Mental health care is always a hot-button topic, but never more so than in the wake of a violent tragedy like the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Blame is being batted around like a tennis ball, with fingers pointed at gun regulations, missed mental health signals, ignored reports of a potential for violence, delayed reactions from security, and any number of other people and situations. All these things may or may not have played a factor in the events of that day, but the one thing that is the most common factor in any situation like this of the perpetrator’s need for mental health care. Continue reading “The School Nurse’s Role in Mental Health”
Category: School Therapy
7 Online Resources School Nurses Should Know
on /
School nurses have one of the most important roles in the lives of children. Often, they are the first to recognize symptoms or issues when it comes to the health and well-being of their students. They must play clinician, counselor, and care provider to dozens upon dozens of young people in just a few short hours a day. Finding great online resources to help them do their job well is important, so we have compiled just a few great places that can help any school nurse to find great information, current trends, and resources for use within their school.
Continue reading “7 Online Resources School Nurses Should Know”Is the Son-Rise Program a “Miracle”?
on /In medicine, claiming the ability to perform “miracles” can understandably raise some hackles. Generally, medical professionals prefer to leave the supposed miracle-working to the likes of Dr. Oz and stick with empirically supported interventions, thank you very much. But “miracles” is exactly the word Kent, UK parents Mark and Annie Montague use to describe what they have experienced while attempting to socialize their severely autistic twin sons, Samuel and Jacob. A recent BBC feature documented how the family has found an apparent solution to their intense struggles with the twins’ non-responsive and often destructive behavior—including running away from home multiple times—in a form of social skills intervention called the Son-Rise program. Since they began participating in the immersive program—Mark and Annie went so far as to construct isolated indoor environments in which the boys could undergo their therapy—Samuel and Jacob have begun making eye contact, communicating effectively, and being less destructive.
With autism rates on the rise and in the news, the Montagues’ case may seem like a sign of hope for other families going through similar trials. However, before we begin proclaiming that a miracle cure has been found—or even that autism requires a cure in the first place—we should first examine the Son-Rise program with a healthy dose of scientific skepticism. Continue reading “Is the Son-Rise Program a “Miracle”?”
This International Women’s Day, Celebrate Women in Healthcare
on /
There are many ways one could go about celebrating International Women’s Day (March 8th) this year. You could helpfully remind your Congressperson that the United States is virtually the only developed country on earth that doesn’t federally mandate paid maternity leave, for one. While you’re at it, you could ask them to reintroduce equal pay for equal work legislation, for another. Or, a personal favorite, you could dig up your old collection of Susan B. Anthony coins and use them to buy lunch. Here at Soliant, though, we just want to take a moment to celebrate women in healthcare, a field in which women arguably work harder and make a larger impact than they do in any other.
Continue reading “This International Women’s Day, Celebrate Women in Healthcare”Best Supplemental Education and Training Ideas for School Nurses
on /School nurses are faced with a wide range of tasks in their day, from determining whether a little one is suffering from a stomachache or trying to avoid a math test to students who require assistance with ongoing, severe medical problems. Because of this extreme range of responsibilities, it’s important for those practicing school nursing to stay on top of the latest developments in the medical field and to seek additional education and training certifications on a wide range of topics.
In order to determine what additional training and supplemental education may be useful, school nurses should take a look at their student body and what medical issues those students may face. Additionally, talking with school health professionals in schools that feed into their school can give an idea of the medical issues of incoming students in the next couple of years. Other nurses may have personal topics of interest for which they would like to seek additional education. Continue reading “Best Supplemental Education and Training Ideas for School Nurses”
Open Communication is a Top Tool for School Nurses
on /
Many times, the school nurse is the first person to recognize physical and mental health issues in a child. As we are not typically equipped to diagnose and manage illnesses, communicating with teachers, parents, administration, and other caregivers is the best tool in our arsenal for ensuring that students get the care and attention they need. Whether you are working with a student who has a potential health issue or one who is being treated for an existing condition, here are some top tips for keeping the lines of communication open and healthy.
Continue reading “Open Communication is a Top Tool for School Nurses”