Is This Depression or is it Seasonal Affective Disorder? What is SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder?

I'm talking about SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) over on Substack today. There is a bonus link to a recent article written by Teri Leigh, in my post.
#SchoolNursing #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

Reflections on a Dark and Dreary Day As we move from Sheila’s favorite month, October, and enter the month of November, I find myself reflecting on some of the lessons Sheila taught me.

Children as teachers? Children as leaders? Why not?

#downsyndrome #DownSyndromeSupport #disabilityawareness
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

Are the Sniffles a Cold Or From One of the “Triple Threat”: Flu, RSV or COVID? Children are brought to the school nurses office for every sniffle, cough and complaint of “not feeling good.”

It's that time of year when illnesses start hitting classrooms all over the country. Are you prepared?
#SchoolNursing

open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

A New Day, A New Acolyte Usually, I write something geared towards school nursing or the intersection of parenting and school nursing.

In service to others--that is what Sheila aspired to on a daily basis. May we all be people that ask, "How can I help?"
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

The Teachers We Didn't Expect Life As We See It: On presence, grief, and the wisdom we almost missed

"Please check this post out! I received the honor of sharing a bit of Sheila's story with Alexander Lovell, PhD. Our stories are what happens when we open our hearts to people that "teach the teachers."
#downsyndromeawareness #celebratingdownsyndrome
lifeasisee.com/p/the-teache...

3-21 Originally published on 3/21/24 World Down Syndrome Day.

What's old is new again.

#SchoolNurses #schoolnursing
#downsyndromeawareness
#disabilityawareness
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

When We Choose Identity-first Language, Are We Choosing Othering? It is still Down Syndrome Awareness Month, so, in honor of Sheila I will keep mentioning it.

What we say matters. How we say it, also matters. Why I stand by people-first language.

#downsyndromeawareness #disabilityawareness
handsonnursinginagermfactory.substack.com/p/when-we-ch...

If We Could Wear Magic Glasses… would we see each other’s roles with more compassion and understanding?

When school nurses and teachers cannot agree; what can you do to improve communication?
#schoolnursing #SchoolNurses

open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

Is Having a Disability a Gift or a Tragedy? Hands On Nursing in a Germ Factory is a reader-supported publication.

It’s still Down syndrome Awareness month. Is having a child with a disability life ending? No. Is it life altering? Yes, in a positive way.
#downsyndromeawareness #downsyndrome #disabilityawareness
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

Down Syndrome Awareness Month In Memory of our daughter with Down syndrome

We remember a light in our lives that remains a glowing light in a liminal space. We celebrate her life and all the love she radiated to all she knew.

#schoolnursing #SchoolNurses
#downsyndrome #downsyndromeawareness
#disabilityawareness

open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

“So Close!” “Rats!

Down syndrome awareness month and Sheila's 2nd deathiversary are right around the corner.

#downsyndrome #downsyndromeawareness #DisabilityAwareness
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

Sleep Hygiene: What Is It and Why Is It Important? Last week, I touched on the importance of getting enough sleep, and I discussed barriers that interfere with sleep.

Catching ZZZs by creating healthy sleep habits.

#SchoolNurses #schoolnursing #parenting
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

"Me Help!" Sheila was born with an extra helping gene along with her extra chromosome.

There are rewards to slowing down the completion of projects by involving children in the building process. Investment, engagement and pride are some of the rewards.

#downsyndrome #downsyndromeawareness
#disabilityawareness
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

Catching ZZZs at Night is Everyone’s Issue! This is an issue that comes up at every age level, in every grade, preschool through 12th grade.

When is sleeping in class a school nurse's issue? Or is it really an issue for counselors or admin?

#SchoolNurses #schoolnursing
Catching ZZZs at Night is Everyone’s Issue!
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

Still Dearly Loved Hands On Nursing in a Germ Factory is a reader-supported publication.

From camping trips to reminiscing about lockdowns and the back porch, Sheila remains present even after death.
#griefjourney #griefhealing #downsyndrome
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

Safety Tips for Parents and School Hands On Nursing in a Germ Factory is a reader-supported publication.

It’s that time of year when keeping children safe is all about “it takes a village..."
#SchoolNurses #schoolnursing
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

Peek-a-boo Hats... And other reminisces…

I don't always write about grief... directly. Sometimes it is a bit more obscured in the reminisces.
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

No Stickers Required Cultural Competence and School Nursing Best Practices should drive how we work in schools.

I believe in the importance of cultural competence and best practices in nursing, and I felt offended for every parent that might be triggered by an image included in this post.
#HealthPolitics #SchoolNurses #schoolnursing #culturalcompetence
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

The Ghosts of Holiday’s Past They whisper at the most inconvenient times. Reminders of a time gone by and then the float on by into the ethers.

The ghosts of summers past have been whispering and for a fleeting moment I "saw" Sheila sitting here.
#griefjourney
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

Marking the Passage of Time Whether you use "mile markers" or "chapters" (or any other name) how do you mark the passages in your life?

Marking time, every school nurse I know does it. (There are 180 more days before the end of the new school year.) How do you mark the passage of time?
#SchoolNursing #SchoolNurse
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

The Two Faces of Grief The comedy/tragedy masks that are a symbol for the theatre popped into my brain.

What does a smiling face have to do with grief?
Read on…
#GriefHealing

open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

One Ringy-Dingy, Two Ringy Dingies, and Good Gracious, Hello… When Should the School Nurse Call Home?

If you are a parent, please feel free to weigh in on when and how you would like to be notified of your child’s illness or injury.

#SchoolNurses
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

A Dream in Multiple Parts Having many dreams, even dreams that move from one scene to another any given night has long been a part of my sleeping hours.

Sometimes it is not all about Sheila, but it is all about Sheila.
Read on...
handsonnursinginagermfactory.substack.com/p/a-dream-in...

After six years of adding medical staff, the VA this year is down more than 600 doctors and about 1,900 nurses. The number of doctors on staff has declined each month since President Donald Trump took office. The agency also lost twice as many nurses as it hired between January and June, records viewed by ProPublica show.

Trump admin says everything is hunky-dory at the VA.

But we found that the number of doctors at VA has dropped each month since Trump took office.

Nurses are way down too

We got the records.

www.propublica.org/article/vete...

by @davidarmstrongx.bsky.social @vernalcoleman.bsky.social and me.

New School Nurses? Here’s Information to Get Started. It would be nice if every new school nurse received some type of orientation, but that is not a reality for most.

Substack has a new Run a Title Test feature. Readers selected my alternate title.
#SchoolNurses #schoolnursing
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

What Happens When You Think You Have All the Time in the World? I suspected when Sheila was little that she would predecease us.

Life doesn’t always give us everything we want. It is not what you get in life, it is how you live with what you are given, that counts the most.
#downsyndromeawareness #disabilityawareness
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

Keeping Cool on Hot Days Why it’s so important…

Finding cool ways to still have plenty outdoor time.
#SchoolNurses #SchoolNursing
#DisabilityAwareness
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

And the Day Sheila Returned Part 2 of: The Day the She-Devil Came to Visit

Part 2 of The Day the She-Devil Came to Visit

#SchoolNurses #schoolnursing
#DownSyndrome #DisabilityAwareness
And the Day Sheila Returned
open.substack.com/pub/handsonn...

The Day the She-Devil Came to Visit Part 1

Parenting daughters and hormones.
#SchoolNursing #DownSyndrome #DisabilityAwareness
handsonnursinginagermfactory.substack.com/p/the-day-th...

Ouchy, Wouchy, My Eyes Hurt, Momma What are two things your young children need to wear when they are outside playing?

The “eyes” have it this month. It’s their moment in the sun. Do they need protection from sun damage, too?
#SchoolNurses #SchoolNursing
handsonnursinginagermfactory.substack.com/p/ouchy-wouc...