Dear Colorado School Nurses,

As we approach the end of the school year, most school nurses are focused on managing field trips, graduations, and many other end of year events. Please stop and take time to reflect on your accomplishments and celebrate the work that you have done.

Let us all celebrate, May 9, 2012, National School Nurse Day!

Governor John Hickenlooper has proclaimed May 9, 2012 National School Nurse Day for the state of Colorado. Download a copy of the original document and post it in your offices.

Sarah Blumenthal, RN, BSN

President-Colorado Association of School Nurses

CASN is to proud to announce the 2012 School Nurse of the Year and 2012 School Nurse Advocate

The Colorado Association of School Nurses are proud to announce the recipient of the 2012 School Nurse of the Year:

Sharon Lindeman RN, BSN, MA, NCSN
Adams 50 School District/Community Health Services

The Colorado Association of School Nurses are proud to announce the recipient of the 2012 School Nurse Advocate of the Year:

John Liberatore, Director of Special Education/Support Services
Denver Public Schools

Dear Colorado School Nurses,

Over the past six years, the Colorado Association of School Nurses has experienced exciting growth and transformations.  The additions of an administrative assistant, professional lobbyist and dynamic website are just a few of the improvements that have been made. These changes also mean that CASN has increased financial obligations. In an effort to address the rising costs of maintaining these organizational improvements, the CASN Full Board Committee has moved to increase yearly membership dues by an additional $20.00.

Beginning May 1, 2012, all new members and nurses whose membership has lapsed will pay $145.00. Current members will begin paying this increased rate starting July 1, 2012. Taking advantage of the quarterly automated pay system can reduce the burden of this professional investment: paying $35.00 four times per year may seem more manageable than a onetime payment of $145.00.

We have created a “CASN Fact Sheet” outlining some of the unique features of CASN (download CASN Fact Sheet PDF). Understanding that the current economy continues to impact each of us, we will continue our commitment delivering high quality professional development opportunities during the fall and spring conferences.

Thank you all for your support, dedication, and passion for school nursing!

Sarah Blumenthal, RN, BSN
Colorado Association of School Nurses – President

Thank you so much to all who responded to our CASN survey regarding the Fall Conference. We received 245 responses!

The goal of the CASN survey was to answer two questions:

• What are the barriers that prevent school nurses from attending a CASN Conference?
• Where would school nurses like to have their annual conference?

CASN_Survey.pptx

Comments:

While the results suggest many people still rate Breckenridge highly as an option for the conference, we discussed moving the conference to a “non-mountain” venue due to a high number of nurses who experienced symptoms of high-altitude sickness this year.  However, please note we are still committed to Breckenridge in November 2012 for contractual reasons.  A subcommittee was formed and is meeting to research venues.  We will use the feedback from the survey for future sites and planning.

The time of year of the annual conference came up on the survey. There were several nurses who asked the conference be moved to the spring.

The CASN Conference has occurred both in the fall and the Spring.
Reasons the conference was moved to the Fall:

• In the Spring, the annual conference conflicts with Proms and graduations.

• Many nurses wanted to be able to put the information they learned to use right way and not wait until the new school year.

At this time we are honoring the Board’s decision from several years ago and continue to schedule the annual conference in the Fall.

The CASN Board will continue to keep you informed of our progress in securing another venue for our annual conference.

Thanks so much for your participation in this survey!

Teresa Ross MSN, RN, NCSN
CASN President Elect

Each year the Colorado Association of School Nurses is proud to recognize its outstanding members in the categories of “School Nurse of the Year”, “School Nurse Administrator of the Year”, “School Nurse Advocate of the Year”. 

For more information and to nominate a CASN member download the appropriate nomination form from the links below.  Nominations will be accepted from April 3-17, 2012.

Send nomination forms to:

Myriam De León
8643 W. Warren Dr.
Lakewood, Colorado 80227

School Nurse of the Year

School Nurse Administrator of the Year

School Nurse Advocate of the Year

For more information please visit the Awards page.

Our members have voted!!

Congratulations to the following:

NASN Director – Elizabeth Clark
President-Elect – Kelly Grenham
Co-Treasurer – Kathy Zirkelbach

“You hear the stories all the time, school districts wanting to cut costs to make ends meet. The last place they want to do that’s in the classroom……but Denver considers nurses almost as important as teachers.” See The Denver Channel 7 News coverage.

Elections are online this year!  Current CASN members should look in their inbox for an email invitation to vote this week.  The secure online elections are provided by ElectionBuddy.com.  You DO NOT need to create an account with Election Buddy to participate in the election.  The election is scheduled to run February 15, 2012 12:00 p.m. through March 01, 2012 12:00 p.m.  If you would like to review the job descriptions for board positions you can do so here.

Once you receive an email invite look for the link to the election contained in your email, which is specific to your voter key, once used, the vote is counted and you cannot vote again.  Unless you completed your vote, this link should be valid still.  If you are a CASN member and you do not receive an email invitation to vote, please check in your junk mail or deleted items folder.  Below is a screenshot to assist you, click to enlarge it: