OUR HISTORY

   In 1985, Bernice Baxter, Director of School Health, Pennsylvania Department of Health conducted a conference for the School Nurse Practitioners in Pennsylvania. At the conference a group of practitioners, representing all the Health Department’s Regions, formed an ad hoc committee co-chaired by Dee Rorher and Doris Luckenbill. The committee’s objective was to form an organization that would provide continuing education credits for the Commonwealth’s School Nurse Practitioners.

   In May 1986, the constitution of the School Nurse Practitioners of Pennsylvania was adopted at its first annual conference. Doris Luckenbill was elected as the first President.

   In March of 1988 the Standards of School Nurse Practitioner Practice were co-authored by Bonnie Bendinsky, Dee Rorher and Doris Luckenbill.

   An annual conference was held in Harrisburg to provide the Continuing Education Credits needed to enhance the School Nurse Practitioners skills.

   A committee of nurse practitioners from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh chaired by Peggy Smith produced , “A Day In The Life Of A School Nurse” video in 1990.

   The constitution was rewritten in 1992 and at the annual meeting, the School Nurse Practitioners of Pennsylvania voted to open the active membership to certified school nurses and to affiliate and unify with the National Association of School Nurses. This was the first time that all the Certified School Nurses were unified under one organization.

   The first annual Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners Conference was held in Harrisburg in 1993. Over 200 Certified School Nurses and School Nurse Practitioners attended this first meeting with Bonnie Bendinsky presiding as President.  In the preceding months a Strategic Plan was developed with the main focus on continuing education and image enhancement.

   Our organization has had two presidents of the National Association of School Nurses, Vivian Haines and Doris Luckenbill.