FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2015
Contact: Margaret Cellucci, Director of Communications
National Association of School Nurses
mcellucci@nasn.org / 240-247-1628
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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL NURSES ISSUE
POLICY STATEMENTS ON SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION
AND INTERVENTION
School Nurses have Knowledge and Education to Safely Manage Emergent Situations in Schools
Silver Spring, MD (June 29, 2015) – At its meeting in Philadelphia, PA (June 22), the National Association of School Nurse’s (NASN) Board of Directors adopted a position statement on Naloxone Use in the School Setting, The Role of the School Nurse. In adopting this statement, the NASN Board of Directors noted that school nurses have the knowledge and education to identify and safely manage emergent situations in schools, including opioid pain reliever (OPR)-related overdose. Incorporating use of Naloxone into school emergency preparedness and response plans is a school nurse role.
“School nurses provide primary prevention in school communities through awareness and education opportunities with students and their families on the dangers of prescription drugs,” said NASN President Beth Mattey, MSN, RN, NCSN. “School nurses help families recognize signs and symptoms of substance abuse, guide them to locate resources, and assist them in making referrals for treatment of OPR addiction.”
In addition, NASN recently issued a consensus statement on E-cigarettes and Children. School nurses promote wellness in school communities and discourage the use and sale of e-cigarettes. As part of a comprehensive school health program, school nurses initiate the discussion about the dangers of e-cigarettes and ensure that e-cigarettes are included in tobacco education curriculum and no smoking policies in schools; provide individual counseling and education to students; and identify resources for smoking cessation.
NASN
The National Association of School Nurses is a non-profit specialty nursing organization, organized in 1968 and incorporated in 1977, representing school nurses exclusively. NASN has nearly than 16,000 members and 50 affiliates, including the District of Columbia and overseas. The mission of the NASN is to advance school nurse practice to keep students healthy, safe and ready to learn. To learn more about NASN, please visit us on the Web at www.nasn.org or call 866-627-6767.
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