California Department of Education:
"Health Screenings Mandates for 20-21 Must be Completed"

In today’s LEA Medi-Cal Billing Option Program Virtual meeting, Dr. Tom Herman from the California Department of Education Health and Safety Office, shared that despite that school’s are performing virtual learning, they still have an obligation to meet mandated health screening requirements. Herman shared that school district personnel would have to get “creative.”  He continued to share that rather than bringing in an entire class of 5^th graders, considerations should be made about bringing in only a few students at a time in for screening.  He also stated that parents could obtain a waiver stating screening had been performed by the student’s health care provider. CSNO had submitted a waiver to waive all mandated screenings in the midst of COVID-19 to the California Department of Education and to date had not received a response.  According to Herman, there are an array of screening requirements including oral health, vision and hearing that must be completed.  Herman also shared the CDE has been receiving multiple calls about immunization and encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated prior to starting school.

School Nurse Academy Cohort 2-Starts November 14, 2020

Back by Popular Demand!!!!   CSNO will be facilitating a second cohort of the CSNO's School Nurse Academy. The School Nurse Academy was designed by school nurses for school nurses. The Academy features a hybrid learning experiences. Three modules will be conducted via Zoom; the remaining modules will be sent online. Zoom portions include: Overview of School Nursing; Physical Assessment in Educational Settings and common student health issues; and Vision Screening. Online content includes: Legal Aspects; MTSS and the continuum of Student Support; Emergency Response; Communicable Diseases; Immunizations; Population Health and Community Health; School Nurse Image; Frameworks for School Nursing Practice; and School Health Financing. The academy is facilitated by experienced school nurse leaders and serve on the CSNO State Board. This year's Cohort 2 CSNO School Nurse Academy Zoom meetings will be held November 14th from 9am-3pm; November 21st from 9am-12pm; December 5th from 9am-1:30pm and December 12th from 9am-12pm. School Nurse Academy attendees automatically become CSNO members since organizational support is critical to school nurse success. CSNO is pleased to offer 60 continuing education contact hour through the California Board of Registered Nursing. The California School Nurses Organization is provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing CEP #04269. CSNO has also partnered with the Teachers College of San Joaquin to provide 2 units of professional learning units. Costs for units are not included in the Academy costs. BRN and University credit may not be obtained concurrently.  Offered on a first come first served basis. Once registered, cancellations may not be made; substitutions are welcome. 

Non CSNO membership registration received on or after 11/1/2020 $755 

Register for School Nurse Academy

CSNO is pleased to bring school nurses a series focused on Special Education!  Topics will be grounded in the recently released CSNO Specialized Physical Health Care Procedures in Educational Settings.  CSNO has released a series of modules to provide guidance on training unlicensed assistive personnel to perform health care services as outlined in California Education Code 49423.5.  Learn about recent research, best practice, and ask school nurse experts questions related to your own school nursing practice. Topics include What is an IEP, the role of the school nurse and writing school nursing services into the IEP;  Tracheotomies ; Gastrostomy;  Anaphylaxis; Asthma and much, much more.  This series will roll out mid November through early January.

HHS Extends Public Health Emergency

On October 2, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced an additional extension of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). This declaration becomes effective October 23. Assuming a full 90-day declaration from this extension, the PHE will now last through January 21, 2021.

California Schools Approved for Reopening

Sample Reopening Plan   

As COVID-19 cases decline, some school districts are poised to submit a "Reopening" Plan to their respective public health officer, Board of Education and the school community.  CSNO is please to provide a sample reopening plan to help support our school nurse colleagues. It is rooted in CDPH Industry Guidelines for Reopening Schools https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-schools.pdf. 
It is important to work with local teacher unions, parent teacher groups, staff and students in developing a reopening plan.  CSNO members may access the sample plan in the COVID-19 Resources

CSNO State Office Nominations Open

CSNO is pleased to launch nominations for candidates to two CSNO State Offices: President-Elect (successor to President and Past-President; a 6 year commitment; 2 year term each) and Treasurer (2 year term).  Each candidate must be a CSNO Member in Good Standing and be able to attend to the duties as assigned as outlined in the CSNO Bylaws and Standing Rules for their respective office.  To nominate a candidate for office (please check with the individual first prior to nominating). Individuals may self-nominate. Candidates will be asked to submit a short bio (paragraph or two) as well as a photo.

To review the CSNO Bylaws: http://csno.mediafire.com/file/3jpyf5d44i0iyh1/2019.BylawsAsAmended_8-2-2019_docx_FINAL-1.pdf/file
To review the CSNO Standing Rules: http://csno.mediafire.com/file/ylz34rea654pfd5/CSNO_StandingRules-FINAL_Aug-2020.docx/file

To self-nominate or nominate an individual for these CSNO State Offices
State Candidate Nominations

COVID-19 Resource Center

During this unprecedented time of COVID-19, resources for school nurses are vital. CSNO has put together a COVID-19 Recovery Plan, as well as pulled together some of the latest guidance, and other resources. We have created a dedicated page to all things COVID-19. Click below to view those resources.

COVID-19 Resources

American Academy of Pediatrics

The Link Between School Attendance and Good Health, January 2019 Policy Statement

Attendance & Health

American Academy of Pediatrics

Role of the School Nurse in Providing School Health Services May 2016 Policy Statement

Policy Statement

AAP Policy Statement on Off-Label Medication Use

The American Academy of Pediatrics has a position statement on the use of off-label medication use with children. The purpose of off-label use is to benefit the individual patient. Practitioners use their professional judgment to determine these uses. As such, the term “off-label” does not imply an improper, illegal, contraindicated, or investigational use. Therapeutic decision-making must always rely on the best available evidence and the importance of the benefit for the individual patient.

Off label AAP Position Statement

A Day in the Life of a School Nurse

​Inside California Education is a public television series that explores the challenges, issues and stories of public education.  Recently the station highlighted school nursing.  Please feel free to share with your school communities.

Day in the life of a School Nurse