List Monitor Role

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NASN Discussion Lists improve communication among members, offer a forum for exchanging ideas, promote NASN and other resources to members to improve practice and allow members to benefit from the experience, knowledge, and wisdom of their peers....

List Monitors are the face and personality of NASN to our subspecialty groups! The List Monitor shall: 

• Monitor and stimulate the list discussion when a list is first started or if it has had no postings in two weeks, such as:
  1. Are asking people to introduce themselves;
  2. Posting grant notices;
  3. Mentioning an interesting item in the media or business specific to the list; or
  4. Providing information on Congressional activity.
• Invite members to join by:
  1. Occasionally submitting an invitation to the NASN Digest;
  2. Posting an item to the SCHLRN-L discussion list inviting them to join; or
  3. Inviting members to post topics that come up and are suited for the list.
• Promote NASN resources by posting items developed by NASN or published in the Journal of School Nursing or NASN School Nurse that are specific to the interests of the lists’ members.
• Ensure that, when speaking to a subject, the audience knows the monitor is speaking as an individual, not for NASN. List Monitors are not asked to assume expert status.  Reference can be made to NASN position statements, issue briefs, publications, and online resources.
• Promote evidence-based practice by discouraging erroneous information and opinions when evidence for practice is warranted and by asking for a citation or reference or other resources to support best practice.
• Alert the vice president if a timely issue or a member need is raised in discussion that NASN should address.
• Prepare an annual report covering the period of May 1st – April 30th that includes number of messages posted, number of list members, topics that are popular, and what subjects appear to need more education/resources/policy. Make recommendations for new lists, discontinuing lists, or merging lists as appropriate.
• Maintain civility on the list by sending a quarterly message to the list reminding members of list rules located at www.nasn.org under Discussion Lists. This information may also be sent to individuals who violate the rules of behavior for the lists. As to some members, the list is the face of NASN, it could reflect badly on the organization if members are not treated appropriately. Removal can be requested for inappropriate posts, rude behavior, or commercial posts.
• Notify the list administrator of any technical difficulties. The administrator does not belong to the list and therefore does not participate in the discussion. The administrator does, however, receive all technical correspondence generated by the list software.
• Co-host with the vice president a discussion list meeting for members at the NASN annual conference if possible.

Resources for List Monitors:

1. Annual Discussion List Monitor report due by June 1st.
   - Prepare your annual report ahead of time and save it to your computer.
   - Find the number of messages posted between May 1st and April 30th by going to your list's archives (see below for more information).
   - Find the number of subscribers by going to the administrative side of the list software (see below for more information).
   - Don't use any special formatting because your report will be entered into a Web form that does not accept formatted text.  
   - Copy your report into the Web-based form online at https://portal.nasn.org/members_online/submissions/substart.asp.
2. Go to the Archives to find the number of messages and popular topics of discussion.
    - Links to archives for NASN member lists can be found on this page Lists for NASN Members.
    - A link to the archives for SCHLRN-L can be found on this page SCHLRN-L.
    - A link to the archives for the Oral Health Forum can be found on this page Oral Health Forum.
    - Links to the archives for NASN leader lists can be found on this page Lists for NASN Leaders.
3. Go to the Administrative side of the list software to find the number of subscribers.
   - Go to http://lists.nasn.org
   - Enter your email address and your list monitor password.  If you do not remember your password, enter something and try to enter.  If it is wrong, there will be a password reminder feature that displays.  Click the reminder feature and have your password emailed to you or reset.