Pennsylvania State Education Association

Message from the president

Where do I begin?  First, by thanking all the healthcare professionals, EMS, police, and fire departments, risking their lives and those of their families to provide care to those infected with COVID-19.  Thank you to the stores, restaurants, truck drivers, and all those employees risking their lives for our families.

This is a traumatic event in our world, so please remember you may experience emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms in your life. I am not referring to viral symptoms.  We are on information overload. While it is helpful, it can also take a toll on everyone and it has thrown our routine off. Try to stay hydrated, eat a variety of healthy foods, go for a walk, or catch up on a favorite TV show or movie. Walk away from the information overload, find a quiet place, sit and close your eyes. Take deep breaths and visualize your favorite place to be or a place you would love to visit–while we’re lucky to be safe in our homes, cabin fever is still natural!

We are all in this together. I know you have many questions and concerns about returning to brick-and-mortar learning. While we wait for more clarity on when a return to the classroom will occur, network with your colleagues. Discuss your concerns and brainstorm solutions, make lists to circulate. While we won’t be able to plan for every potential obstacle, with our combined experience, we can be as prepared as possible. Listen to NASN President Laurie Combe’s message and read the letter NASN sent to Congressional leaders regarding school nurse staffing.

It is April and the time for new life to bloom. I’m watching birds build nests, baby bunnies popping their noses from under my shed, and the beauty of emerging flowers and flowering trees. Remember that we are resilient, and we are learning every day.  Stay strong, and we will get through this crisis. Stay home, stay safe, and above all, stay well!

Alice Uhrich
PSEA School Nurse Section President

Thank You-Gov. Wolf and state legislators  

Ever wonder how politics impacts your job and what your union and PSEA-PACE do for you?  A few weeks ago, we saw this in action as the Pennsylvania state House and Senate voted swiftly and unanimously to approve emergency school code legislation that sets clear state policy for public schools during the COVID-19 coronavirus emergency. It ensures that nearly all school employees get paid and receive a full year of PSERS retirement credit and allows flexible instruction so that students can keep learning and educators keep educating. This bill held together the fabric of our public education system, but without the strength of PSEA’s 180,000 members, the advocacy of members and staff, and the bipartisan relationships we’ve developed through PSEA-PACE, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE!

Please take a moment to send a personal thank you note to your state senator and your state representative for their support of Pennsylvania educators and staff in this time of crisis.  Be sure to let them know that you’re a school nurse and how passionate you are about the health and safety of your students.  Now is a great to time to offer to serve as a resource to your state legislators regarding school health issues.

What’s next? What happens when we return to school?

The document below “COVID-19 Return to School Plan” from the Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, may help the conversation in your school district. Thank you to the composer, Shelby Parsons, a school nurse, for sharing this document on the NASN site.

We discussed the document at our district’s nurses meeting. Our director thought it was a great place to start with our charge to adapt the document while we await further guidance from CDC, WHO, and PA DOH. It also opened the conversation for what our needs will be going forward.

Therefore, we are planning a needs assessment. Our discussion started with the fact there are not enough substitute nurses and how can we attract more nurses, especially in this climate. We were informed that the Division of School Health is working on a similar guidance document for statewide implementation, but in the meantime, it’s a good idea to think through what processes you could implement to keep your students and staff healthy and safe when we return to school buildings.

Covid 19 Return Plan.pdf

COVID-19 and other important resources  

Special ANA COVID webinar: Be Confident Protecting Yourself and Providing the Best Care to Your Patients During This COVID-19 Pandemic: nursingworld.org Practice Policy Coronavirus- Scroll mid-page and click on the Register for Webinar here – you will be taken to the webinar.

• Inhaler shortage: acaai.org   
• Use of nebulizer treatments during COVID: college.acaai.org  
• Narcan:  Narcan.com 
• Good webinars from the Epilepsy Foundation:  Epilepsy.com
• Current webinars from their January 2020 conference: American Diabetes Association: Diabetes.org   
• Archived webinars: Food Allergy and Research Education:  Foodallergy.org
• Free CEs-Nurse: Nurse.com
• NASN: NASN.org - Don’t forget the NASN continuing education, if you are a member!
  
  

More useful resources 

Epinephrine auto injectors-Review all six epi videos – Yep, there are six!

Foodallergy.org

AUVI-Q: Auvi-q.com

Review 3 glucagon products:

Lilly’s Red box injectable glucagon:

Lillyglucagon.com-How to inject  Lilly’s intranasal powder glucagon

Baqsimi-Baqsimi.com  -  If you call or email, they may send a trainer – I received one.

Xeris Pharmaceuticals injectable glucagon: Gvoke-Gvokeglucagon.com 

We need to hear from you!

School Nurse Section met virtually in March 2020, and will meet again during our annual DPS conference in State College, August 2020. Your region representative is available year-round to help you get your questions answered. Please reach out to your region representative today to share your concerns, questions, and success stories.

Join us for PSEA’s Department of Pupil Services Conference August 4-5 at our new location, the Nittany Lion Inn in State College.

Welcome to the new Director of the Division of School Health, Colleen Schultz.  Colleen joins the Division of School Health after 12 years as a CSN. She’s walked into a unique situation at the Division of School Health, but as a former certified school nurse, we know she’s up to this and every challenge.