Expanding Resources for School Health through Community Outreach
Diabetes education
Schools and childcare facilities have an obligation under federal and state laws to provide care so that children with disabilities and chronic health conditions , such as diabetes , can safely and fully access education , including schoolsponsored field trips and extracurricular activities . In her prior role as a school nurse , Jennifer Whitmarsh , BSN , RN , CDCES , witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by children with type 1 diabetes and the school health personnel who partner in their care .
Whitmarsh became the Clinical Specialty Coordinator at the Children ’ s Hospital Colorado , Colorado Springs Diabetes Center in January 2022 and quickly identified the gaps between education in the diabetes clinic and the advice provided to school settings . Within the first month of practicing in the diabetes clinic , Whitmarsh presented a plan to team leaders and took the initiative to connect local school professionals with diabetes nursing and medical experts . She partnered to organize the Diabetes Management in the School and Daycare Setting event , which provided education and support to school nurses and staff , focusing on topics such as basic diabetes management , diabetes guidelines , delegation and training requirements , nutrition , mental health , exercise guidelines , and developmental stages . Whitmarsh joined Diabetes Resource Nurses of Colorado and contributed to the review and update of state guidelines to address identified gaps .
Anxiety action plan : nurses participate with an interprofessional team
The Children ’ s Colorado School Health Program serves more than 350 school and childcare programs in the region , providing school nursing services to more than 82,000 children and adolescents . This program provides support through consultation , referral information and in-service training offered to school and childcare professionals . The school nurse consultation program also facilitates successful transition of children with complex health needs into the school and community environment , in turn promoting partnerships between Children ’ s Colorado , the educational system , families and community programs .
In 2023 , an area of greatest need was for student anxiety reduction in school settings . The impact of anxiety is well documented in absenteeism , school performance , social adjustment and co-morbid physical health impacts , such as asthma management . Studies show that when anxiety is managed , these measures improve . Yet , even if recognized and labeled as such , the traditional approaches to anxiety management , in our nation and in our schools , often invoke medication rescue regimens . Nurses received many requests from students and their families for the students to use as-needed anxiety medications during the school day , including medications with sedating side effects that might affect school performance . Many of these requests for medications did not include information about what
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2023 PCS Annual Report