School Health: Upper Cumberland School Nurses Consortium

Upper Cumberland 
School Nurses Consortium

Pictured above are some of the school nurses from across the Upper Cumberland Region who recently met for a one-day seminar at the STAR Center in Algood , Tennessee . The seminar, sponsored by the Upper Cumberland School Nurses Consortium and hosted by Putnam and Macon County Coordinated School Health programs, was designed for new school nurses and returning school nurses.

The program was approved for in-service credit by the Upper Cumberland School Directors and Superintendents. Fifty-seven school nurses from 16 counties attended the seminar. The program provided updated information for managing the school health program and incorporating coordinated school health services to clinical presentations on topics including asthma, diabetes obesity and mental health.

 

Sandra Ellis, Director, Coordinated School Health Program, Putnam County , welcomed the group and provided an orientation to Coordinated School Health Services. Presentations were made by Linda Bellar, BSN, RN, School Nurse, Putnam County ; Teresa Phillips, BSN, RN, School Nurse, White County; Janice York, BSN, RN, C, School Nurse, Macon County; Mary Kornguth, PhD, RN, NCSN, School Health Consultant, Cumberland County; and Carolyn V. Whitaker, MSN, APRN, BC, FAAN, Macon County.

 

Mary Kornguth, from Fairfield Glade, Chairperson of the Committee on School Health, Tennessee Nurses Association, served as co-coordinator for the meeting and was among the presenters to the group. Kornguth serves as a consultant to school nurses on the national level.  

Carolyn Whitaker initiated the Upper Cumberland School Nurses Consortium over five years ago while a faculty member at Tennessee Technological University . Since her retirement, she and Mary Kornguth have continued the facilitation of the Upper Cumberland School Nurses Consortium. Whitaker was among the presenters to the group on Utilizing National School Nursing Standards in Your Practice. Whitaker, who also serves as a member of the TNA Committee on School Health,  continues her practice as a family nurse practitioner in Red Boiling Springs , Tenn.  

The Consortium meets regularly every other month during the school year. Meetings for the coming year are: September 11, 2003 ; November 13, 2003 ; January 15, 2004 ; March 11, 2004 ; and May 13, 2004 . All meetings are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. – 1 :00 p.m. at the Hyder Burks Arena, TTU Agricultural Center . All licensed nurses are invited to attend.

 

For further meeting information please contact Mary Kornguth at 931-707-9261 or Carolyn Whitaker at 615-699-3253 or [email protected].