigroup shared some of the NJ initiatives that they support. They include: Read Across New Jersey, Maternal/Infant Care, Doula Services, “Health Connections Trainings”, and Food Insecurity. This day focused on “Food Insecurity” and their mission is to have available food, access to food, stability of food, and utilization of food by families in addition to providing families with “agency” to address their food insecurity needs. The Keynote Speaker was the newly hired “New Jersey Director, Office of Food Security Advocate”, Mark Dinglasan. You can read a recent interview with Mr. Dinglasan (click here). He spoke about the importance of going beyond just providing families with food, but looking at the social determinants and also systems that hinder the ability of families to provide for their families members. He has a big job here in NJ and did also speak about the important role of schools and school nurses to being a part of the solutions. He welcomes the opportunity to speak with school nurses throughout the state, I had the pleasure of sitting next to Monmouth County’s County Commissioner Deputy Director, Susan M. Kiley, who happens to also be a nurse. We spoke about the challenges in nursing today, school health, and also food insecurity in our county. She also spoke about county food insecurity efforts. Senator Vin Gopal provided a few words of being available to those in attendance to help support addressing food and nutritional needs for the residents of Monmouth County. You can view the list of those in attendance along with their contact information - click here. I was happy to see a school nurse colleague, Debra Rochford from Red Bank School District present. We snapped a photo. Monmouth County is truly moving “Together Towards Tomorrow”. Amerigroup Community Care website - click here Written by Diane Lynch, MSN, RN, Historian
by Diane Lynch, MSN, RN, Historian
By Diane Lynch, RN, MSN
It was 1962. John F. Kennedy was President. John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth. There was the Cuban Missile Crisis, an event that brought the United States to the brink of war. Also in 1962, the Sabin oral polio vaccine replaced the Salk IPV. The Jetsons premiered, and most household televisions were black-and-white. The Beatles’s first single, “Love me Do, ” was released. And on a level near and dear to us, the Monmouth County School Nurses Association was formed. It began when a few school nurses met, shared, and discussed an interest in forming a county-wide nurses’ association for themselves and their professional colleagues. The first of three formative gatherings was on December 6, 1961. At the time, Earl B. Garrison, Monmouth County Superintendent of Schools (1951-1975), supported these early efforts. The first association meeting took place on September 24, 1962 at Long Branch High School with 32 nurses present. Marion Druckers was elected President (and served until 1966). By-laws were written and established, and regular meetings were held every other month in various schools. Membership dues were $2.00 In its first year, programs and topics included TB screenings, vision and auditory screenings, speech programs, and a presentation (a timeless topic) titled, “Is it Psychosomatic or is it Real?” Another topic would prompt a survey within the organization …Should school nurses wear white uniforms? (Most respondents preferred street clothes.) The following year, meetings were held in a special room at Bamberger’s (now Macy’s) in Eatontontown. By 1964 there were 50 members and $181.65 in the treasury. In 1966 the first newsletter was published, with a logo still in use today. Among the first news items reported was as follows: “Each school is now required by law to employ a school nurse with a minimum recommendation of one nurse to a student population of 1,000.” In 1967 the first budget, in the amount of $250, was passed and association President Linda Alden Teller reported a concern of poor meeting attendance. At this time, meetings were held in an auditorium at Monmouth Medical Center. Also in 1967, the U.S. Office of Education required all schools (Grades K through 12) include a program on sex education. May 27, 1968 marked the first dinner meeting at the Old Orchard Inn - menu offerings were prime rib with lobster tail for $6.50, or boneless fried chicken for $4.00. At the September meeting, with a covered dish supper, the membership had grown to 96 and secretarial help was approved for the newsletter editor. The annual budget was $438.67; the treasury held $360. The January 1969 newsletter topic was: “Drug abuse is becoming a problem in our secondary schools.” The following year,”Teachers are becoming more militant. How do school nurses feel about this trend?” The 70s: in 1975, New Jersey school nurses were mandated to have a Bachelor’s Degree and complete a segment of student teaching. The State also mandated immunizations for school children. On September 22, 1975, Monmouth County School Nurses Association became incorporated. Time to fast forward a bit …(otherwise I’d probably need about 60 years to pay tribute to every remarkable achievement of MCSNA. ) In 1989 membership dues increased to $10 but, interestingly, decreased in 1993 to $5 due a surplus of money. President Anne Latona urged members to also join NJSSNA and NASN. Also in 1989, the School Nurse Certification Bill was passed and the membership voiced ongoing concerns about obtaining and retaining substitute school nurses. (something that holds true to this day in 2022). Topics addressed in the 90s included AIDS, Hepatitis C, Lyme Disease, Eating Disorders and Osgood-Schlatters Disease. Meeting sites varied through the decades: In the 70s it was Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, and Memorial School in Eatontown. Later on, in 1989, back to Monmouth Medical Center and then it would be Monmouth University in West Long Branch, and CentraState in Freehold. And, the latest since 2020 - Zoom virtual meetings. Some more recent meeting topics include Toxic Shock Syndrome; Mindfulness in the School Setting; Case Management of Covid-19 (the first topic on a virtual meet); the school nurse’s role in suicide prevention; and PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Information and Strategies for Therapeutic Communication in the Health Office. I recently saw a desk ornament in a local gift shop that read, “Nursing: the hardest job you’ll ever love.” How true. School nursing is not easy, as we all know. But, it’s what we do and we do it well. Our organization is committed to this professional and timeless endeavor. When I was an undergraduate at Trenton State College (now TCNJ) a wise nursing professor said, “While nurses will retire from nursing practice someday, they should never retire from nursing education”. How true. Thank You MCSNA for excellent educational programs, nursing education scholarships, collegial support, and positive camaraderie. Thank you to all presidents and executive board members, past and present, for strong leadership. Here’s to the past, present, and future of our remarkable association. Looking forward to the next 60 years. Two nurse guest speakers () from Parker Family Health Center spoke about the clinic, a volunteer-based free health clinic in Monmouth County, and encouraged nurses to consider volunteering, particularly after retirement. Gius pointed out it’s always good for nurses to brush up on different nursing skills, and this would offer such an opportunity. For more information, contact [email protected], or call (732) 212-0777.
Gail Hall and Eileen Gavin then presented legislative updates, introduced with an informative and entertaining “School House Rock” video on how a bill becomes a law. Among the topics covered were: School Nurse Consultant Law Paul’s Law (P.L. 2019, c. 290) “Paul’s Law"; authorizes a parent or guardian to request use of individualized health care plan for students with seizure disorder. (01/09/2020) New Legislation presented, as follows: P.L.2020, c.152. Requires parent or guardian to notify child care centers if child will be absent; requires child care centers to notify parent or guardian in event of unexcused child absence. P.L.2021, c.16- adult-use cannabis reform bills into law, legalizing and regulating cannabis use and possession for adults >21 years P.L.2021, c.19-"The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act") and decriminalizing marijuana and hashish possession. P.L.2021, c.25-clarifying marijuana and cannabis use and possession penalties for individuals < 21 years old. P.L.2021, c.73.-Requires health benefits coverage for adolescent depression screenings. P.L.2021, c.77.-Requires State to enter into contract and coordinate with certain cooperative purchasing systems for procurement of COVID-19 related goods and services by school districts. P.L.2021 c.106 -Establishes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic Task Force on Racial and Health Disparities. P.L.2021, c.156- Permits school districts to administer student health surveys after prior written notification to parents and legal guardians. On the Governor’s Desk: Bill: A970 AcsScaSa (ACS/2R) Establishes Mental Health Screening in Schools Grant Program in DOE; appropriates $1 million. Bill: A4544 AcaScaSa (3R)/S3250-Permits school nurse who is retired from TPAF to return to employment for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF. Bills on the “Move” Bill: S225 Sca/A679 Summary: Provides that a student-athlete who sustains concussion must return to regular school activities prior to return to competition; requires school districts to implement a five-step return-to-competition process. Bill: A1599/S585(2020) Summary: Requires public school students with concussion to be evaluated by licensed health care professionals before returning to school; requires school districts to provide restrictions or limitations to students as needed. Bill: S3723/A5419(2020) Requires DCF and DOE to establish policies and procedures relating to child abuse and neglect and child abuse prevention during certain public health emergencies. ** American Rescue Plan: For every $1 invested on a full-time registered school nurse … society would gain $2.20 NJSSNA’s 3 BIG ASKs #1-Now is the time to address inequities that have persisted in our schools #2-Addressing the “school nurse shortage” #3-Update antiquated health screening equipment. Also covered … School Nurse Regulations and Codes N.J.A.C. 6A:16, Programs to Support Student Development N.J.A.C. 6A:16-3. Comprehensive Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Abuse Programs N.J.A.C. 6A: 16-4. Procedures for Alcohol & Other Substance Abuse Intervention N.J.A.C. 6A:14 Special Education School Nurse Regulations and NJSSNA Request for change And School Nurse Pandemic Toolkit The Legislative Committee of NJSSNA - NJ State School Nurses Association requested the following language clarification to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.3 c-1. - Health services personnel. ...A school district may supplement the services provided by the certified school nurse with non-certified nurses, provided that the non-certified nurse is assigned to the same school building or school complex as the certified school nurse. The school building or complex must be under a single building -level administrator or school principal. On a final note, Eileen Gavin gave a “shout out” to Cathy Grano for helping her update the School Nurse Pandemic Tool kit, another resource for reliable information for Evidence-Based Practice. Thank you Eileen and Gail for an excellent presentation on Legislative Updates. At the end of our Gius read aloud her letter to the membership, in which she shared a very personal and moving experience with a Code Blue situation involving a child in her school. Gius handled the situation well (understatement) enlisting help from AED team members and, briskly assessing the patient and preparing for emergency transport. She saved the child’s life. Gius imparted the importance of keeping all nursing skills sharp, which is sometimes hard to do in a COVID “operated” work environment. |
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