• The Virginia Department of Education in collaboration with the School Nurse Institute Partnership presented the first of three series on School Nursing in Virginia. 
• The program, School Nurses Supporting Student Success, was broadcast live to all local public television channels in Virginia, on Thursday, September 28, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. 
• A moderator facilitated a panel discussion on the the role of school nurses and nurse practitioners in supporting student success.  In addition, video clips of selected school health services that are provided in Virginia public schools, including mobile health units, were televised.

• Varina High School, Communications Center

Henrico County Public Schools
• Video Clips: From various Virginia public schools.

• Welcoming Remarks
• Gwen Smith, RN, MSN

School Health Specialist
Virginia Department of Education
• Nancy Ford, RN, MPH

School Health Nurse Consultant
Virginia Department of Health
• Moderator 
• Debra Hearington, RN, MS, CPNP

Clinical Assistant Professor
Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing
• Panelists
• Elizabeth Morse, RN, CPNP

School Nurse Coordinator
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Hanover County Public Schools
• Ventriss Whelan, RN

School Nurse
Western Branch High School
Chesapeake City Public Schools
• Lee Hughes Johnson, RN, BSN

School Nurse Coordinator
Wythe and Bland County Public Schools
• Jeannine Uzel, RN, BSN

Elementary School Nurse
Henrico County Public Schools

• Debra Hearington, moderator, provided an overview of school nursing--focusing on how school nurses collaborate with other members of the school health team in developing, implementing, and evaluating a coordinated school health program that assists students in achieving success.   In addition, Debra reviewed important resources that all school nurses need and described the two-day statewide orientation for school nurses, which has been available for the last two years. 
• Video clips: August 9-10, 2000, School Nurse Orientation - Vignettes of orientation presenters, including Linda Koogler, School Nurse Supervisor, August County Public Schools, teaching procedures for conducting vision, hearing, and scoliosis screenings.
• Elizabeth Morse discussed her role as a school nurse supervisor and a pediatric nurse practitioner in Hanover County Public Schools.
• Video clip: Elizabeth conducting a physical examination.
• Ventriss Whelan described the types of school nursing services that she provides to students in Chesapeake City Public Schools, which has a school nurse in every building.
• Lee Hughes Johnson told viewers about school mobile health units that exist in Virginia, including the Wythe and Bland County Public Schools' mobile health unit.
• Video clip: Sherry Vestal, RN, School Nurse Coordinator, providing health care services on the Henry County  Public Schools and Memorial Health Systems mobile health unit.
• Jeannine Uzel discussed how school nurses not only provide health services but also provide health education for students, staff, and parents.
• Video Clip: Jeannine teaching fifth grade students at Laburnum Elementary School, Henrico County Public Schools, about self health care.
• Question and Answer Session
• The broadcast ended with a question and answer session among panelists on the connection between school nursing interventions and student school performance.  Panel members gave examples of how the school nurse supports student learning by implementing strategies that promote student and staff health and safety within the framework of an eight-component coordinated school health program.
• As stated by the National Association of School Nurses, a school nurse, with appropriate preparation, provides the following services within a coordinated school health program: 
• Health Services - Serves as the coordinator of the health services program and provides nursing care.
• Health Education - Provides health education to students, staff, and parents.
• Healthy Environment - Identifies health and safety concerns in the school environment and promotes a nurturing school environment.
• Nutritional Services - Supports health food services programs.
• Physical Education/Activity - Promotes healthy physical education, sports polices, and practice.
• Counseling/Mental Health - Provides health counseling and refers students to appropriate school staff or community agencies.
• Parent/Community Involvement - Promotes community involvement in assuring a healthy school.
• Staff Wellness - Provides health education and counseling, and promotes healthy activities and environment for school staff. 

Left to right: Greg Lesko, Producer, Henrico County Public Schools, and  Greg Weisiger, Director of Communication, Virginia Department of Education, prepare for the broadcast in the control room.

Preparation included making sure names and titles were correct, along with matching video clips to presentations.

Before the live broadcast began, everyone made sure that scripts were coordinated.  Left to right: Ventriss Whelan, Elizabeth Morse, Gwen Smith, Lee Johnson, and Debra Hearington discuss last minute details in the studio.

Jeannine Uzel writes some notes on her script while Elizabeth Morse and Ventriss Whelan discuss their presentations.

Left to right: Lee Johnson, Nancy Ford, and Gwen Smith review information about one of the mobile health units.

Debra Hearington (left) and panelists get their microphones attached.

David Saunders, Director of Distance Learning, Henrico County Public Schools, is the floor manager.  In addition to managing the studio operations, during the broadcast David would point to the appropriate camera as needed and would give time cues to the moderator. Panelists are sitting to the left and are able to see the monitor during the broadcast.  There are  two cameras, which are run by students.

Debra Hearington, Elizabeth Morse, Ventriss Whelan,
Lee Hughes Johnson, Jeannine Uzel

One minute to go. Lights, camera, action!

After The Broadcast Congratulations to our moderator and panelists for a job well done!

The School Nurse Institute Partnership extends a special thank you to the terrific production services people at the Virginia Department of Education and Henrico County Public Schools for all of their work, consultation, and technical assistance in broadcasting School Nurses Supporting Student Success.

In addition, the School Nurse Institute Partnership would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of the expert panelists for their willingness to share with viewers their experiences in the specialty practice of school nursing.

And finally, the School Nurse Institute Partnership is grateful to all of the nurses and students who appeared in the videos for allowing us to share their activities with the viewers.