MASNRN:

MASNRN Fall 2013 Newsletter

Date posted: November 23, 2013

Dear MASNRN Members,

Enjoy this latest update on MASNRN activities!

Board of Directors’ Activities: This summer, the members of the BOD held a strategic planning meeting to review past accomplishments and outline future goals for the organization. The agenda included: refining the By-Laws; reviewing current policies and protocols: examining the current Logic Model in guiding research goals; evaluating communication tools with members; reviewing current research projects; and celebrating MASNRN’s past presentations at NASN conferences and published articles in nursing journals. As a network, we have much to be proud of, and as the only School Nurse Research Network functioning in the U.S., we feel strongly the need to continue to promote school nurse led research that improves the health care of students. We continue to look for partnership opportunities to carry on this important work.

MASNRN By-Laws/501(c)3 update: The Oversight Board continues to work on a final By-Laws product. There is some additional updating needed and each edition requires re-submission to the state. It is a tremendous learning process, but will be worth the effort, as this is the basis of the 501(c)3 application. Lawyers Clearinghouse has reviewed our application, and some additional work remains to be done. We are hopeful for declaration as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in early 2014.

MASNRN Members gave presentations at the NASN Conference June 2013 in Orlando, FL: Mary Jane O’Brien presented her dissertation study entitled “The associations of the School Wellness Policy and school nurse activities to the weight status of Massachusetts school children.” The outcome of this study suggested that school nurse activities were significantly associated with a reduction in childhood obesity. The school wellness policy was not significantly associated with this reduction. There were school health researchers from colleges and universities in the audience who asked pertinent questions. A health economist from the CDC gave great feedback for future studies. This may be another great chance to display what school nurses do to mitigate or prevent chronic illnesses.

MASNRN members Laura White, Judy Aubin and Nancy Dorrance presented the results of the MASNRN research study on the “Effectiveness of a Computer Based Module to Augment the Education of School Staff in the Management of Students with Life Threatening Food Allergies.” The research study examined the use of learning modules that were devised by allergists at Children’s Hospital, Boston. The presentation generated lots of interest in the use of such computer teaching modules, which staff use independently in conjunction with school nurse direction, to receive required training. Approximately 60 school nurses attended the presentation and had very good questions regarding the study and the research tool used.

Other Presentations/Publications: MASNRN members involved with the allergy training module study met with allergist Wanda Phipatanakul, MD, Children’s Hospital, Boston, to discuss publishing the results of the study.  This led to an invitation to present the results at the New England Society of Allergy Fall Conference. MASNRN members worked quickly to create a poster presentation for this event, to be held October 5, 2013, in Providence, RI. We are looking forward to exploring a mutually beneficial research relationship with Dr. Wanda Phipatanakul.

MASNRN’s abstract for a podium presentation at the American Public Health Association national conference was also accepted. APHA’s annual conference is being held in Boston in November, 2013. Mary Jane O’Brien will present an overview of the MASNRN model, highlighting a school nurse led research network and the implications for improving population health.

Web Site: MASNRN’s website has been updated and we think you will find it very informative. Our mission statement and MASNRN’s presentations and publications are listed – you can see we have been very productive since our inception in 2004! Potential members are now able to print the membership page and email it as an attachment to the membership director. More changes may be coming as we explore new partnerships to help us with managing the site to more effectively meet the needs of all members. Visit MASNRN.org to check it out!

Educational Programs: On Wednesday November 13, 2013 MASNRN will host an educational program, “School Nurse Research: A Basic Overview”.   Mary Jane O’Brien, PhD, RN, CPNP, NCSN, will cover the definitions, purpose and importance of school nurse research. The research process, design and basic aspects will also be discussed. A hands-on element to the presentation will include reviewing several school nurse research articles. A fresh view of research for the school nurse will be provided to the participants. We hope you will join us. Past educational programs have been well received by MASNRN members, and this will be the rebirth of a commitment from MASNRN to provide on-going educational programming to the membership.

Watch for more information regarding registration for this program.