BLS Nurse Blog
OH THAT GERRY!
You can’t have these things on the playground!
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Summer On-Line Conference
5th Annula Comer Children’s School Nurses Continuing Education Day
August 2, 2024 (6am – 1pm).
I attended this conference last year and it was really good (and free!). Nurses are on a 190-day contract. The days during the last week of August (where we officially return to school from summer break) account for 189 contract days. Day 190 can be used for continuing education opportunities. We do not specifically schedule anything for day 190 to allow nurses the flexibility throughout the year to attend any conferences not scheduled on a contracted workday.
DEI
Upcoming Religious Dates
Lent – February 14 – March 28
Ramadan – Monday, March 11- Tuesday, April 9
This observance includes complete fasting while the sun is out as well as additional prayer.
HEALTH
COVID-19 Tests
Our current district supply of COVID-19 tests expire this month. OHA will no longer be available through OHA. Additional COVID-19 tests can be obtained at a local pharmacy or through a health care provider. This information will be sent out in the level leader blogs later this week.
IEP/504
Meeting Observations
If you haven’t done so already, please complete the IEP/504 Meeting Observations form.
Tami will let you know which meeting date has been chosen. If you don’t have any meetings scheduled for the rest of the school year, we can schedule meetings for the fall.
IT
WATCH YOUR COFFEE!!
From Scott McDonald
Your giant Stanley Cup may be costing your school money!
We have been issuing teacher computers to all certified staff since 2006. Eighteen years ago. In each of those eighteen years, our breakage has been relatively flat. That is, until January of this year. For the first half of the school year, we had 4 teacher laptops turned in for non-warrantied damage. Since January 2024 we have already received 18! Eight of which the user reported that a (water) spill was the source of the damage.
Your school or facility will now be responsible for the cost of any computer repair or replacement caused by damage or negligence. Any money going toward repair is less money going toward necessary technology updates or innovation.
Now, we can’t officially link the cause of this uptick to the popularity of Stanley sippy cups that seems to have occurred at exactly the same time. However, it is quite a coincidence! Please help us and your school by keeping any beverage on a separate surface away from your computer.
MEETINGS/TRAININGS
Nurse staff meetings/trainings on the following days: (this is for regular nurses only. Substitute nurses do not need to attend.
- Wednesday, April 3, 2024 – Acuity study session with Hannah. More information on time and location to come.
- Wednesday, April 10, 2024 – All nurse meeting (2-4) *Start time is earlier, location TBD (mandatory)
- Agenda items: ECSE, Medicaid, Work flow tasks,
- Thursday, April 11, 2024 – Work day. This day should be used to complete BLS workflow projects. (Tami will be checking in with nurses about their projects during the 4/10 nurse meeting. It is the expectation that all nurses contribute to the workflow process. (mandatory)
- Friday, April 12, 2024 – No school all schools. (Take a flex day!)
- April 18-19, 2024
- OSNA Spring Conference 2024 (in Bend)
MENTAL HEALTH
Take a look at this video, “Warning Signs“, made by a high school senior at Klamath Union High School. **View the video before reading the article.
OSNA
OSNA Spring Conference 2024
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
April 18-19, 2024
Riverhouse, Bend Oregon
- There will be a silent auction. Any ideas on donations? Mt. Bachelor tickets?
- Gift baskets. Every year, school nurses bring gift baskets from their districts to raffle. We are looking for items that are from Central Oregon to put in our BLS gift basket.
NBCSN Nurses – The Oregon NBCSN coordinator is looking for NBCSN nurses to help at the NBCSN table at the spring conference. Please reach out to Wendy Niskanen for information on how you can help.
SAFETY
Narcan Expiration Tracking
Expiration dates for Narcan should be documented in the AED master spreadsheet. Columns Y-AF are labeled for Narcan location expiration dates. The expiration dates for the Athletic AEDs are located on Column H starting at line 97.
Expiration dates for AEDs and accessories are also listed on this spreadsheet.
AED Master Spreadsheet link.
E-Bikes and E-Scooters
Communication to Families about E-Bikes and E-Scooters:
After much public comment to our school board and administrators, and in consultation with law enforcement, we have created a new rule governing e-bikes and e-scooters on school campuses (KGB-AR: Public Conduct on District Property).
Under this new rule, those who operate bicycles, electric bicycles or electric scooters must be in compliance with Oregon motor vehicle and bike regulations and laws on school property. The rule also states, “E-bikes and E-scooters are prohibited on district property for persons under age 16.” Accordingly, the District will no longer allow any student under age 16 to bring an e-bike or e-scooter onto school property.
We are giving families time now and April 8 to adjust to this change and are asking each school to send out this family letter to our families.
HERE is the family letter (in Spanish and English) for each school to send to their communities. Please send at your earliest convenience. If you want to personalize the message for your school, or add additional details to the second bullet on which office or staff member can issue parking permits, please make sure a CAFE Program member adds that same info to the Spanish version on page 2.
Scott Maben will be sending each school a few of the signs to post at your bike rack areas.
Management of E Bike and E Scooters on High School Campuses:
- We treat e-bikes and e-scooters as we do student motor vehicles
- Students must register their e-bike and e-scooters and receive a parking pass that must be clearly displayed on the e-bikes and e-scooters at all times while on campus
- e-bikes and e-scooters parking passes could be a small sticker on the bike and on the student’s ID card
- e-bikes and e-scooters registration use the same or similar form we use for motor vehicles
- The registration process will include age verification through a Synergy look-up
- No fee to register e-bikes and e-scooters
- e-bikes and e-scooters on school grounds without proof of registration will be locked/chained in the bike rack
- We have launched a comprehensive district marketing campaign regarding the new policy and practices at each school; information has been sent to K-12 families and staff. High schools are asked to send this letter to families at your earliest convenience.
Please reach out to Katie Legace or Kinsey Martin if you have questions.
SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTERS
Students and Confidentiality
From Sean Reinhart
This is a memo on how to handle confidentiality of students accessing the school-based health centers.
SYNERGY
Identifying students with hx of violence.
- Recommended for nurses to reach out to school counselors requesting a list of students on safety plans. Let Tami know if there is any issues with obtaining that information.
LINKS
AED Supply Order Form – Complete this form to request any AED supplies.
All About You Form – Please complete the form so Tami can know more about you.
BLS Nurse Check-in Survey Form – Having a stressful week? Need some extra support? Suggestions for nurse meeting ideas.
Communicable Disease Guidance for Schools (OHA/ODE)
Concussion Brain Injury Reporting Form
Nurse Meeting Topics – Please enter meeting topic/training information you would like to see in the spreadsheet.
OHA: Oregon Respiratory Virus Data: COVID-19, Influenza, RSV
OSNA – Communities of Practice
PPE Supply Order Form
Return to School Project, Concussion/Brain Injury Reporting Form
UKG
- How to log extra hours in UKG after the pay period has ended can be found here. *Must have prior approval from Tami.
- Requesting Time off in UKG – directions
Weather – Inclement Weather Delay Guidelines
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Tips for Self-Care
Last week, self-care tip #3 (of 6), Treat Your Body Well, was shared with you.
Tip #4
ENRICH YOUR MIND
While you are working to treat your ody well, don’t forget to feed your mind with a little self-care as well! Find a good book about positive thoughts and self-love, readi it, and grasp more knowledge.
Whether it’s a book or hobby, when your day is over, it’s time to leave work and focus on YOU!