History of OSHNA
The Overseas School Health Nurses’ Association (OSHNA) started in 1976 as an answer to the isolation that school nurses working in Department of Defense Schools in Germany were feeling. The group met four times a year to share ideas, form policies, hear guest speakers, and discuss ways of improving school health services. Through dedication and hard work by pioneering members, a constitution was written and adopted in 1980. OSHNA was then approved as an organization to operate in military communities overseas. Early presidents of OSHNA included Rhoda Lichtenstein in 1978, Jan Schultz and Muriel Pinkney in 1979, Diane Latanzio and Vivian Blaylock in 1980. For a complete list of past OSHNA Presidents, see the PDF document below.
Some of the notable projects in the early days of OSHNA included revising the DoDDS School Health Nurses Guide and yearly conferences for continuing education units. In 1982, OSHNA divided into cluster groups with cluster leaders to help solve the problem of nurses traveling great distances for OSHNA meetings. The cluster groups were also to help with orientation programs for new school nurses on a local basis. The original intention was for OSHNA to continue to meet at a big group at least once a year at a conference. In November 1987, the steering committee voted to affiliate with NASN.
OSHNA became politically involved in the 1990's when small schools were replacing school nurses with health technicians who had the same job description as a school nurse without a requirement to be a registered nurse. OSHNA sought the help with this staffing problem from NASN, the Federal Education Association, and the European Congress of Parents, Teachers, and Students.
By the early 1990’s, OSHNA held conferences annually in Europe for DoDDS school nurses. Later, European International School Nurses expressed interest in OSHNA, which led to international school nurses being able to take advantage of conferences and networking opportunities. In 1995, a few European DoDDS Nurses transferred to the Pacific and introduced OSHNA to the DoDDS school nurses on the other side of the world. Leadership positions and availability of professional development via conferences remained centered in Europe into the early 2000’s.
The introduction of social media and an upgrade to the website in 2013 paved the way for increased participation from DoDDS and International school nurses world-wide. Meetings could no longer be held in one location with Board members across the globe. OSHNA board meetings were brought into the 21st Century utilizing virtual meetings via a computer software program to allow for real-time board meetings inclusive of all board members from a number of countries.
OSHNA’s first President from the Pacific area, Lily Bagtas, brought professional development opportunities to Pacific School Nurses in DoDDS and International Schools with the 2014 Tokyo conference. OSHNA again recognized the need for providing educational opportunities while considering travel cost restraints and the nurses’ geographical area in 2016. As a result, in-person, professional development and networking opportunities for overseas school nurses became a reality for both the Pacific and European nurses on an annual basis. OSHNA continued its dedication to the nursing profession by developing its first, annual Nursing Scholarship in 2017. This scholarship opportunity is geared to encouraging the nursing profession for high school students, living outside the United States.
OSHNA honors its members who go above and beyond with the annual School Nurse of the Year award. The first OSHNA School Nurse of the Year was awarded in 1993. Members in good standing prepare a professional portfolio for evaluation by a panel of previous OSHNA School Nurse of the Year winners. OSHNA submits the winning portfolio to NASN to be honored at the annual convention and to compete with school nurses from other affiliates.
Some of the notable projects in the early days of OSHNA included revising the DoDDS School Health Nurses Guide and yearly conferences for continuing education units. In 1982, OSHNA divided into cluster groups with cluster leaders to help solve the problem of nurses traveling great distances for OSHNA meetings. The cluster groups were also to help with orientation programs for new school nurses on a local basis. The original intention was for OSHNA to continue to meet at a big group at least once a year at a conference. In November 1987, the steering committee voted to affiliate with NASN.
OSHNA became politically involved in the 1990's when small schools were replacing school nurses with health technicians who had the same job description as a school nurse without a requirement to be a registered nurse. OSHNA sought the help with this staffing problem from NASN, the Federal Education Association, and the European Congress of Parents, Teachers, and Students.
By the early 1990’s, OSHNA held conferences annually in Europe for DoDDS school nurses. Later, European International School Nurses expressed interest in OSHNA, which led to international school nurses being able to take advantage of conferences and networking opportunities. In 1995, a few European DoDDS Nurses transferred to the Pacific and introduced OSHNA to the DoDDS school nurses on the other side of the world. Leadership positions and availability of professional development via conferences remained centered in Europe into the early 2000’s.
The introduction of social media and an upgrade to the website in 2013 paved the way for increased participation from DoDDS and International school nurses world-wide. Meetings could no longer be held in one location with Board members across the globe. OSHNA board meetings were brought into the 21st Century utilizing virtual meetings via a computer software program to allow for real-time board meetings inclusive of all board members from a number of countries.
OSHNA’s first President from the Pacific area, Lily Bagtas, brought professional development opportunities to Pacific School Nurses in DoDDS and International Schools with the 2014 Tokyo conference. OSHNA again recognized the need for providing educational opportunities while considering travel cost restraints and the nurses’ geographical area in 2016. As a result, in-person, professional development and networking opportunities for overseas school nurses became a reality for both the Pacific and European nurses on an annual basis. OSHNA continued its dedication to the nursing profession by developing its first, annual Nursing Scholarship in 2017. This scholarship opportunity is geared to encouraging the nursing profession for high school students, living outside the United States.
OSHNA honors its members who go above and beyond with the annual School Nurse of the Year award. The first OSHNA School Nurse of the Year was awarded in 1993. Members in good standing prepare a professional portfolio for evaluation by a panel of previous OSHNA School Nurse of the Year winners. OSHNA submits the winning portfolio to NASN to be honored at the annual convention and to compete with school nurses from other affiliates.
30 Years of OSHNA Presidents
| oshna_presidents_1978_to_2021.docx |
