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NASN Statement on Uvalde, Texas School Shooting
Silver Spring, MD May 26, 2022 - The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) laments the killing of 19 children and 2 teachers in the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, TX. The grief unleashed by this violence forever changes the lives of family members, the school community, and the greater community.
Annually, more than 3,500 children and teens (ages 0 to 19) are shot and killed, and 15,000 are shot and wounded—that’s an average of 52 American children and teens every day. An estimated three million children witness a shooting each year.
“We need meaningful action to keep our schools safe, action that addresses what we know about gun violence in America’s schools and prevents it from occurring in the first place,” said Linda Mendonca, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC, NCSN, FNASN.
NASN recognizes that actions are needed to protect the lives of children, adolescents, and adults. To that end, NASN’s strategy includes
- Champion frontline school nurses and school nurse administrators as they support their school districts and schools by promoting the prevention and reduction of school violence.
- Elevate and continue advocacy efforts and collaboration with organizations and coalitions that support safe school environments.
- Support public health efforts that impact students, families, and school communities.
- Share resources for school communities to address gun violence.
Resources
- Psychological Impact of the Recent Shooting - This document from the NCTSN lists reactions people may have to a shooting and related experiences (such as loss of loved ones and disruption of routines). It describes grief reactions, depression, and physical reactions, and it highlights ways to cope effectively with reactions to a shooting.
- Survivors and Witnesses After Traumatic Events - A product of Voices Center for Resilience, a nonprofit formed after the attacks of September 11, 2001, this tip sheet for the public provides basic information about common effects of exposure to acts of violence, civil unrest, or terrorism. It identifies steps disaster-affected individuals can take in the immediate aftermath of a crisis, common reactions to disasters, and tips for coping and asking for help.
- Psychological First Aid: Teachers and Educators - Designed for personnel at schools that have experienced an incident of violence or a natural disaster, this tip sheet describes how teachers and educators may experience disasters and how PFA can help. PFA is an evidence-informed, modular approach that can be used to assist disaster survivors. The tip sheet offers ideas for teachers to take care of themselves and support others in the school community in coping and healing after disasters.
- Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after the Recent Shooting - In this 3-page tip sheet released shortly after a shooting, the NCTSN describes how such an event may affect children and teens as well as parents and other caregivers. The tip sheet lists reactions common among people of all ages, offers coping tips for caregivers, and suggests ways for caregivers to support children and youth in talking about and managing their reactions.
This resource is available in Spanish.
- Talking to Children about the Shooting - In this tip sheet, the NCTSN provides suggestions to parents and other caregivers for talking with their children in ways that help them to make sense of and cope with their reactions to a shooting. The tip sheet also identifies reactions common in children and teens to shooting incidents.
- Tips for Talking with and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers - This SAMHSA tip sheet can help parents, other caregivers, and teachers recognize and address problems in children and teens affected by a disaster. The tip sheet describes reactions that are common in young survivors at different ages, as well as how to help children cope with these reactions.
About NASN
The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) is a nonprofit specialty nursing organization, organized in 1968 and incorporated in 1977, representing school nurses exclusively. NASN has close to 18,000 members and 50 affiliates, including the District of Columbia and overseas. The mission of NASN is to optimize student health and learning by advancing the practice of school nursing. To learn more about NASN, please visit us on the Web at www.nasn.org or call 866-627-6767.
Media Contacts:
Jen McNally
Marketing Director
National Association of School Nurses
jmcnally@nasn.org