Dr. Eric Rodney Ph.D.M.Ed, Education Program Development Specialist, NJDOE, Division of Early Childhood Education is the facilitator for the great leadership team of preschool nurses, who are the 'Focus Group'. This team of nurses work closely year-round in various school nursing capacity concerning the preschool nurses of NJ, culminating in this annual event. The school nurses are: Robin M. Cogan MEd, RN, NJ-CSN of Camden County; Harriet Coleman, DNP, BSN, RN, CSN-NJ, NCSN, B. Helena Blackwell, MA, RN, CSN, CSW & Adrienne E. Matthews, MS, RNC, BSN (retired) of Essex County; Adele C Pudner, RN, M.Ed, NCSN, NJ-CSN of Union County; and Giuseppina Diamante, MS, CSN, Shannon Sharpe, RN, BA, CSN & Sheila Caldwell, BSN, RN, CSN-NJ of Monmouth County.
This year's event took place for the second year at the Michael T. Lake PAC in Neptune. More than 200 preschool nurses attended this event, eager to absorb the knowledge from this year's presenters. Dr. Gerard Costa, Ph.D., IMH-E® IV-C, Director from Montclair State University spoke about mental health and stress in preschoolers. He informed the group that it's so important to engage and connect with children right from birth; leading to a healthier mental state for each and every child. Dr. Costa also gave some great news about how the "Keeping Babies and Children in Mind", the infant and early childhood mental health training project, that was implemented for 10 counties affected by Superstorm Sandy, to train professionals who work with infants, toddlers, young children and their families (pregnancy through age eight) in evidence-based practices which support the emotional, social and neurological foundations for all development and learning, will soon be available for professionals throughout the entire state! For more information about this project - click here.
Next, Dr. Robert Atkins, PhD, RN, FAAN, Director/Associate Professor-New Jersey Health Initiatives-RWJF informed the preschool nurses how important they are to putting New Jersey on the road to "A Culture of Health". He talked about his beginnings as a school nurse in Camden, so he understood the role of school nurses. He stressed how population health is already a part of the job of school nursing and now it's just time to take the lead to address the outcomes - It's about communities. With NJHI being a major contributor to the Rutgers/Johnson & Johnson School Health Leadership Program, he discussed the involvement and encouraged the preschool nurses to consider applying in the future. For more information about NJHI - click here and JJSHLP - click here.
One of the Focus Group members, Adrienne Matthews presented about her team's JJSHLP Initiative, "Second Generation Parenting", that was implemented in the Newark Public School system. The team was in the 2014 Rutgers/JJSHLP cohort consists of Adrienne Matthews, along with B. Helena Blackwell (Focus member) and Debra Graham, MSW, LCSW. They are now Rutgers/JJSHLP Fellows. This team noted an increase in senior citizens (grandparents) involved in the school activities of students, thus conducting a survey to determine what this demographic's concerns were - in the areas of health, social services and parenting skills. Grant monies from the Rutgers/JJSHLP were used to kickstart monthly interest-related community, state and national organization presenters to meet with and discuss strategies and challenges of the participating seniors (grandparents). The "Second Generation Parenting" program has allowed for participants to identify various community individuals and other supports/resources to help them care for their grandchildren as well as how to take care of themselves. Further outreach and grant opportunities continue to allow this program to thrive in the Newark school system. Thank you for allowing other school nurses to learn about this sustained project. (**Other Focus Group members, who are Rutgers/JJSHLP Fellows are: Robin Cogan, Adele Pudner & Sheila Caldwell)
Next, two school nurses from Newark, Erica Smith, RN,BSN,CSN,CPHM and Mary Arumemi, RN,CNM,MSN,CSN presented information that school nurses need to know about Emergency Preparedness in the Preschool Setting. These nurses had created a 'preparedness' song, that had everyone on their feet singing along to start off their presentation. The song was to the tune of "If your happy and you know it":
If you don't like emergencies say 'Aww Man' (Aww Man)
If you don't like emergencies say 'Aww Man" (Aww Man)
If you don't like emergencies, you'll prepare with urgency
If you don't like emergencies, say 'Aww Man' (Aww Man)!
Emergency preparedness has been of vital concern in these times and schools have to be 'on the ready'. It was discussed how school nurses need to be on safety teams and how the consideration for children with special needs and those who receive medications and medical treatments while in school need to have plans in place for them. Emergency "Go-Kits" need to be properly stocked and classrooms should also have emergency supplies should a lock-down or shelter-in-place ensue. The importance of having communication with community OEM & EMS is a necessity for school nurses. Two important position statements for school nurses concerning emergency preparedness are from NASN - click here & AAP - click here. "NJ Register Ready" is a registry available for persons with special needs to provide information that is flagged to local OEM units if a disaster/community emergency takes place, click here for more information.
Jenish B. Sudhakaran, MPH, Population Assessment Coordinator, Immunization Program, NJDOH
Communicable Disease Service and Jennifer Smith, MPH, CHES, Public Health Educator, NJDOH, Vaccine Preventable Disease Program presented about Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization Information. This presentation covered everything from when schools should exclude to exemptions to the state requirements of vaccinations while in school. There were a number of questions asked from the school nurses to clarify the '4-day grace period' and '30-day provisional' allowances. Click here for the 2015 FAQ document concerning NJ schools and immunization requirements. Reporting of Communicable Outbreaks for schools was also discussed - click here for more information.
The day concluded with the attendees asking the Focus Group members some tough questions about the care of preschool children in NJ schools. There were questions concerning screenings, medications, delegation and the differences of school nursing in a public preschool vs in licensed centers. School nurses were referred to NJDOE Administrative Code Chapter 13a, NJDOH Administrative Code 10:122 and NJBON Administrative Code Chapter 37 as reference to some of the responses.
In addition, the Focus Group informed preschool nurses that they need to become involved in the NJ County Councils for Young Children. Preschool nurse were given the "Program Leads" contact information to learn how they can work with the community partners to improve the health of the preschoolers in their care. Click here for more information (then, click on Program Leads to see the list of county contacts)
School Health Corporation (Joanne Nicholas, Territory Manager) provided a healthy breakfast for the school nurse attendees.
There were a number of goodies, resources and literature made available for the preschool nurses from: Pfizer Inc. US Vaccines; PM Pediatrics Corporate Office; New Jersey Poison Information & Education System (NJPIES) and VNACJ.
A full day of information, leadership and resources for the preschool nurses of New Jersey.