The History of US Menstrual Health, School Nurses, and the Future of Menstrual Health Equity.

In the United States, adolescents suffer from inadequate menstrual health, meaning that adolescents are unprepared for menarche, lack the practical resources they need to comfortably and confidently manage menstruation, and receive inadequate health education and care for menstrual pain and disorders. In this article, we provide a historical analysis of the role of school nurses in addressing menstruation from the early 20th century up to the present day. We contextualize the current realities of school nursing and menstrual health education and clinical support. We argue that the decentralized US school system, a cultural aversion to open discussion about menstruation, and the outsized influence of commercial menstrual product manufacturers have hampered the ability of school nurses to deliver menstrual health education along with menstrual health support. Finally, we discuss implications for today's schooling experiences as well as recommendations for how to support school nurses in aligning our national approach to menstrual health toward the public health perspective of menstrual equity. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(9):903-908. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307705).

The mental and behavioral health crisis in youth: Strategic solutions post COVID-19 pandemic: An American Academy of Nuring consensus paper.

The COVID-19 pandemic wrought significant negative impacts on youth well-being, particularly among Black, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, and LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning) youth. The pandemic disrupted connections to family, school, and community, which are essential supports for youth mental health. Lessons learned from the pandemic suggest the role of stress and windows of opportunity to build resiliency. Drawing from a policy dialog on the youth mental health crisis conducted by 4 American Academy of Nursing Expert Panels, we present approaches to the current increase in youth mental health problems. Included is emerging literature on building youth resilience, particularly via re-establishing school and community connections. The role of families, schools, and community support is emphasized, particularly by creating a healing school environment and the pivotal role of school nurses. Recommendations include increased support for families, engaging the school nurse role, and developing school-based innovative programs to build connections and youth wellness.

School Nurses Can Reduce Firearm Injuries and Deaths.

The increasing incidents of school shootings in recent years have resulted in America's students, teachers, and staff feeling vulnerable. The most effective approach to creating safe and supportive school environments requires a comprehensive, coordinated effort including school-wide, district-wide, and community-wide strategies. School nurses, healthcare partners embedded in school communities, can guide these efforts. This article reviews data on school located gun violence through a public health lens, as well as outlines a framework for levels of prevention, including downstream, midstream, and upstream strategies. Finally, the article includes evidence-based examples, models, and tools for each level of prevention.

The Roses and Thorns of Legislative Advocacy in School Nursing Leadership.

State School Nurse Consultants provide leadership and technical assistance in many areas related to safety, education, and well-being of students. One area of assistance includes health surveillance and disease prevention. During the pandemic, summer of 2020, the legislative co-chairs of the New Jersey State School Nurses Association advocated for a State School Nurse Consultant position at the New Jersey Department of Education. The story of their relentless pursuit of legislation that would support this position is shared in this article archiving one of the most tumultuous times in recent school nursing history. Successful passage of a law to establish the position of a State School Nurse Consultant was only the initial step in a life-lesson about advocacy, patience, and collaboration. Learn about the roses and thorns of school nursing legislative advocacy and consider joining your affiliates' legislative team!

Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Philadelphia Town Hall: Lessons Shared From a Relentless School Nurse.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in partnership with the National Academy of Medicine held Town Meeting discussions the summer of 2019 at three sites across the country on the Future of Nursing 2030. Included in the testimony were both invited presentation and public testimony. This article is the transcript of the invited testimony of Robin Cogan, a school nurse who has established a voice for advocacy and the creator of the blog titled The Relentless School Nurse and is one of four presentations featured in this issue of the NASN School Nurse. In her January 2020 letter, NASN's President Laurie Combe discussed the Future of Nursing 2030 and the importance of school nurse advocacy.

Sesame Street and School Nurses Join in a "Circle of Care".

Collaboration with community school health partners is a valuable tool assisting school nurses with a strategy referred to as developing a "circle of care." The strategy involves surrounding children with nurturing adults in their lives, individuals in schools and communities who regularly support children with comfort and care. One example of a school health partner contributing to providing a "circle of care" is the program titled "Sesame Street in Communities." The program has three main priorities-military and veteran families, supporting children with autism, and supporting resiliency in young children undergoing trauma. The following article is an interview with the authors discussing the application of this resource for school nurses working with an early childhood population.

Power of the Past, Celebrate the Present, Force of the Future Part 2: Our Story-NASN's Second 25 Years.

The July 2018 issue of the NASN School Nurse, featured the first in a series of articles exploring the history, examining the present, and visioning the future of our organization in celebration of NASN's 50th anniversary. Part 2 of our historical account reflects on the leadership of a new generation of clinicians, reviewing the major emphases and accomplishments of NASN presidents serving from 1993 to today.

Redesigning School Nursing Education in New Jersey to Address the Challenges and Opportunities of Population Health.

School health is a specialty practice of nursing positioned at the intersection of public health and population health. This article discusses the redesign of a program's curriculum with the hope of advancing and elevating the practice of school nursing. The redesign is based on NASN's Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice and is the result of a New Jersey Nursing Initiative grant awarded to a trio of adjunct faculty from Rutgers University Camden in July 2016.