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Opportunity for Professional Development for Mississippi School Nurses--Join us!

By Stephanie Coker, BSN, RN posted 15 days ago
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All Mississippi school nurses are invited to attend a "School Nurse Gathering with NASN Virtual Conference: Transformation - MS School Nurses Emerging with a Renewed Vision of School Health." Dr. Estelle Watts, Assistant Professor at Mississippi College School of Nursing and former Mississippi Department of Education School Nurse Consultant, and past MSNA president, along with other MS school nurses invite you to an exciting opportunity for professional development and networking. MS school nurses will gather July 11-13, 2022, from 9 am to 4 pm daily at Mississippi College in Clinton to learn, network, and re-connect.  Hot topics on the agenda include care ...

Feb. 4 2021 Virtual Vaping Summit Registration Now Open

By Stephanie Coker, BSN, RN posted 01-20-2021
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Register now for the 2021 Virtual Vaping Summit to be hosted by Enrich MS on February 4, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.

COVID-19 Up to Date Information Under the "Resources" Tab--Check it Out!

By Stephanie Coker, BSN, RN posted 07-14-2020
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If you are looking for resources for school planning regarding re-entry during the COVID-19 crisis, click on the "Resource" tab and in the drop-down box, click on "State Resource Links." And remember, together we are stronger! If you are overwhelmed, uncertain, or simply stressed due to school re-entry, reach out to your fellow Mississippi School Nurses for support.

Remembering Mary Sprayberry

By Stephanie Coker, BSN, RN posted 06-27-2020
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MSNA is saddened to hear an effective advocate for Mississippi students and Mississippi School Nurses passed away. The School Nurse community knows Mary Sprayberry (pictured in the middle) as one of the great School Nurses of Mississippi. The following statement from Estelle Watts, former MSNA President, and former MDE School Nurse Consultant, describes Nurse Sprayberry and her pivotal role in the lives of Mississippi's students: "Mary Sprayberry was instrumental in the passage of the School Nurse legislation and was named in that legislation. All of MS School Nurses stand on the shoulders of this lady, and others. Mary understood the need for more school nurses ...

Spread Joy to Your Students and Get Moving with Coach Calhoun--LIVE

By Stephanie Coker, BSN, RN posted 04-08-2020
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Help spread the word to join Coach Calhoun every day at 9:00 a.m. for LIVE Move to Learn videos! According to Jane Black from the Bower Foundation, "Coach Calhoun will lead live, daily exercise sessions on the Move to Learn Facebook page every day of the week! Of course, he will also share his enthusiasm for healthy living and good character; and, he may even tell a silly joke or two!" Just in case students miss the live videos, they will be posted on the Move to   Learn MS Facebook page. You can share photos and videos of families moving with Coach Calhoun via   # M2LAtHome   for a chance to be featured during one of the Live sessions. So, let's ...

Conference Update from MSNA President Connie Board

By Stephanie Coker, BSN, RN posted 04-08-2020
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Hello school nurses,   Due to current health concerns, the MSNA Executive Committee made the decision this week to cancel the MSNA conference scheduled for June  3-5, 2020. We are looking at alternatives to provide our members, and others, with a quality program to inform and enrich school nursing practice in MS.  As those alternatives come into focus MSNA will provide information to you all. If you have already registered, email me at  cwboardrn@gmail.com .  Please post your concerns and suggestions for alternative times or methods for conference.  Stay safe, stay well, stay in prayer! Connie Board, MSNA President

Capitol Day 2020

By Stephanie Coker, BSN, RN posted 01-29-2020
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Left: Connie Board Right: Donnis Harris Pictured above are two Mississippi School Nurses who attended Capitol Day on January 22, 2020. Capitol Day is a perfect time to educate lawmakers about school nursing, and the essential, positive difference school nurses make in the education and lives of Mississippi's youth.

Hall of Fame 2019, Kathy Elliott (middle)

By Stephanie Coker, BSN, RN posted 10-04-2019
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Hall of Fame 2019: Kathy Elliott (middle)

2018 Hall of Fame

By Connie Board, NCSN, RN, BSN posted 01-31-2019
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2018 Hall of Fame recipient Jane Henry and MSNA school nurses at the award event.

Capitol Day 2018

By Connie Board, NCSN, RN, BSN posted 01-31-2019
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The first photo is MSNA's Stephanie Coker, the Honorable Thomas U. Reynolds and Donnis Harris. The second photo is the MSNA team who attended the 2018 Capitol Hill event.

MSNA 26th Annual Conference Registration Form

By Traci Easterling, MSN, NCSN, RN posted 01-17-2019
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June 5 - 7, 2019 Conference information has been posted including a registration form.  Click here to learn more .

School Nurse Spot Light: 2017 Staff Member of the Year

By Traci Easterling, MSN, NCSN, RN posted 01-06-2019
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Congratulations to Sharon Springs, RN of Pascagoula High School. Sharon was selected as 2017 Staff Member of the Year.

School Nurse Spot Light: 2017 Nightingale Nurse of the Year in a Non-Traditional Setting

By Traci Easterling, MSN, NCSN, RN posted 01-06-2019
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​​Congratulations to Diane Chaney, RN from the Pascagoula-Gautier School District. Diane was nominated and recognized as the 2017 Nightingale Nurse of the Year in a Non-Traditional Setting.

NASN Director's Report 2016 01 18

By Traci Easterling, MSN, NCSN, RN posted 01-06-2019
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Greetings Nurses, NASN's annual winter board meeting is being held in Washington, DC January 23rd-26th, 2016. I have been busy preparing for the meeting and scheduling appointments with Senator Cochran, Senator Wicker, and Congressman Palazzo. Please take a moment to review the 2016 Legislative Priorities on the NASN.org website. Piper Largent, NASN Director of Government Affairs, will be briefing the Directors on updates prior to our meetings on the Hill. I am looking forward to representing Mississippi as your Director. I couldn't be more proud of our progress in MS, however we need more school nurses to meet the needs of student's. There are 13 school ...

NASN Director's Report 2015 01 26

By Traci Easterling, MSN, NCSN, RN posted 01-06-2019
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​I am currently assigned to the programs committee: This committee is tasked with reviewing and rating abstracts for the upcoming conference in June; reviewing, revising or retiring current position statements; creating new position statements based on current health trends.  Our committee is specifically looking at writing a position statement on prescription drug misuse along with a suggested Narcan (opiate antidote) school policy in the event of an overdose. Membership growth: NASN’s “Strength in Numbers” campaign is a marketing effort to promote new membership as well as reinstate lapsed memberships. This word of mouth campaign rewards current members ...

2017 MSNA Legislative Issues

By Traci Easterling, MSN, NCSN, RN posted 01-06-2019
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This content was shared on ​February 14, 2017 ​Good Morning School Nurses, Please take a moment and read the email below from Piper Largent, Director of Government Affairs for NASN, about making your voices heard during this 115th Congressional Session. It is vital for School Nurses to stay in the loop and be visible by advocating for access to healthcare for our students. Proposals to cut medicaid by block granting and per capita income is floating out there. We are the student's strongest advocates for healthcare policy change. During the NASN winter board meeting, I had the opportunity to meet with Senator Wicker and Senator Cochran's Legislative Assistance ...

2016 MSNA Legislative Issues: Letter from our President 2016 03 22

By Diane Chaney, NCSN, RN, BSN posted 01-06-2019
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The immunization bill died in the Senate today in the Education Committee. A special thank you goes out to Senator Gray Tollison from Oxford for not allowing it out of committee. Mississippi will continue doing what they do best-protecting its citizens from communicable disease. Written on March 22, 2016 by Diane Chaney, BSN, RN, NCSN Lead Nurse Pascagoula Gautier School District President, Mississippi School Nurse Association

2016 MSNA Legislative Issues: Letter from our President 2016 03 04

By Diane Chaney, NCSN, RN, BSN posted 01-06-2019
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House Bill 938 passed the house today and was submitted to the Senate. This bill allows medical exemption for vaccinations. However, it is not like what we currently have. This bill states that it can be on doctor's stationary from any doctor in the country and the school will have to accept it until the student graduates. Currently, only the state medical officer can make this decision. I am attaching the bill so that you can read it for yourself. The underlined portion is the changed part of the code. Please contact your state senator and educate them on the importance of immunization for our students. I shutter to think of the outcome if this bill is passed. ...

2016 MSNA Legislative Issues: Letter from our President 2016 03 04

By Diane Chaney, NCSN, RN, BSN posted 01-06-2019
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I am sorry to report that our bill HB 196 did not pass the House. It was presented on the floor of the House of Representatives and Rep. Currie did a wonderful job. I believe that we had the votes and that it would have passed if it had come to a vote. A member of the House tried to amend the bill so they recommitted it back to committee. Since the deadlline had passed to move the bills out of committee, this killed the bill. We will continue to work to pass this legislation. This is the farthest we have gotten in the process and we are becoming more knowledgeable in the legislative process. Many members put significant effort in getting this bill passed and ...

2016 MSNA Legislative Issues: Letter from our President 2016 02 24

By Diane Chaney, NCSN, RN, BSN posted 01-06-2019
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I have good news to report. HB 196 Representative Currie's bill to remove the certification cap passed out of committee yesterday. This is the only bill that passed out of committee of our three. The other two bills were double referred to Education and Appropriations. That makes it harder to get out of committee. I am not sure when it will go to the House floor but it will be before March 3. If you would all contact your representative and ask for their support of House Bill 196. Remember we should never cap excellence. Please let your voice be heard and let's #Removethecap. Be sure to thank your representative for their support of school nurses and the children ...