Celebrating 21st-Century School Nursing Practice.

During May we celebrate School Nursing Day. We are often asked-What does a school nurse do? This article is a response to a recently asked request and describes the role of the school nurse in the 21st century, working in one school. The description is not meant to be all inclusive-but rather give examples of the complex role and need for a school nurse.

Using Data and Research to Heal the Future.

This invited testimony was given during a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Campaign for Action meeting held in New Orleans, LA. The meeting was held in conjunction with the Future of Nursing Town Hall in Chicago that focused on social determinants of health. The focus of the meeting was school health and social determinants of health. The author, serving as Director of Research for NASN, was asked to specifically focus on NASN's efforts related to data and research, as well as social determinants of health.

Does Every Student Count! in Your State? Update on the National School Nurse Dataset.

The NASN launched a new data initiative in 2018 called: The National School Health Data Set: Every Student Counts! The initiative includes three distinct foci or prongs. This article reports on the progress of states participating in Every Student Counts! For more information on NASN's initiative and to learn how school nurses can join the data revolution, go to http://nasn.org/everystudentcounts .

Bring School Nursing Out of the Shadows: Advocacy for the Future of Nursing 2030.

School nursing is part of America's hidden healthcare system. Recently, the Institute of Medicine commissioned the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) to review progress on its Future of Nursing 2010 study. Additionally, the AARP and the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action held town halls that focused on school nursing. This article is a summary of the testimony offered to the Future of Nursing and Campaign for Action leaders about the value that school nursing brings to the health of our nation and the recommendations for action.

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.

Knowledge of US Midwifery Credentials Among Members of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

INTRODUCTION: Three midwifery credentials are granted in the United States: certified nurse-midwife (CNM), certified midwife (CM), and certified professional midwife (CPM). Confusion about US midwifery credentials may restrict growth of the midwifery profession. This survey assessed American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) members' knowledge of US midwifery credentials. METHODS: ACNM members (N = 7551) were surveyed via email in 2017. The survey asked respondents to report demographic information and to identify correct statements about the education, certification, and scope of practice of CNMs, CMs, and CPMs. Responses to 17 items about all midwives certified in the United States, a 5-item subset specific to CNMs/CMs, and one item related to location of midwifery practice by credential were analyzed. RESULTS: Nearly a quarter of the membership (22.1%) responded to the survey. Higher scores on the survey indicated greater identification of correct statements about the education, certification, scope, and location of practice of CNMs, CMs, and CPMs. Significant differences in scores were found among ACNM members based on their level of education, degree of professional involvement in midwifery, and prior practice as a nurse. ACNM members with higher scores on the survey held a doctorate, worked in Region I, and had greater professional leadership involvement in midwifery organizations. Participants with less nursing experience prior to their midwifery education also scored significantly higher on the survey. DISCUSSION: Although two-thirds of respondents correctly answered items on the preparation, credentialing, and scope of practice of CNMs, CMs, and CPMs, a significant minority had gaps in knowledge. Results of this survey suggest the need for outreach about US midwifery credentials. Future research to replicate and expand upon this survey may benefit the profession of midwifery in the United States.

Health and Academic Equity in Schools: Is Nursing Far Enough Up Stream?

When the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in partnership with the National Academy of Medicine announced the Town Meeting discussions of the Future of Nursing 2030, the president of the National Association of State School Nurse Consultants felt that the voice of School Nursing was crucial to informing the national discussion on health equity and health promotion. Sharonlee Trefry, State School Nurse Consultant, wanted to be sure that the leadership team of the Future of Nursing 2030 heard about the needs of the nation's 56.6 million elementary and secondary public and independent school students. Serving in an even greater role today with regard to promoting equity in healthcare and educational access, school nurses recognize and address social determinants of health every day all day working to grow the next generation of healthy citizens.

Pain Assessment in the Patient Unable to Self-Report: Clinical Practice Recommendations in Support of the ASPMN 2019 Position Statement.

Pain is a subjective experience, unfortunately, some patients cannot provide a self-report of pain verbally, in writing, or by other means. In patients who are unable to self-report pain, other strategies must be used to infer pain and evaluate interventions. In support of the ASPMN position statement "Pain Assessment in the Patient Unable to Self-Report", this paper provides clinical practice recommendations for five populations in which difficulty communicating pain often exists: neonates, toddlers and young children, persons with intellectual disabilities, critically ill/unconscious patients, older adults with advanced dementia, and patients at the end of life. Nurses are integral to ensuring assessment and treatment of these vulnerable populations.

ASPMN 2019 Position Statement: Pain Assessment in the Patient Unable to Self-Report.

Managing pain in those vulnerable populations who are unable to self-report or communicate is challenging due to difficulty recognizing pain presence and severity. As no valid and reliable objective measure of pain exists, the ASPMN supports assessment practice recommendations that gather relevant information to infer presence of pain and evaluate response to intervention. Nurses and other healthcare professionals must be advocates for those who are unable to speak for themselves regarding their pain experience.

Power of the Past, Celebrate the Present, Force of the Future-Part 6: NASN-The Next 50 Years.

NASN is celebrating 50 years of supporting the health needs of children and the practice needs of the school nurses who provide those services. This is the sixth and last in a series exploring the power of NASN's past, its celebration of the present and preparing for NASN to be a force of the future. This article builds on the historical precedents of NASN's history to develop a vision for its next 50 years. Examining the changing landscape of healthcare provides the outline of NASN's potential to advance child health.