As another summer rushes by, I begin my MSNO presidency. I thank Marie DeSisto for her dynamic, positive and progressive tenure as president. Under her leadership, school nurses are now "professional" in Massachusetts General Laws. We are on a roll - let's continue this journey.

I am honored to represent you. Like many of you, I began my nursing career in a hospital on a medical floor, moved to a surgical floor with telemetry step-down, then to assistant head nurse, followed by head nurse of a 42-bed surgical floor at Mount Auburn Hospital. After the birth of my oldest son in 1986, I became a nursing supervisor at Deaconess Waltham Hospital for the next 13 years (11 P.M. - 7 A.M. of course!). I had 3 other children in the next couple of years (they are 17, 18, 19 and 20 now - thank goodness!)

In 1999, I took the position of nurse leader for the Hudson Public Schools. Always passionate about nursing and the impact nurses have, I became more energetic and focused about school nursing as an "amazing specialty." My Hudson nurses, yes I still call them that, taught me so much about delivering health services in the schools. They dealt with children of all ages, supported parents and families of all kinds, taught and supported faculty and staff, reached out to their communities for holiday and clothing drives and food pantry support. I watched them bring in needed programs on nutrition, physical activity, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol use and abuse, sun safety, culturally sensitive subjects and more. They did all of this and were NOT on the district's professional pay scale. That I will never understand! But, through it all, I saw them support and encourage each other on both good and challenging days.

The importance of this professional support is why I joined MSNO/NASN. As one, seven or twenty nurses in a district, the isolation of this intense speciality can be overwhelming. Communication with others in the field allows for the sharing of ideas and strategies. Raising our collective voice offers strength for this growing speciality. Our national organization, NASN, moved to Washington, D.C., and they are at the table when children's health issues are being discussed.

At the NASN Annual Conference in Nashville last month, I was thrilled to interact with school nurses from other states. In many states, like Wyoming, Utah and Illinois, there are fewer than 200 school nurses! As I listened to how they work together to get their message out and how they accomplish so much, I was inspired. Think of what our collective voice can accomplish with 2,000 public school nurses in Massachusetts! For the first time, this fall, DOE will be counting staff including certified school nurses and nurse leaders (see Marie DeSisto's article in The MSNO Outlook.) Please read Patti Wright's article (NASN Board of Directors Rep.) in The MSNO Outlook about the Nashville conference and the tremendous surprise/honor coming to the Massachusetts school nurses!

Massachusetts is far ahead of most states. Other school nurses look at us in awe. We have the incredible support of the DPH School Health Unit, the Essential School Health Services Grant, the School Health Institute, and the Massachusetts School Nurse Research Network. We utilize our data to let people know what we do. We are the only state required to report all Epi-pen administrations, so we know that 26% of all administrations are to children with unknown allergies. We continue to strive for a certified school nurse in every school and for pay equity across the state. We are strengthening our relationships and collaboration with MNA, MTA, MPHA, AFT, DOE, ADA and our legislators to improve the health services for all the children in Massachusetts. And we do all this while working full time!

Let's continue this professional journey together to strengthen school nursing practice in our state. As a group we can accomplish much! If you are not a member, please join us. If you are a member, please encourage one other school nurse to join MSNO for professional growth and to have their finger on the pulse of school nursing with out informational emails. We know that everyone is busy: work, children, education, elderly parents, etc. - but please join or renew your membership - for yourself. The professional growth and camaraderie may surprise you! Visit our website www.msno.org for current clinical issues, legislative updates, job opportunities, educational events, resources and more. Come to a board meeting and be a part of this exciting and engaging organization!

Relax and Rejuvenate. September is coming!

Kathy Hassey
MSNO President