[AZDesertNurse]

I have been a nurse for two years in med/surg at a hospital and was really getting burned out. I work nights, 7p-7a, and was a walking zombie from these hours plus was paying an arm and a leg for a babysitter (I'm a single mom). Switching to days wasn't really an option, as I then would have been gone from 6am-9pm, as we never get out of work at 7, and that would have been even worse on my family life. I was also tired of having patient loads so heavy that I didn't feel I could even do a good job, and tired of being verbally abused by doctors. So when I saw the posting for the school nurse position, I started to think this was the way to go. I've always loved working with children, although I decided early on that acute pediatrics was not for me, as I don't think I could handle seeing children in pain and suffering day in and day out. I think school nursing could be a happy medium. I could actually be home with my kids when they are home, and sleep when they sleep so I'm not a walking zombie all the time. I applied for the position, and was notified after my interview with the principal on Friday that they were offering me the position. Now I'm having some anxiety about this. First of all, I did not know that this school was so big. They will start the year with 1350+ students in the fall (K-6th grade). They are going to give me a full-time health assistant because the school is so big. It just feels overwhelming. When the principal was showing me around the office, there was a substitute nurse that day. When she heard that I was applying for the position, her eyes bugged out of her head and she told me it was very busy in comparison to other schools, as she had substituted at lots of schools before. Can any of you tell me if your job was tough to learn when you were starting out? Do you ever feel overwhelmed, like there is so much to do that you cannot possibly get everything done well no matter how hard you try? That is how I feel now at my current job and that is my biggest complaint. I cannot ever possibly be happy unless I feel that I am doing a good job of whatever it is I am taking on. Also, what is the hardest part of your job? Most frustrating? I just want to know what I am getting myself into. If anyone has any suggestions for me, I would appreciate anything you have to say.

[bergren]

Is this starting immediately?

Take it.

That is a big school, but with the health assistant, it does put you in the range of the recommended ratio of 750:1. I'd ask about the percent of special education and your role in contributing to the IEPs, how many kids in the building have IEPs and how many medically fragile and chroniclly ill children there are in that group. Ask specifically about tube feedings, catheterizations, vents or trachs, diabetics, kids with seizures, CF needing chest percussion / vest treatments and asthmatics needing nebulizing treatments. It is possible that the school would have none of the above, but also possible that it could have quite a few. If you do not know what an IEP is, don't worry, most should have been done by this time of the year and you can get up to speed before the fall.

You will need to delegate the "traffic" in the office to the health assistant, so you can spend time on planning the screenings and completing care plans. Right from the start do not get bogged down in the skinned knees and paper cuts. You will want to track the number of bandaid type kids who are being sent right from the start and institute a program where the teachers get basic bandaid supplies and guidelines on who not to send to the school nurse. Also try to delegate the immunization tracking in the fall to the health assitant and you would get involved only with those families that need some prodding or assistance.

Ask for a mentor and orientation in the district. If starting immediately, ask to spend one day with the mentor and then for a sub experienced in that school to be with you for the first 2 - 3 days.

Contact your state organization and ask about summer conferences and state orientation. Join. It looks like you are in Arizona and they have a strong state organization. http://www.snoa.org/ The SNOA Summer Conference, JULY 17, 18, 19, 2006 You could even ask them if they have a mentor program. Some of the state organizations do.

Good luck!!!!!!! Of course there is a learning curve at first, but it sounds like you are ready for a change.

[AZDesertNurse]

Wow Martha, thanks so much, you've really given me some great suggestions and I appreciate your input. The position actually does not start immediately, I'll be starting the last week in July, two weeks before the first day of school for the year. The current nurse is moving out of state over the summer. I think I will call her on Monday and see if I can spend some time shadowing her and helping out sometime this week. Hopefully, she will appreciate the extra pair of hands and I'll take a ton of notes. I'll take with me the questions about the IEPs (and no, I don't know what that is ). Thanks again Martha, I'll be back to pick your brain (hope you don't mind )

[bergren]

No I don't mind and the other experts on this lsit with loads of experience I am sure will add some more tips. "I
can spend some time shadowing her and helping out sometime this week" excellent idea!!!!! After you accept the job, ask them to pay you for those days.

[-Midget-]

What is the school nurses role in IEP meetings? I'd like to know...if you don't mind shedding some light on that, Martha.