Florida Association of School Nurses Nineteenth Annual Conference Book School Nurses: Leading the Way to a Healthier Generation February 6 and 7, 2015 Florida Hotel & Conference Center At The Florida Mall 1500 Sand Lake Road Orlando, FL 32809
Name: Dianne Mennitt, DNP, MS, RN, CNS, NCSN, AE-C Project Title: Care of Students with Asthma in Florida Schools Poster Type: Best Practice Individual Introduction: The prevalence of childhood asthma in Florida is approximately 10% based on the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) data. Adherence to evidence-based asthma management practices serves to reduce medical expenses, improve school attendance, and reduce missed workdays for caretakers. Background: In 2010, an online asthma educational program for school nurses was offered to increase awareness of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines. Due to school nurses having to cover multiple schools, it is necessary for school nurses to train nonhealthcare personnel in asthma management practices. Method: This study replicated the previous FDOH asthma survey of 2010 and compared results to determine if the national Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma were being followed. Email surveys were sent to 67 county school health coordinators. Results: The number of school office staff who routinely provide care for students with asthma has more than doubled since 2010. Other significant findings indicate an increase use of environmental processes to reduce common asthma triggers inside of school buildings through use of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools. Discussion: Results reinforce the need for school nurses to train school personnel using evidence-based asthma management practices. Conclusion: Guidelines for the Care and Delegation of Care for Students with Asthma in Florida Schools (FDOH, 2013) serves as a tool for school nurses to inform school personnel about asthma, how it is managed, and how to implement evidence-based asthma management practices in Florida school settings.
Name: Allison Wiman, BS, RN, BSN Project Title: Salmonella and Pets: What School Nurses Need to Know Poster Type: Best Practice Individual Abstract: Pet ownership is enormously popular as evident by the fact that 95 million American households report owning at least one pet. People and their pets generally live in close proximity, often sharing beds and living space, which puts people at risk for contracting a zoonotic infection, including salmonellosis. Classroom pets, particularly reptiles, pocket pets (gerbils, mice, ferrets, hedgehogs, etc.), and fish are commonly found in the school setting and all of these species have been associated with salmonella infections. The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates contact with animals results in 20,607 Salmonella cases annually with 2,392 related hospitalizations and 47 deaths. Likewise, research has indicated that approximately 11% of sporadic Salmonella infections in those under 21 years of age are the result of direct or indirect contact with reptiles or amphibians. Evidence suggests that most pet owners may not be aware of the risk, particularly to children, the elderly, and those that are immunocompromised. Children are often assigned cage cleaning duty, increasing their chance for exposure. A recent survey found that 63% of pocket pet owners tasked children with cleaning the animal s habitat while only 42% reported always washing their hands after touching the pet. While salmonellosis is generally not fatal, salmonella infection can cause significant discomfort and may result in hospitalization. Symptoms include fever, abdominal cramps and severe diarrhea. Recent outbreaks of Salmonellosis attributable to direct or indirect exposure to pets are presented and suggestions for reducing the risk of infection are provided.
Name: Kathleen C. Rose, MHA BS RN Project Title: School Nurse + School News = Health Education Poster Type: Best Practice - Individual In recent years there has been less and less educational time spent in health education. Yet the need for health education is increasing. Recent studies have shown up to 30% of a school nurse s day is spent in mental health issues. Our state legislature has passed laws to address bullying and our public health partners have repeatedly demonstrated that effective hand washing can keep students in school and learning. School nurses are often covering multiple schools or are located in a single school, but expected to remain in the clinic at all times. Meanwhile, the Scope and Standards of School Nursing Practice (2nd edition), states that school nurses should do health promotion and health teaching (Standard 5) and that he/she should communicate effectively in a variety of formats.(standard 11.) By using the school news to do a brief health education segment once a week, school nurses can address hygiene, nutrition, exercise, mental and emotional health on a regular basis. In addition, the school nurse, who may presently be a vague someone in the school can become a well known and respected member of the health team.
Name: Phil Johnson, MS RPh FASHP and Barbara Smith, MS with Peggy Howland, RN and Kathleen Rose, BS RN NCSN Project Title: Medication Administration Practices in Florida Schools: A Survey of Florida School Nurses Poster Type: Research - Group Johnson and Smith in collaboration with an advisory group from the Florida Association of School Nurses and the Florida Department of Health are planning to invite Florida school nurses to take part in a survey of current medication administration practices in school. This will be an opportunity to update research done by Johnson in 2004 and plan for future research to identify and address barriers to best practice. The National Association of School Nurses, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, and the American Academy of Pediatrics among others have identified guidelines for safe medication practices at school. But school nurses have special challenges in implementing these guidelines in the school environment. The survey will help identify barriers that interfere with best practices for school nurses. Medication administration is after first aid the most common task carried out in the school health setting. Hospitals and other health care settings have been able to create nonpunitive systems for identifying circumstances that lead to medication errors and work on systems to avoid those errors. This has been more difficult to accomplish in the school setting. This survey of school nurses would address some of these questions: What resources do school nurses have to support safe medication practices? Who is administering medications at school? How are staff members being trained (to assist with medication administration? What are the largest contributors to medication errors at school?