Announcing a Free Mental Health Webinar with eSchoolCare Content Expert with Sara Parrell, RN, MS

Click Here to View the Archived Webinar! 

Sara Parrell, RN, MS,  Pediatric Program Support Nurse for Professional Development in Mental Health at Madison Metropolitan School District

Topic: Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI): Assessment and Support

Date: October 24th, 2013

Time: 1:00PM Central (2:00PM Eastern, 12:00PM Mountain, 11:00AM Pacific)

The school nurse is often the first contact for self-injury that occurs at school, and attention to the physical wound is vital. Several things can facilitate further assessment and a successful referral. The health office environment must be safe, and health personnel must have a history of taking interest in and demonstrating concern for all students. Teaming with, or referral to, school support or crisis staff is imperative, as is both notifying and involving the parents or guardian.

In this webinar you will learn about:

• Assessment of nonsuicidal self-injury may be difficult and requires the nurse to adopt a team-based consultative approach.

• Planning for ongoing support for a student who struggles with self-injurious behavior is important. A key element of the plan is communicating the student's specific needs to teachers, while maintaining confidentiality about the condition/treatment/progress as requested by parents.   

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Announcing a Free Cancer Webinar with eSchoolCare Content Expert Sharon A. Frierdich, NP

"Transitioning from Treatment to the School Setting"

Day/Date:  Thursday, October 10, 2013

Times: 2:00PM Eastern, 1:00PM Central, 12:00PM Mountain, 11:00AM Pacific 

Click here to view the Archived Webinar with Sharon A. Frierdich, Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Specialist and eSchoolCare Content Expert.             
                                         

Because cancer is relatively rare among children, most nurses do not have experience caring for a child returning to school with the disease.  eSchoolCare content expert Sharon Frierdich, NP, a pediatric hematology and oncology specialist, has worked with dozens of schools to ease the transitions between treatment and the rest of life. 

The good news is that many more students can return to class and to a normal life after cancer than was once the case.  Thirty years ago, only three in 10 childhood cancer patients survived their disease; today 80 percent of all children diagnosed with cancer will be cured.

A pro-active, carefully planned school re-entry program can minimize potential problems and enhance the school's contribution to the care of the child. Often teachers and classmates visit the child in the hospital or send get well wishes through cards, posters, Facebook, e-mail, etc.

It is vital that children with cancer maintain as normal a lifestyle as possible. For school-age children, continued school attendance helps provide a sense of well-being, an opportunity for academic success, and socialization with peers. Studies of children who do not return to school have shown they have lower self-esteem, difficulty developing relationships, and remain very dependent on their parents.

School nurses also need to know how to address the special needs of these children such as catheter safety and protecting the child from infections and exposure to communicable diseases which may result in serious complications.

Webinar attendees will have a chance to ask questions about infection prevention and any other concerns they may have about caring for a child who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Announcing a Free Allergies Webinar with eSchoolCare Content Expert Kathleen Shanovich

Kathleen Shanovich 

Free Webinar with eSchoolCare Content Expert Kathleen Shanovich    
                                                 

Just in time for the start of the school year, eSchoolCare content expert Kathleen Shanovich, NP will be giving pointers and taking questions from school nurses on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 10:30am (Central Time). 

Click Here to View the Archived Webinar  

A Preview of the Webinar is Below 

Do children have more allergies today or is it just my imagination?

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)

·       The prevalence of food allergy among children under the age of 18 increased 18% percent from 1997 to 2007.

·       Kids with a food allergy are two to four times more likely to have conditions such as asthma and other allergies.

·       Allergic rhinitis affects as many as 40% of children.

·       Atopic dermatitis affects between 10% and 20% of children.

Kathleen Shanovich, a clinician with the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics will discuss the impact of this rise in allergic conditions on school nursing and what researchers are finding out about reasons behind this surge.

What are the best practices in caring for children who have allergic reactions?

School staff members often underestimate how quickly an allergic reaction can escalate into anaphylaxis.  For example, an allergic food reaction:

·       Occurs quickly (seconds/minutes to 1-2 hrs.) following food ingestion

·       Can be life-threatening

·       Occurs reproducibly (each time food protein ingested)

·       Can occur with tiny amounts of food protein exposure (250 mcg)

That means school staff need to be trained to be alert for the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and well prepared to administer epinephrine onsite without delay.  The eSchoolCare resource, particularly its video showing a child going into anaphylaxis, supports school nurses in their efforts to build their own and their staff’s confidence.  Techniques are demonstrated for administering epinephrine with an EpiPen® and the new Auvi-QTM auto-injectors.  As one school nurse said, “Being able to make a quick assessment and provide treatment may have saved a student’s life.”

How can I keep kids with allergies in my school safe?

While we cannot make our environments totally free from allergens, school nurses can implement policies and practices that make classrooms as allergy-safe as possible.  For example, simple steps to reduce food allergic reactions are:

·       Students should not share food.

·       Students and staff should wash their hands with soap and water after eating.

·       If soap and water are not available, hand wipes can be used.  Note:  Hand sanitizers and gels do not remove food proteins and are not an effective way to removed allergens from the hands.  

eSchoolCare provides model policies and guidelines for school nurses on the front lines of leadership in getting allergies under control so kids can just be kids.