Category Archives: Nurse’s Notes

MIT Women’s Initiative Program

Steller Middle School Students and their Parents,

 

Steller has the opportunity for 5 female middle school students (7th or 8th grade), who are interested in engineering, to attend a program put on by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). ASD was one of hundreds of applicants nationwide to be selected to host the MIT Women’s Initiative Program for 2012. Representatives from MIT’s  School of Engineering  will visit ASD’s 10 middle schools. Our students have been invited to attend the session at Central January 25th from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Application forms must be returned by January 20th. This is what the information sheet says about the offering:

 

At each site the presenters will share their unique insights, describe professional opportunities, and facilitate hands-on building projects designed to inspire self-awareness.  Mary Anito, MIT graduate and program coordinator states,  “All too of often we find that girls begin to turn away from engineering and other related field during their high school years. For some reason, they stop believing that they have what it takes to succeed. We have found that, by showing girls how exciting, fulfilling, and attainable these careers are for women, we can help them aspire to reach for degrees in these highly rewarding fields.”

 

An information sheet and application form are included in the attachments. If you have a middle school daughter who is good in math and thinks she might want a career in engineering or simply wants to find out more, please have her return the form to the nurse or fax it to 742-4966.  It would be a shame to waste this  opportunity.

 

Thank you,
Nurse Anne

 

Food Allergies

Parents,
I want to remind you of the seriousness of food allergies. I have included an attachment from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Many scientists believe that the number of people with food allergies is rising, as is the number of foods to which they are allergic. In the past, more often than not, children were only allergic to one or maybe two foods, whereas now it’s very common to see children allergic to two or three or more foods. On the basis of random phone surveys, the Food Asthma and Allergy Network estimate that about 4% of the US population—about 12 million people—are allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, fish or shellfish (www.foodallergy.org). However, there is probably under-reporting. In comments on the US Food & Drug Administration’s 2005 Food Safety Survey, FAAN stated that, “Accurate and reliable data on food allergy and anaphylaxis is lacking, and it is generally believed that the limited data now available represents an under-reporting of food allergy-related reactions and deaths” (FAAN, 2005). The attachment tells you what symptoms to look for and what actions to take.  Please take the time to read it. If you have an adolescent with allergies and have not supplied me with an allergy action plan signed by a health care provider and an epinephrine pen, please do so.
Thank you,
Nurse Anne

Pennies for Patients

Parents and Students,

This week and the following two weeks Steller will be participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Pennies for Patients program. LLS is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services.  Coins will be collected until January 20th for this worthy cause. Collection boxes will be in each AG room and the contents will be counted on a weekly basis. The AG with the most money collected at the end of three weeks will earn a pizza party.  However, we must collect a minimum of $250 to qualify for the party.  Donations of $1,000 or more will earn the school a gift card of $100.

Right after Christmas is not the ideal time for fund raising, however, any spare change will be sincerely appreciated.  Of course, folding money can be donated as well. If a parent or student wants to pick up a collection box for their place of employment, that would be great!  Steller students and parents have a wonderful reputation of contributing to worthy cases such as this one. Despite the untimely scheduling, I am sure we will do what we can to help those with Leukemia and Lymphoma.  Thank you for your support. Below is information about the two diseases LLS supports. For additional information see http://www.lls.org/ or school and youth.org

Sincerely, Nurse Anne

P.S. I am willing to sign off on volunteer hours for students who want to solicit donations from family and friends.

 

What Is Leukemia?

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. The disease develops when blood cells produced in the bone marrow grow out of control.

Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases. In turn, it is part of the even roader group of diseases affecting the blood, bone marrow and lymphoid system, which are all known as hematological neoplasms.

In 2000, approximately 256,000 children and adults around the world developed some form of leukemia, and 209,000 died from it. About 90% of all leukemias are diagnosed in adults.

About 43,050 people are expected to develop leukemia in 2012.

What is Lymphoma?

Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system, the network of vessels and nodes that carry infection- fighting white blood cells, called lymphocytes, throughout the body. It ranks as the most common blood cancer and third most common childhood cancer.

 

Lymphomas are generally classified as Hodgkin’s lymphomas (formerly known as Hodgkin’s disease) or non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. In both types of cancer, the lymphatic cells begin to grow abnormally, producing lymph nodes that are larger than normal.

 

Hodgkin’s lymphoma follows a more predictable pattern than non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and often has a more limited spread. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are more likely to involve many different areas of the body.

 

Some lymphomas are highly curable (e.g. Hodgkin’s lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) with standard chemotherapy and antibody treatments, which can be given without a hospital stay and are only minimally toxic. Other types of lymphomas can be managed effectively for many years with mild treatments but tend to recur repeatedly with traditional therapies.

Discussion, Question-Answer Session on Illicit Drug Use Wed. Dec 14th

Students,
I want to remind you again of Peter Alward’s visit to Steller on Wednesday, December 14th. His talk will be in the MPR at lunchtime and will start as soon as everyone can get settled.  Please make plans to bring a lunch to school that day and be ready to listen to and ask questions of this phenomenal speaker. As, I mentioned in AG, Peter is the director of nurisng at North Star Residential Treatment Center and has two decades of experience working with adolescents. He is a psychiatric nurse practitioner, a clinical psychologist and is to start as an adjunct professor at UAA.  Peter loves to educate and has a real gift for doing so. He is definitely one of the most enthusiastic people I have ever known with boundless energy and a true passion for his profession. I know he has had a huge impact on the lives of hundreds of adolescents over the years. You are in for a real treat, so make the effort to be there. Encourage your friends to join you for this VERY SPECIAL opportunity.
Thank you
Nurse Anne

FluMist Vaccination

Parents,
I am going to administer the FluMist vaccination this Friday, Nov 4th (today) at lunchtime. Please send a consent in with your student or fax me one at 742-4966 if you have not already done so. The consent form is under Nurses Notes and is included on the October 22nd posting. It says consent page one and consent page two below the note I typed. The second two pages are the information sheets that I am must supply you with. Please get the consent to me by lunchtime. I may be able to give some vaccinations after lunch if I have any doses left over.  I appreciate your help with this.
Thank you
Nurse Anne

Flu Mist Vaccinations Friday

Parents,
I received word this morning that the FluMist vaccinations are in. They will be delivered to Steller Friday and administered that same day. This gives your adolescent time to recouperate over the weekend if there are any minor side effects from the immunization. Please remind him/her to see the nurse during lunch. I try to avoid scheduling these activities when the students are in class.  I am sorry, however the vaccinations are only for students. Your health care provider, numerous walk-in clinics and the pharmacy at Carrs and Fred Meyers offer them as well.

If you have not filled out a consent and want your adolescent to have the influenza nasal vaccination, please do so. Return the consent to me  by Thursday afternoon. I sent two students home this morning with fu symptoms. One had a temperature of almost 101.  I appreciate your assistance in helping keep the Students at Steller healthy.
Sincerely,
Anne McCarron
Steller school nurse

Food for the Nurse’s Stash

Parents,

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your generosity supplying food for those students who forget their lunch. We have some students who forget far more than others and I am trying to keep tabs on that and let their parents know.  Nonetheless, we are low on items that are most often sought after. The Cup of Noodles are a huge hit. I currently have none in my office or storage area.  If any of you are so inclined, both the students and I would sincerely appreciate a new stock. You are the best!

Thank you so much for kindness providing students with this very special privilege.

Sincerely,
Anne McCarron, RN
Steller Secondary school nurse

Flu Mist Vaccinations

Parents,
This is a reminder that the state is supplying Steller with FluMist vaccinations. I was told I could request the vaccinations for a week in November and I requested them for this week. I have not heard anything from Health Services about which exact day the FluMist will be available and I am certain that is because my supervisor has not hear anything from the state. This just gives me time to solicit more consents. The consent and information sheet were sent with the first announcement on Flash. I also sent a hard copy  home last week. Scroll down and find that announcement and print the sheets off or if you are in the building just drop by the office. I have consents and information sheets on the counter top in a manilla folder. I must have a consent to administer the vaccination.

The flu is already circulating in the building.  Several people have been sick – both students and staff. Please get those consents in and help prevent the flu from spreading any further. I get my vaccination every year and it has made a difference. I have not been sick with the flu virus in years. FluMist is the only vaccination that will be given because it has been shown to be more effective than the injection with children and adolescents. The information sheets posted under Flash with the first announcement will tell you more, including contraindications for the FluMist.

FYI,  all vaccinations have the potential for side effects. However, the vaccination has never been determined to give a person the flu. There is the potential for several adverse reactions to the flu virus itself.  The information below is cut and pasted from the CDC website. Please think seriously  about having your adolescent immunized against flu this year. Thank you. Nurse Anne
www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/disease.htm
Flu Symptoms & Severity
Influenza Symptoms

Influenza (also known as the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

*   Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
*   Cough
*   Sore throat
*   Runny or stuffy nose
*   Muscle or body aches
*   Headaches
*   Fatigue (tiredness)
*   Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

* It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

Flu Complications

Most people who get influenza will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some people will develop complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of the flu, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death.

Pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections are three examples of complications from flu. The flu can make chronic health problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have the flu, and people with chronic congestive heart failure may have worsening of this condition that is triggered by the flu.

Parents

Monday, October 24th your adolescents will be coming home with a consent for the administration of the flu mist vaccination. They will receive the consent and an information sheet about the vaccination from their advisors. If for some reason, you do not receive these two items, see me for a copy. The state has ordered extra flu mist for all public schools who are interested. I requested that we have our clinic the first week of November, however, I was asked not to establish a specific date in the event that the vaccinations are not available on that particular day.  The vaccinations will be administered sometime during the first week of November. I must have the signed consents in my office by the beginning of the day October 31st. If the clinic does not happen that day, I will accept consents that trickle in after that time, however I absolutely must have a copy in my hand before the vaccination can be given.

It is imperative that you read the information sheet (See below)  that comes with the consent and make certain your adolescent does not have any of the contraindications. The flu mist is a live, attenuated (weakened) influenza vaccine that is sprayed into the nostrils.  Asthma, diabetes, an allergy to eggs and a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome are usually contraindications. There are others that the information sheet addresses. Students with asthma and diabetes may receive the injection. The injection is not a live vaccine.  The Municipality of Anchorage will administer the injection for free to any adolescent under 18 years of age. Their number is 343-4799. Thank you for making certain those consents are returned to me.  (Note: there are two pages of consent forms below.  Both must be returned.)  I appreciate your cooperation. Anne

Consent form page one

Consent form page two

 

Information page one

Information page two

 
P.S. A speaker from the FBI will be at Steller on October 25th at 10:20 for a Red Ribbon Week presentation. The presentation will be in the MPR.  You are invited to attend.

Anne M. McCarron, R.N. NBCSN
Steller Secondary
2508 Blueberry Rd.
Anchorage Alaska 99503
Main office (907) 742-4950
Nurse’s office (907) 742-4963
Fax (907) 742-4966

Sensitive Topic

Parents,
It has been suggested that I post a notice on flash addressing a somewhat sensitive topic. Not infrequently since school started, I have been asked to talk to several female students about the way they are dressed.  Exposure of too much skin below the neck is the biggest concern. Obviously, low necklines are in style and have been for sometime. We had this problem at Central when I was the school nurse there four years ago. As I have told the students who have been sent to me, I would take the students at Central into a huge storage area full of used clothing. They had to choose something to change into or put over their top or they would be sent home.

It would be helpful if you could please make an effort to oversee what your daughters are wearing to school. Although adolescent ladies do not like to believe so, there are solutions to low necklines. Camisoles or tank tops can be worn under the top. After calling one mother to bring her daughter a change, she has decided to keep extra camisoles at school in the event this is a problem in the future.

The teachers who have sent students to me improperly dressed have explained the situation. They stand at the front of the class overlooking their classroom. Every time a student bends over with a top that has a low neckline, virtually everything is revealed. Unconsciously, eyes gravitate to areas that are not usually exposed. This is true for both male and females. Not only is it a big distraction when a teacher is trying to instruct, but it can be a real embarrassment as well. There can also be very negative consequences for unconsciously looking at an area that has so many profound connotations.  One female student argued that some males wear far more revealing shirts than she had on. That maybe true, however that is a very different situation.

ASD policy mandates that students dress appropriately for school. Any attire that is so revealing that it makes others feel uncomfortable is not appropriate. In addition to this notice, I have typed a note for the advisors to read at their advisory group meeting.  If you have constructive suggestions that might be beneficial, please feel free to contact me. As one of our teachers recently said, this is not the way a professional would dress in the work environment. Steller certainly is a professional work environment, however students may not feel that they have to dress professionally as a student. Nonetheless, we want our students to learn habits that will help them be a success when they ARE working as a professional in a professional work environment.  Thank you for your assistance with this.

Sincerely,
Nurse Anne