[MaineSchoolNurse] School Nurse Office Hours Follow-Up

Thu May 8 10:06:08 EDT 2025

Thanks to everyone who was able to join us yesterday for office hours. We had a great meeting. See notes below to get caught up if you weren't able to make it and please reach out to our team anytime for questions. Looking forward to seeing you all in June!
Check out Maine DOE School Nurse Day announcement on social media yesterday:
Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/p/DJW5z3ZO3E5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==>, Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AKjidnZQ5/>, LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7325908436179718144>
School Nurse Day - Spin to Win! Congratulations to our winners!
Raffle prizes sponsored by Maine Department of Education<https://www.maine.gov/doe/index.php/schools/safeschools/healthed/nurseresources/guidelines> and Maine Association of School Nurses<https://maineschoolnurse.nursingnetwork.com/>:
Round #1
1-Blind Date With a Book; WINNER: Lynne Signore
1-$15 Bath and Body works gc; WINNER: Alison Ramsdell
1-$15 Panera Bread gc; WINNER: Monique Michaud
1- $10 Starbucks gc; WINNER: Erika Skiff
Round #2
2-Blind Date With a Book; WINNER: Hannah Cloutier
2-$15 Bath and Body works gc; WINNER: Jenna Cushing
2-$15 Panera Bread gc; WINNER: Laurie Hanson

2- $10 Starbucks gc; WINNER: Bethany Harlow
Round #3
3-Blind Date With a Book; WINNER: Tonia Gilley Pratt
3-$15 Bath and Body works gc; WINNER: Crystal Agreste
3-$15 Panera Bread gc; WINNER: Karen Chiang
3- $10 Starbucks gc; WINNER: Ellen Martel
Round #4
FINAL - NASN membership - can be new or renewal; WINNER: Ashley Pomelow

Last Call for Peer Reviewers: We know everyone is super busy right now, yet we find your feedback invaluable.  We have an ask for your input. If you are interested in reviewing the Emergency Guidelines draft and/or the School Nurse Evaluation draft, please email Angie angie.buker at maine.gov<mailto:angie.buker at maine.gov> (School Nurse Evaluation) or Lori lori.huot at maine.gov<mailto:lori.huot at maine.gov> (Emergency Guidelines) directly by Friday 5/9.  We would appreciate your input on either one or both of these documents.
School Nurse of the Year applications are open! The Maine Association of School Nurses (MASN)<https://maineschoolnurse.nursingnetwork.com/> has announced that nominations are open for the 2025-2026 Maine School Nurse of the Year award. The application deadline is May 16, 2025. This award recognizes an outstanding school nurse for their contributions to the school and community they serve. Nominees must demonstrate leadership in six areas of practice: care provision, program management, health education, professional development, community involvement, and research. The individual selected will receive a $500 cash award and will be recognized at the next professional conference for school nurses in Maine.
New School Nurse Orientation The cost is $30.—Register Now for New School Nurse Orientation, August 12, 2025<https://events.bizzabo.com/719334> / Draft Agenda<https://www.maine.gov/doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/inline-files/School%20Health%20-%20Draft%20Agenda%20New%20School%20Nurse%20Orientation%202025%20-%204.16.2025%20.pdf>
SAVE THE DATE for the School Health Summit: October 25, 2025<https://maineschoolnurse.nursingnetwork.com/nursing-events/147755-save-the-date-school-health-summit?utm_campaign=wijtp0epr9&utm_medium=event-attendee-conv-link&utm_source=nursing-network#!info>--<https://maineschoolnurse.nursingnetwork.com/nursing-events/147755-save-the-date-school-health-summit?utm_campaign=wijtp0epr9&utm_medium=event-attendee-conv-link&utm_source=nursing-network#!info> The Maine Association of School Nurses, the Maine Department of Education, and the Maine American Academy of Pediatrics are partnering to bring a unique and innovative conference to central Maine this fall. This joint professional gathering of key leaders from various fields that are connected to school health will help to strengthen a unified and collaborative approach to support student wellness. More details to come!
Vaccine exemptions - Maine law directs Maine CDC and Maine DOE to jointly issue rules to implement the immunization law. The summary of the regulations (rule) (10-144 Code of Maine Rules, Chapter 261 and 05-071 Code Of Maine Rules, Chapter 126)<https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/immunization/family/documents/immunization-requirements-for-school-children.pdf> includes the following: This rule is issued jointly by the Commissioner of Education and the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, within the Department of Health and Human Services, to implement the provisions within (20-A MRS §§ 6352-6358)<https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-a/title20-Ach223sec0.html>. It prescribes the dosage for required immunizations for children enrolled and/or attending elementary and secondary schools and defines record-keeping and reporting requirements for school officials. For the purpose of complying with this rule, “licensed” physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants means licensed by the State of Maine.

Further, the FAQ document<https://www.maine.gov/doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/inline-files/School%20Health%20Services%20-%20Vaccination%20FAQ%20-%2012.5.2024.pdf> that constitutes guidance representing Maine DOE and Maine DHHS interpretation of the law. In that document, question 5 states that "the only way that a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant from another state can write a medical exemption for a student in Maine is if they are also licensed to practice in the State of Maine at the time of the written exemption."

School Health Annual Report: Communication for the annual report should be going out the week of May 12. Remember that this is to be completed by each school administrative unit (individual districts, not schools).The worksheet is a download<https://www.maine.gov/doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/inline-files/School%20Health%20Services%20-%202025%20School%20Health%20Annual%20Report%20Survey%20Worksheet%20-%204.30.2025.pdf> of the report itself if you want to start compiling the information.

Take care everyone and have a wonderful rest of your week!

________________________________________

Tammy Diaz, MPH, RN, NCSN (she/her)
School Nurse Specialist - Coordinated School Health
Office of School and Student Supports
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Email: tammy.diaz at maine.gov<mailto:tammy.diaz at maine.gov>
Phone: 207-446-8213
Maine DOE<http://www.maine.gov/doe> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/mdoenews> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en> | Maine DOE Newsroom<https://mainedoenews.net/> | School Health Service Guidelines<https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/safeschools/healthed/nurseresources/guidelines>

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