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Asthma School Nursing Award
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Apply Today
30
Remaining
Applications Due May 15, 2008
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2008
 School nurses are leaders in the care of children with asthma. In addition to education, counseling and disease monitoring services, school nurses help families navigate a complex medical care system. To recognize the leadership of school nurses in asthma care, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announces the availability of a funding opportunity for school nurses through the Asthma School Nursing Award.
For a third consecutive year, DHSS seeks school nurses from urban, suburban and rural communities to choose and lead an asthma care improvement project during the summer of 2008. Nurses may
choose to meet with parents to prepare asthma action plans, present a policy recommendation to school officials based on the school health index results, train sport coaches on asthma management basics, provide indoor environment assessments, or design a project of their own. Asthma School Nursing Award recipients will receive $700, public recognition, materials, and support from the Asthma Here team.
Applications are being accepted now through May 15, 2008. Interested persons should complete a brief application form as soon as possible. A limited number of funding opportunities are available. Recipients of the 2006 and 2007 Asthma School Nursing Awards are encouraged to apply.
HOW TO APPLY
Choose A Project
Option #1: Coaches Training
Working with sport team coaches for children ages 5-18, school nurses lead a training program that addresses asthma symptom awareness,
on-field/on-court management, and emergency response. We recommend using materials from the nationally recognized Winning With Asthma educational program for coaches as the basis for the training program. To complete this project, a school nurse must provide a 40-minute training program for 10 or more coaches and promote the use of an existing online version to others. In addition to the standard award, a new basketball or soccer ball will be donated to the school where the nurse works. To review the Project To-Do Checklist and Outcomes Report Form, click here.
Option #2: Partnering with Parents
Parents of children with asthma and the school nurse meet in-person during the summer to prepare an asthma management plan for their children (i.e., asthma action
plans) and discuss health concerns. There are many asthma action plan templates, but we recommend using one from the Missouri School Asthma Manual.
Upon completion of the asthma action plan with the parent(s), the school nurse sends a copy to the child’s health care provider for inclusion in the medical chart. Parents should share copies of the asthma action plan with family members, coaches, caregivers, and others who spend time with the child. By partnering with parents during the summer, parent-nurse relationships can be strengthened and most students will have asthma action plans at the very beginning of the school year. To complete this project, a school nurse must meet with 80% of families whose children take medication for asthma. To review the task checklist for this project, click here.
Option #3: School Asthma Improvement Recommendations
School policies can have a significant impact on the management of children with asthma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed
an asthma module for the school health index, a nationally recognized best practice for improving school health. To complete this project, a school nurse must convene a group of parents, teachers and administrators to review school health index results, including the new asthma module. For more information about the school health index, click here. A report of results and recommendations must be presented to the principal and school board. To review the task checklist for this project, click here.
Option #4: Indoor Environment Assessment
Environmental triggers play a significant role in the management of asthma. They are often overlooked or unnoticed in homes by even the most diligent patients, parents and caregivers. Using a checklist develope
d by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a thorough review of a home’s indoor environment can detect hidden triggers and enhance asthma knowledge of patients, parents and caregivers. To complete this project, award recipients must conduct in-home assessments with the EPA tool for 8 or more patients with asthma. To review the task checklist for this project, click here.
Option #5: Design-Your-Own Project
We encourage you to design a project that meets the needs of your community and is evidence-based. You may expand an existing project or start something new. Unlike the other options, you will need to provide a basic project checklist (i.e., list of activities) and description of how the project will be evaluated.
Check Eligibility
The Asthma School Nursing Award is currently open to school nurses working in public or private schools in all Missouri counties. Award recipients must be a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN) or nurse practitioner (NP) who is employed/contracted by a school, school district or local public health department.
Fill-out Application Form
Click here to download the application form with a checklist. If you have any trouble with downloading, please contact us and we will mail the materials to you.
Questions
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Peggy Gaddy at (573) 522-2876 or peggy.gaddy@dhss.mo.gov.
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