Health Impacts &
Management:

Weather & Environmental Hazards –
The Challenges of Awareness, Research, and Education in NJ

Friday, November 14, 2008

Ella Shaykevich
Natalia Munoz

Topic: Making Sense of Flu

30 min Power Point presentation
Learning objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to: Understand the difference between Seasonal Flu, Pandemic Flu, and Avian Flu Identify symptoms of Seasonal, Pandemic, and Avian Flu Prepare and protect themselves and their families Identify steps to protect against the spread of flu

Speaker 1

Ella Shaykevich, a Kean University graduate, received her BSN in 2000 and MSN (Community Nursing)/MPA in 2003. Certified as a Advance Practice Community Nurse, Ella currently serves as a Senior Public Health Nurse for the Union County Office of Health Management, Public Health Emergency Response Team. She also has over 20 years experience as a hospital and homecare nurse.

Ella became involved with the emergency preparedness aspect of community nursing in 2003, when she volunteered to become one of 2 Smallpox Vaccinators for the Union County Public Health Response Team. She joined Union County Local Information Network and Communication System (LINCS) Agency 5 years ago. Her responsibilities include mass prophylaxis planning, Influenza-like Illness (ILI) surveillance for schools, and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteer management and coordination. She was part of the LINCS Public Health Nurses group to develop the Surge Capacity Vaccinator Program. Her main objective is to increase the numbers of trained vaccinators in Union County to effectively respond to a public health emergency that would require mass prophylaxis.

Speaker 2

Natalia Munoz is the Health Educator/Risk Communicator for the Union County Public Health Emergency Response Team under the Union County Office of Health Management, Department of Public Safety. She is responsible for the design and delivery of county-wide bioterrorism/public health emergency-related training, distance learning coordination, training needs assessment, curriculum design and development for bioterrorism and other public health emergency preparedness related issues.

As the Risk Communicator, she works with the media through print, radio and television to encourage the public to choose the best possible actions or behaviors before, during and after health emergencies, thus minimizing health risks and encouraging a rapid recovery.

Natalia earned her Bachelor of Science in Community Health from William Paterson University in May, 2006 and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Prior to joining the Union County team in March of 2008, she worked for the Sussex County Department of Environmental and Public Health Services as the Public Health Emergency Notification Systems Coordinator and Health Educator/Risk Communicator since 2006. When not working, she serves as assistant instructor for Internal Gardens School of Classical Tai Chi in Sussex, N.J.

Natalia V. Munoz, CHES Health Educator/Risk Communicator
Union County Office of Health Management
300 North Avenue East Westfield, N.J., 07090
P (908) 518-5629 F (908) 654-9252
Email 1: nm2@njlincs.net

 

Sandra Carlin

Topic: Weather Emergencies in School

15 min. Power Point Presentation
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session participants will be able to: Identify common weather emergencies in the region. Understand the importance of developing a Weather Emergency Plan for the school. Identify steps to develop a weather emergency plan. Discuss the recovery period after a weather emergency.

Abstract:
Weather emergencies can happen any time of the year. Students spend approximately seven hours a day, 10 months of the year in a classroom; moreover, there is a possibility for a weather emergency to occur in the school setting. Weather emergencies can range from minor events, such as temperature changes, to major weather events like hurricanes. It is imperative that school districts are prepared for weather emergencies. Proper assessments and planning measures are important steps needed in developing a weather emergency plan. The safety of students in the school should be the focus of any weather emergency plan. Proper planning for weather emergencies will benefit the school community at large.

Bio:
Sandra Carlin, a Kean University graduate, received her BSN in 2008 and is completing the certification requirements for the school nurse/teacher of health certificate at Kean University. In the fall of 2009, Sandra will begin the MSN in School Nursing at Kean University. Sandra is a registered nurse in the state of New Jersey and has worked as a Day Camp Nurse for the Jersey Shore Council of Boy Scouts. Sandra has experience in implementing weather emergency plans.

 

Patricia Sciscione, MSN, RN, CEN, CSN
Cheryl Krause- Parello, Ph.D., RN, CSN

Topic: Head Lice Infestation

15 min. Power Point Presentation
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session participants will be able to:
1) To recognize the multi-faceted impact of head lice on school-aged children.
2) To develop evidence-based- head lice policies in schools.

Head lice infestation is not an infectious condition that warrants exclusion from school. At present there is no scientific literature that exists to advocate the exclusion of children from school who are infected with head lice. In fact, no-nit policies which are currently present in schools across the United States were established years ago based on fear and misinformation, rather than scientific evidence. Therefore, there is an urge to develop updated school policies using research- based evidence to determine the best method of treating head lice infestations while allowing children to remain in school. A focus on providing scientific evidence regarding head lice in schools should be initiated in order to reduce the anxiety that is related to the infestation. Children who are infected with head lice are indeed health children, and they should be privileged to be in school to learn. Policies that mandate children to be excluded from school because they are infected with head lice, need to be critically evaluated and continually revised to reflect current scientific evidence. School nurses are at best to advocate for change in no-nit policies because they have the knowledge and expertise required to do so. The development of evidence-based health policies will promote a healthy school environment that provides each child with the best chance of academic success. Therefore this presentation will include an introduction on head lice, an overview of the problem, etiology, no-nit policies and revising head lice policies in schools based on evidence, management of head lice in the school environment, and the implications for school nursing practice.

Publications:
Sciscione, P. & Krause-Parello, C.A. (2007). No-nit policies in schools-Time for Change. Journal of School Nursing, 23(1), 13-20.

Bios:

Speaker 1

Patricia Sciscione, MSN RN CEN CSN
Adjunct Professor, Kean University

Patricia’s area of clinical expertise is in emergency and trauma nursing with a national certification in Emergency Nursing. Patricia graduated from Kean University in 2005 with baccalaureate degree in Nursing and in 2008 with a Master’s degree in Nursing with a concentration in school nursing. In addition, Patricia is an experienced certified school nurse in the state of New Jersey. Currently, Patricia is pursuing a Ph.D. in Nursing at Seton Hall University.

Speaker 2

Cheryl A. Krause-Parello, Ph.D., RN
Assistant Professor, Kean University
Coordinator of the School Nurse Program

Cheryl A. Krause-Parello began her college education at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey where she earned a bachelor's degree in nursing. She continued her studies at Caldwell College in Caldwell, New Jersey and received a certification in school nursing from the State of New Jersey. Cheryl then furthered her education earning a master’s degree in nursing with a specialty in case management which included a functional concentration in nursing administration from Saint Peter’s College in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. To add to her educational achievements, Cheryl then continued her education and earned a doctoral degree in philosophy from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Current Currently, Cheryl is an Assistant Professor of Nursing and the Coordinator of School Nurse Progarm at Kean University in Union, New Jersey.

“Who Should Attend”

This breakout session of the conference is aimed at those who wish to update themselves with information pertaining to influenza awareness, weather emergency preparedness in the school setting, and pediculosis control and management.