Ride alongs

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · May 30, 2014

Glad seat belts are mandated on all school buses in my state. There are regulations regarding tie-downs and who is responsible ( ultimately the driver, aide is trained but driver is not to move vehicle until all passengers are safely & appropriately secured). There are harnesses parents & school staff are trained to apply (for the more wiggly students too big for the car seats) and must be secured by bus staff

One nurse indicates patient loaded onto bus & secured but her syntax implies she did it... not a good thing if there is a problem.

CloudySue · May 30, 2014

i personally enjoy helping a client w schoolwork, but I feel a mild resentment that the teachers take advantage of a nurse like that when it's probably known to them that it's not what we're there for. Helping a client paint or play is ok. But when I'm asked to do something "complex" that requires specialized training for the educator, to me that's a crossed line.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · May 30, 2014

i personally enjoy helping a client w schoolwork, but I feel a mild resentment that the teachers take advantage of a nurse like that when it's probably known to them that it's not what we're there for. Helping a client paint or play is ok. But when I'm asked to do something "complex" that requires specialized training for the educator, to me that's a crossed line.

Exactly. Fortunately many teachers agree while unfortunately some TA's & teachers see PDN as free help & am extra adult.

I have ONE person in the room who I am responsible for their health & safety. I am not there as an extra aide for other children. I will alert staff to a potential safety issue but I will not leave my patient to intervene. (Say a runner child who is trying to scale a bookcase while I am preparing to admin a resp tx & suction my patient who has increased secretions...)

Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B · May 30, 2014

SDALPN, we just had a big double bus accident where I live. They large bus ran through a stop sign! T-boned a mini bus which turned on it's side, thank goodness injuries were minor. Scary stuff.

School busses are amazingly safe. They are fully framed and steel belted around the sides. The seats are compartmental, and placed to prevent travel in accidents. Not so good in rollovers, but a heck of a lot better than commercial busses. Commercial busses are not framed and collapse like paper cups in accidents.

Sounds like you on the right track OP. Keep your role clear at school and avoid the drama. You may not see it, but schools are deep pools of drama.

I use my phone, to type, I work at night, and I'm a bad speller. Pick any reason you want for my misspellings

ceebeejay · May 31, 2014

I cannot imagine school buses without seat belts. They are required in my state as well.

I have always avoided drama, which is why I never make many "friends". However, I don't make many enemies either! Unfortunately, I haven't figured out the whole "networking" middle ground.

Now that I think about it, my wording probably sounded like I belted the patient in as well. Definitely fixing that going forward.

I am pleased with the two new agencies I signed up with. They show up and inspect, they are very clear about the assignments, they call in to see if all is well, written policies, just a good vibe at both ends. And, they have lots of work - in the day time *gasp*. LOL!

Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN · May 31, 2014

I for sure agree with the person who said to communicate with your RN sup. In the school district I worked in (I could only hope no other districts are like this) they wanted no info coming in and out. So, whenever I informed Mom or RN sup about anything, it caused a poo storm of controversy. This was sort of a unique situation. Also, this school had no school nurse...just a district wide school nurse supervisor person. The normal situation is that if a student needed medical intervention, the parents would consent to have a paraprofessional trained in whatever was needed (seizure observation/recognition, Diastat administration, etc) and that person would be provided to the student as a government service.

In my patient's case, the parent staunchly refused, claiming that wasn't sufficient (and she is right, because the seizure rescue med her daughter takes isn't Diastat and is actually not something a para can give.) She elected to use her home hours in school, which eventually got denied.

As far as the microwave issue, because their was so much animosity, the staff said I couldn't leave the patient's side because the microwave was in the staff lounge over a 5 minute walk away. If the patient had a grand mal seizure lasting over 2 minutes and needed the rescue med...well, you get the

idea. And my agency actually ended up just asking me to bring things that could be eaten as is. And then, the principal called the agency and said I could only eat when the students did.

So, there was all that.

idea.

ceebeejay · Jun 1, 2014

Adele_Michal7, that sounds difficult. I don't plan to use the microwave or the coffee machine. It's just my thing. I prefer to be self contained.

smartnurse1982 · Jun 1, 2014

Wow,great info Beachy!

It NEVER occurred to me to question why i has to secure the w/c instead of the driver.

There is only 1 driver and no other bus aide.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jun 1, 2014

Wow,great info Beachy!
It NEVER occurred to me to question why i has to secure the w/c instead of the driver.
There is only 1 driver and no other bus aide.

It's not your job. Let your agency know as if it were your job they would be responsible to train you.

smartnurse1982 · Jun 2, 2014

It's not your job. Let your agency know as if it were your job they would be responsible to train you.

I think i was just dealing with a lazy bus driver haha.

I only did that case as a fill in 2 weeks ago.