The Missouri Association of School Nurses (MASN) first organized in 1951 and became affiliated with NASN in 1980. MASN was a leading force in the Missouri Legislature advocating for school nursing services in all schools. Working with public health, education, and advocacy organizations we documented a need (50 percent of school districts did not have school nurses and identified funding (a smokeless tobacco tax). This led to allocating 5.4 million dollars a year for 15 years for school health services and increased school nurses in schools to 99.7 percent. Funding was eliminated in 2010, but school nurse positions have been sustained. Currently, 92 percent of our public schools have a school nurse. The cost of the school nursing services is fully funded by local districts.
MASN continues to advocate for children and school nursing through the many partnerships it has developed over the years. MASN leaders believe that it is important that our members know who their legislators are and provided rational that helped lead to the passage of several bills. In 2009 we partnered with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation St. Louis (aafastl) for the passage of H.B. 922 that allows for stock Epinephrine in Missouri schools. In 2011 we partnered with the Brain Injury Association – Missouri for the passage of the Interscholastic Youth Brain Injury Act HB 300. In 2012 we once again partnered with aafastl for the passage of HB 1188 which established procedures under which a school nurse may administer asthma-related rescue medications.
In addition to legislative efforts, MASN has an ongoing collaborative relationships with our State School Nurse Consultant and several departments at the Missouri Department of Health, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Missouri School Boards Association, and the Missouri Association of Rural Educators, in order to provide up to date professional education to Missouri School Nurses using the CDC/ASCD Whole School Whole Community Whole Child model.
We strongly believe that building relationships and making them sustainable is key to getting our children the services that they need to attain optimal health and academic success.
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