Author: Tami Pike

BLS Nurse Blog

FUN FACT

November and December are two of the most dangerous months of the year because of holiday decorating injuries, 34% are falls.

RESOURCES

Helpful Tips and Resources for the Busy Holiday Season

Wellness Resources Flu shot resources, EAP information

SAFETY

Gun owners invited to pick up free locks for their firearms

Bend-La Pine Schools partners with community organizations working to promote safe storage of firearms in households. The goal is to prevent children and other unauthorized users from accessing guns kept in homes and vehicles.

Gun owners are welcome to pick up free keyed cable and trigger locks firearms at the Education Center, 520 NW Wall Street, in Bend. The locks were purchased by Gun Owners for Responsible Ownership with a grant, in part, from St. Charles Healthcare System. The nonprofit GOFRO also shared information on options to safely secure firearms at this link.

Central Oregon Gun Safety Advocates is also active in distributing free gun locks. Visit the COGSA website for details.

Here are additional resources for firearms safety:

Alliance For A Safe Oregon, an organization that works to prevent gun-related homicides, suicides, injuries, and unintentional shootings.

Be SMART For Kids, which promotes safety with its SMART program. SMART stands for:

• Secure all guns in your home and vehicles
• Model responsible behavior around guns
• Ask about unsecured guns in other homes
• Recognize the role of guns in suicide
• Tell your peers to Be SMART

From Sean Reinhart:

Please keep this resource in mind if/when you engage with families on lethal means and safe storage while completing a suicide risk screen. This partnership and opportunity will be available ongoing and you can refer families to this resource.

CALENDAR

DATE	TIME	EVENT	INFO
12/23/24 – 1/3/25		NO SCHOOL	WINTER BREAK!
1/7/25	930-1030	Elementary School Nurse Meeting	Location: Microsoft Teams
1/8/25	2-330	All Nurse Meeting	Location: TBD
1/14/25	930-1030	Middle School Nurse Meeting	Location: Microsoft Teams
1/20/25		NO SCHOOL	Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1/21/25	930-1030	High School Nurse Meeting	Location: Microsoft Teams
1/27/25	330-5	OSNA Mentoring Monday (register here)	Topic – TBD
1/31/25	10-2	Nurse Training	TBD

HAVE A WONDERFUL WINTER BREAK!!!

BLS NURSE BLOG

NORTH POLE

The North Pole does not have a time zone.

Other than visiting explorers, tourists, and researchers, humans do not live at the North Pole.

People can choose any time zone that is convenient.

ACUITY TOOL

Message from OSNA:

Hello Nurses

We need to work expeditiously to calibrate the Acuity tool. To do this, we need 30 nurses, representing each region of the state. If the process goes as anticipated, it should not take more than 2 hours for each participating nurse. (1 hour to select/enroll students and prepare for the meeting, 1 hour at the meeting). I know this is a busy time of year, but we really need participation.

The process will be as  follows:

NOW: Step 1: Participating nurses will consider their experience and select 4 student cases, preferably of varying conditions and acuities. Please consider joining this process and helping to be sure all voices are included! 

ASAP: Step 2: Nurses will enroll their de-identified student cases by completing the Acuity Calibration Case Study Enrollment Form. This is a simple form, just asking a few brief questions to include the cases in the spreadsheet we will use to gather data from the discussions. In that form, nurses will also indicate for which discussion sessions they are available. Nurses will only need to attend one session to provide input. Please select 4 students and enroll them ASAP (by Friday), and I will send invitations to meetings over the weekend.

Step 3: Nurses will be invited to a specific session with additional instructions about how the calibration session will work. There is some brief preparation before the meeting (30-40 minutes) which includes using the new version of the tool to score each of the 4 student cases that will be discussed.

Starting December 17th: Step 4: Nurses will attend the sessions and collaborate with other participants, using the updated acuity tool, to evaluate the acuity of their student cases.

Starting after 1/9/2025: Step 5: The data collected about the relative scores of student cases will be analyzed to calibrate the tool.

If nurses participate, we should collect the data we need. We anticipate completing this process in mid-January. Please help with this essential project.

ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY

Slide Show from OSNA Mentoring Monday 12-9-24 (good information) – Wendy is working on the recording. I will post the link to the recording when it is up and working.

DEI

FAN and the Holidays

Just a reminder that FAN does not coordinate Christmas/holiday gift needs for families.  This has been the case for over 10 years.  FAN resources are maxed out prioritizing basic needs (utilities/heat, rent, clothing, hygiene supplies, food, etc).  There are many community-based organizations that do support religious or holiday-based requests like Christmas gifts, such as Salvation Army, Giving Plate, etc.  Here, here, and here are a few sample resources.  

If you have a family seeking support with Christmas gifts or holiday resources: Please refer them to those community-based agencies, not your FAN Advocate. 

If you have individuals wanting to donate holiday gifts and toys to families in need: Please refer them to those organizations, who are collecting and distributing toys and holiday donations.

HEALTHY SCHOOLS

Healthy Schools – Annual Report 2023-2024

MEDICAID

The Medicaid Minute – 12-4-24

RESOURCES

DHS – Deschutes Branch

DHS – Administration

Oregon Respiratory Viral Pathogen Wastewater Monitoring Dashboard (SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, RSV) – flu activity low this week

TIME SHEETS

Please see BLS Nurse Blog 12/2/34 for information on how to complete time/leave sheets.

CALENDAR

DATE	TIME	EVENT	
12/11/24	230-3	Nurse Meeting	Location: High Desert Middle School Library
12/11/24		Holiday Nurse Gathering 🎁	CANCELLED
12/23/24-1/3/25		No School	Winter Break! ❄️
1/7/25	930-1030	Elementary Nurse Meeting	Microsoft Teams
1/8/25	2-330	Nurse Meeting	TBD
1/14/25	930-1030	Middle School Nurse Meeting	Microsoft Teams
1/20/25		No School	Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1/21/25	930-1030	High School Nurse Meeting	Microsoft Teams
1/27/25	330-5	Mentoring Monday(register here)	TBD
1/31/25	10-2	Nurse Training	TBD

***April “All Nurse” meeting date changed to 4/23. ***

BLS Nurse Blog

PEARS

Did you know that December is National Pear Month?

Pears contain good levels of dietary fiber, antioxidants, minerals and vitamin A, C, E and K.  They are low in calories and are considered an extremely safe food source for those with food allergies.

The majority of pears sold in the United States are grown on the west coast, mainly Oregon and Washington.

Pears are part of the rose family.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Oregon Respiratory Viral Pathogen Wastewater Monitoring Dashboard (SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, RSV)

MEDICAID

April Diehl has been hired as the Medicaid Program Manager for Bend – La Pine Schools!!! She will continue to operate in her role as accounting specialist until her accounting position has been filled. (She’ll be juggling both roles!)

CONGRATULATIONS APRIL!!!

NSM UPDATES

Migraines

Updated Migraine HMP

10/28 OSNA Mentoring Monday had a great, informative session about Migraines. If you missed the session, check out the video here.

If anyone on our team has had experience with migraines – either as someone who suffers them or as someone who has cared for people who do – please send Oliver any advice / tips / resources you have found to be helpful so this information can be added to the NSM.

RESOURCES

COPA 2025 Community Outreach Clinic Schedule

Holiday Assistance Programs available for families in need of holiday support.

UKG/LEAVE/EXTRA TIME DOCUMENTATION

As I reviewed the training for the new paper time sheet/leave record forms, I thought it would be helpful for us to have samples available to view to ensure forms are completed accurately.  The highlighted fields in the examples are areas that must be completed (or they will get kicked back to us from HR/payroll). 

Link to forms.

Regular Nurses

*When submitting for extra hours worked, please indicate which nurse you were covering for so April D. can note which account to use. 

**Please remember that any extra hours worked needs approval from me or Michelle. 

Substitute Nurses

*Please use the Regular Payroll Time Record to record all of your time worked. 

**Remember to complete the Leave Record for any sick, bereavement, or jury duty time.

CALENDAR

DATE	TIME	EVENT
12/11/24	230-3	Nurse Meeting	Location TBD
12/11/24	330-?	Holiday Nurse Gathering 🎁	Shanon’s house
12/23/24-1/3/25		No School	Winter Break! ❄️
1/7/25	930-1030	Elementary Nurse Meeting	Microsoft Teams
1/8/25	2-330	Nurse Meeting	TBD
1/14/25	930-1030	Middle School Nurse Meeting	Microsoft Teams
1/20/25		No School	Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1/21/25	930-1030	High School Nurse Meeting	Microsoft Teams
1/27/25	330-5	Mentoring Monday(register here)	TBD
1/31/25	10-2	Nurse Training	TBD

BLS Nurse Blog

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

DEI

Latino Family Night:

Please drop by our 7^th annual district-wide Latino Family Night if you are able (invitation here–feel free to share).  The Woodburn High School mariachi band will perform (pictured here), and there will be dinner, partners, games, and fun! 

DENTAL

Advantage Dental is going to be introducing QR codes for the consent forms. Families will still have the option of using the paper consent form if they prefer. QR codes will be sent directly to each school from Advantage dental and schools can decide how they would like to send them out to families. 

This is starting now for our schools that still need to be screened this year.

FAN

HRSN HOUSING BENEFITS

New program shared by one of our FAN advocates for families on OHP

HRSN Housing Benefit

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Health Resources from OHA

NSM UPDATES

The following updates have been made to the NSM:

• Added link to paper timesheets and leave forms in the Schedule, Timesheets, and Time Off Requests section (p. 18-19)
• Added link to staff incident report form in the “Communicating Health Information” section (p. 25)
• Parent letters for live lice updated with links in the Itchy Head section of Health Room Management (p. 48).
• Added link to MSTKC resources under helpful links in Concussion/TBI section (p. 120)
• Additional guidance on the nurse’s role in developing 504s and IEPs, with a link to sample accommodations, added to the Care Coordination section (p. 133)
• Link to quick reference guide to staff trainings added to Staff Training section (p. 193)

PERTUSSIS

Pertussis update from OHA. “Pertussis case count expected to beat record, alarms health officials.”

Pertussis update from Deschutes County Health Department

SAFETY

Deschutes County Substance Overdose Update

11-15-24 Deschutes County Overdose Response Briefing

UKG

As of November 11^th there is a temporary pause on the use of UKG Time & Leave and transition to paper timesheets. 

For staff nurses, you will only need to submit a paper time sheet if you take a leave or if you work additional hours during the month. 

Sub nurses will need to submit the paper timesheet for the time they have worked. 

F.A.Q. Sheet for Employees from Payroll

WEATHER

Please review the BLS Inclement Weather Guidelines for employees. This covers the expectation for staff during school closures and delayed start days.

CALENDAR

Thanksgiving break 🦃 – November 25-29 

Nurse Meeting – December 11, 2-330, location TBD

Nursing Team Holiday Get Together – December 11 (after nurse meeting)

63939 Sunset Dr, Bend

 Theme: COMFORT- Comfort food and comfy clothes! 

 We will be doing a couple of soups, breads and a holiday adult beverage. Feel free to bring an appetizer or something sweet if you would like.  (sign up here)

White Elephant 🐘 Exchange 🎁 – 10.00 limit if you choose to play. 

Winter Break 🌲❄️- December 23-January 3

January Meeting Information

January 2025	Meeting Type	Date	Time	Location
	Elementary	1/7	930-1030	Microsoft Teams
	All Nurse	1/8	2-330	In person – TBD
	Middle	1/14	930-1030	Microsoft Teams
	High	1/21	930-1030	Microsoft Teams
	All Nurse	1/31	10-2	TBD

BLS Nursing Blog

END OF THE YEAR NURSE GATHERING 

Thursday, June 20th  2pm @ https://www.ontapbend.com/

AUTOMATIC REPLIES

Please remember to turn on your out of office email automatic replies. 

Ex. “Thank you for your email. I am out of the office on summer break until Tuesday, August….”

LINKS

Link to links

MEDICATIONS LIST

Please review the Medication List and highlight any medications your students are currently taking. We will be deleting medications that students are no longer taking. 

MEETINGS/TRAININGS

Nurse staff meetings/trainings on the following days:

• 24/25 School Year (meeting dates updated 6/3/24)
  • Nurse Contract Days/Nurse Meeting Dates Information

IMPORTANT DATES

June 18 – LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!

BLS Nurse Blog

1 More Monday Left!!

END OF YEAR GATHERING INFO

Link

ACUITY INFORMATION DUE

Please remember to submit your acuity numbers on the Google Form. Hannah needs to submit this data to the state by June 14th! 

DEI

Upcoming Dates

• Juneteenth community celebration = June 15-16, Drake Park

END OF THE YEAR WRAP UP

Information about wrapping up the school year.

ESY

Nursing Support

We are looking for 2 nurses to cover summer school (ESY). Please email Tami if you are interested. If more than 1 nurse is interested, previous summer school experience will be taken into consideration.

Dates July 9 – August 1, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only (815-1115 based on student needs)

• Training day –  July 8, time: TBD
• Locations: High Lakes, Summit High School

LINKS

Link to links

MEETINGS/TRAININGS

Nurse staff meetings/trainings on the following days:

• 24/25 School Year (meeting dates updated 6/3/24)
  • Nurse Contract Days/Nurse Meeting Dates Information

IMPORTANT DATES

June 15-16 – Juneteenth Community Celebration, Drake Park

BLS Nurse Blog

2 MORE MONDAYS!!!!

ACUITY INFORMATION

Submit Your Acuity Numbers

Please remember to submit your acuity numbers on the Google Form. Hannah needs to submit this data to the state by June 14th! 

DEI

Upcoming Dates

• GSA in the Park = Thursday, June 6th 10:00am-1:00pm at Troy Field/Ed Center
• Community celebrations (BLS family advisory groups will host booths):
  • Pride = June 1, Drake Park
  • Juneteenth community celebration = June 15-16, Drake Park
• • GSA in the Park = Thursday, June 6th 10:00am-1:00pm at Troy Field/Ed Center
  • Juneteenth community celebration = June 15-16, Drake Park

END OF THE YEAR WRAP UP

Information about wrapping up the school year.

ESY

Nursing Support

We are looking for 2 nurses to cover summer school (ESY). Please email Tami if you are interested. If more than 1 nurse is interested, previous summer school experience will be taken into consideration.

Dates July 9 – August 1, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only (815-1115 based on student needs)

• Training day –  July 8, time: TBD
• Locations: High Lakes, Summit High School

LINKS

Link to links

MEETINGS/TRAININGS

Nurse staff meetings/trainings on the following days:

• June 5, 2024 – Nurse Meeting, 230-4, location TBD
• 24/25 School Year (meeting dates updated 6/3/24)
  • Nurse Contract Days/Nurse Meeting Dates Information

SAFETY

Air Quality Information

See Links link

SUMMER PROGRAM INFORMATION

From Cynthia:

Hello Nurses, I’ve worked with CampFire the past two years to help some of my students attend day camp.  This year I’ve compiled the information so you, too, can refer some of your families. 

More information can be found here.  Nadia Kelem, Outreach Coordinator, recommended that each nurse refer no more than two families that they know would need financial assistance and possibly transportation to camp.  When a nurse, or community partner, completes the referral form a family(see attached), then the parent does not need to provide supporting documentation for financial need.  In addition, be sure parents and student(s) are interested in attending before you submit a referral (see attached handout).  There is no firm deadline for registration as it is a rolling registration.  However, to be more likely to receive financial assistance and a spot, it’s recommended that parents register by June 3.

If parents have questions about registration, please have them reach out to CampFire at (541) 382-4682.

If you have questions, please reach out to Nadia directly at (541) 362 – 1596 (call or text) [email protected] ***Do not give this information to families.  This is for you only so you can quickly and easily get your question answered.  For families, they like the family to be connected to the organization as a whole.

IMPORTANT DATES

• June 5 – Nurse Meeting, 230-4, location TBD
• June 6 – GSA in the Park, 10-1, Troy Field
• June 15-16 – Juneteenth Community Celebration

BLS Nurse Blog

SUMMER IS COMING!!!

DEI

Upcoming Dates

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – Wednesday, May 1 – Friday, May 31
• KínderFiesta = Saturday, May 18th 10:00am-1:00pm at the Ed Center (for newly-enrolling Spanish-speaking kindergarten families)
• GSA in the Park = Thursday, June 6th 10:00am-1:00pm at Troy Field/Ed Center
• Community celebrations (BLS family advisory groups will host booths):
  • Pride = June 1, Drake Park
  • Juneteenth community celebration = June 15-16, Drake Park

ESY

Nursing Support – As of 5/25, 2 nurses have expressed interest.

We are looking for 2 nurses to cover summer school (ESY). Please email Tami if you are interested. If more than 1 nurse is interested, previous summer school experience will be taken into consideration.

Dates July 9 – August 1, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only (815-1115 based on student needs)

• Training day –  July 8, time: TBD
• Locations: High Lakes, Summit High School

LINKS

Link to links

MEDICATIONS

A couple of reminders:

• We must follow the manufacturer’s instructions on over the counter medications unless a provider has provided orders for specific administration instructions.
• It has been our practice in Bend-La Pine Schools that all prescription medications need to have a specific administration time indicated on the prescription bottle. Otherwise, a provider note is needed for any changes.

MEETING/TRAININGS

Nurse staff meetings/trainings on the following days: 

• June 5, 2024 – Nurse Meeting, 230-4, location TBD
• 24/25 School Year
  • Nurse Contract Days/Nurse Meeting Dates Information

SAFETY

Air Quality Information

Check out the Health and Safety section in the BLS Staff Spotlight, May 20, 2024 edition.

SUMMER PROGRAM INFORMATION

From Cynthia:

Hello Nurses, I’ve worked with CampFire the past two years to help some of my students attend day camp.  This year I’ve compiled the information so you, too, can refer some of your families. 

More information can be found here. Nadia Kelem, Outreach Coordinator, recommended that each nurse refer no more than two families that they know would need financial assistance and possibly transportation to camp.  When a nurse, or community partner, completes the referral form a family(see attached), then the parent does not need to provide supporting documentation for financial need.  In addition, be sure parents and student(s) are interested in attending before you submit a referral (see attached handout).  There is no firm deadline for registration as it is a rolling registration.  However, to be more likely to receive financial assistance and a spot, it’s recommended that parents register by June 3.

If parents have questions about registration, please have them reach out to CampFire at (541) 382-4682.

If you have questions, please reach out to Nadia directly at (541) 362 – 1596 (call or text) [email protected] ***Do not give this information to families.  This is for you only so you can quickly and easily get your question answered.  For families, they like the family to be connected to the organization as a whole.

IMPORTANT DATES

• June 1 – Pride, Drake Park
• June 5 – Nurse Meeting, 230-4, location TBD
• June 6 – GSA in the Park, 10-1, Troy Field
• June 15-16 – Juneteenth Community Celebration

BLS Nurse Blog

FUN FACT

The brain is the fattest organ. It is composed of nearly 60% fat!!!!

DEI

Upcoming Dates

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – Wednesday, May 1 – Friday, May 31
• KínderFiesta = Saturday, May 18th 10:00am-1:00pm at the Ed Center (for newly-enrolling Spanish-speaking kindergarten families)
• GSA in the Park = Thursday, June 6th 10:00am-1:00pm at Troy Field/Ed Center
• Community celebrations (BLS family advisory groups will host booths):
  • Pride = June 1, Drake Park
  • Juneteenth community celebration = June 15-16, Drake Park

Supporting Gender Expansive Students: Guidance for Schools Overview

May 9, 2024 Open Q&A Session Slides (from Cynthia’s email to the team on 5/14/24)

Being an Ally to LGBTQ+ Youth

Slides from a presentation during a pediatric care coordination meeting.

ESY

Nursing Support – As of 5/13, 1 nurse has expressed interest.

We are looking for 2 nurses to cover summer school (ESY). Please email Tami if you are interested. If more than 1 nurse is interested, previous summer school experience will be taken into consideration.

Dates July 9 – August 1, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only (815-1115 based on student needs)

• Training day –  July 8, time: TBD
• Locations: High Lakes, Summit High School

LINKS

Link to links

MEETINGS/TRAININGS

Nurse staff meetings/trainings on the following days: 

• May 22, 2024 – Nurse Union Meeting, 230-330, Jewell Elementary (contact Hannah with any questions).
• June 5, 2024 – Nurse Meeting, 230-4, location TBD
• 24/25 School Year
  • Nurse Contract Days/Nurse Meeting Dates Information

SAFETY

Deschutes County Substance Overdose

DCHS Substance Overdose Response Briefing  5-17 -24  (Activity updates are noted in red.)

IMPORTANT DATES

• June 1 – Pride, Drake Park
• June 5 – Nurse Meeting, 230-4, location TBD
• June 6 – GSA in the Park, 10-1, Troy Field
• June 15-16 – Juneteenth Community Celebration

BLS Nurse Blog

LOVE OUR TEAM!!

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

May/June 2024 ODHS Child Welfare phone lists

DHS Child Welfare – District 10 Administration – Deschutes County

DHS Child Welfare – Deschutes Branch

DEI

Upcoming Dates

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – Wednesday, May 1 – Friday, May 31
• KínderFiesta = Saturday, May 18th 10:00am-1:00pm at the Ed Center (for newly-enrolling Spanish-speaking kindergarten families)
• GSA in the Park = Thursday, June 6th 10:00am-1:00pm at Troy Field/Ed Center
• Community celebrations (BLS family advisory groups will host booths):
  • Pride = June 1, Drake Park
  • Juneteenth community celebration = June 15-16, Drake Park

DIABETES

Upcoming Events

• May 18 –  JDRF Research Night with guest speaker. Dr Michael Harris-PhD from OHSU – Founder of NICH. Prior to coming to OHSU in 2006, Dr. Harris held a faculty appointment in the Department of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri for 13 years. Dr. Harris assists families of children and adolescents with a variety of psychological and behavioral problems with special expertise in working with families of youth with chronic health conditions including diabetes, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, childhood cancer, and chronic pain.Dr. Harris`s research has involved the adaptation, implementation and evaluation of a family-based psychosocial intervention for adolescents with chronic conditions. Dr. Harris has received funding for his research from the Diabetes Research and Training Centers, National Institutes of Health, and the American Diabetes Association.
  • Location: Inn at the 7th Mountain.
  • Time: 11-1230
  • RSVP
  • More information can be found here.
• May 19 – JDRF Type One Walk,  Drake Park. (VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!),  5/19

ESY

Nursing Support – As of 5/13, no nurses have expressed interest.

We are looking for 2 nurses to cover summer school (ESY). Please email Tami if you are interested. If more than 1 nurse is interested, previous summer school experience will be taken into consideration.

Dates July 9 – August 1, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only (815-1115 based on student needs)

• Training day –  July 8, time: TBD
• Locations: High Lakes, Summit High School

KIDS INC

Interested staff members must indicate their interest in having their child attend KIDS Inc by filling out the KIDS Inc Interest Form and submitting an application to the program that can be found on the KIDS Inc website. The application period is May 6- May 17.

LINKS

Link to links

MEETINGS/TRAININGS

• May 15, 2024 – Virtual Nurse Meeting 2-3
• June 5, 2024 – Nurse Meeting, 230-4, location TBD

IMPORTANT DATES

• May 15 – Virtual Nurse Meeting 2-3
• May 18 – JDRF Research Night with guest speaker. 
• May 18 – Kinder Fiesta 10-1, Ed Center (for newly-enrolling Spanish-speaking kindergarten families)
• May 19 – JDRF Type One Walk, Drake Park
• June 1 – Pride, Drake Park
• June 5 – Nurse Meeting, 230-4, location TBD
• June 6 – GSA in the Park, 10-1, Troy Field
• June 15-16 – Juneteenth Community Celebration