I got the job! Can you share any tips?

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I am so excited I got the job as a high school nurse with 1500 students, but I have so much to figure out! I want to start the year out right. I got several books on school nursing but they are all so dry and academic. I just want the basics of how to deal with the job in the real world. Something that explains questions such as what I need to have on file to meet state laws and what date to have it by. What kind of teacher education I should plan for the beginning of the year? How can I make a good first impression? How to plan the day? What kind of documentation should I have--how detailed? What kind of special programs school nurses have done? Tricky legalities and how to "CYA."

I just have a lot of questions that I can't find in my books.

Can you share any tips with me to get me started? I won't have much in terms of an orientation, so I am trying to figure stuff out on my own.

Thanks!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Congrats!

ok... now take a breath and focus on one thing at a time.

Are there other schools in that district? If so, get to know those nurses - they can help you out with the district specific stuff such as inservices and policies.

If there aren't, then call some local school nurses and make some friends close by. They may not be able to give you an exact on your district's info, but can get you headed in the right direction.

What are your health records like? Computerized? Paper? If it's computerized, take some time to learn the ins and outs of the program - it can really be a timesaver. As fas as detail in documentation - make it as detailed as it needs to be, and no more. If i see a kid with a paper cut, it's brief and basic. If i see a kid c/o chest pain then it's a lot more detailed. It follows the bvasic rule of doxcument exactly what you saw and what you did. The difference here is that you have a lot more interaction with parents. Don't let your personal feelings towards the parents affect your charting.

Research, either via your states dept of ed or health dept - or even a new school nurse buddy , what the state requirements are for health screenings. In my state we have screenings due at certain grades. you can then mastermind the best way to get them done. (hint: Phys ed classes are helpful ways to contact each student - at least in my state they are as it's required of each student each semester)

Organization is key in school nursing - it helps with follow up and avoiding an issue before it becomes a problem.

Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions. you are new there, so take advantage.

Good luck. You can always contact anyone on this forum - we all check it throughout the day.

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Thank you firefightingRN! You must have sensed my feeling a little overwhelmed. I am taking a plunge into a deep pool and hoping I will able to swim! I have a lot to learn, and I know that this will not be an easy job. With all the budget cuts, I have been told there is not money for me to attend the school nurse workshops this summer. I am probably going to bite the bullet and pay for it myself because I know very little about Medicaid billing or state laws concerning school health. Will I be billing Medicaid? I assume I will because it was one of the topics at the upcoming school nurse workshop. But, at the moment I would have no idea how to do that.

On another note, my sister just told me that some schools are charging $25 a month to have personal items plugged into the school's electricity. Are you seeing crazy things like that? The budget cuts around here are so sad. I am pleased with my new salary considering the time off but the scale only shows $200 pay increases a year for the next 9 years. Is that because they adjust the scales every year or so to account for the cost of living? I know they scale did not budge from 2009/2010 to 2010/2011. I sure hope that there will be more adjustments, or I will only make $2000 more than I do now in 2020. Ouch! It seems after ten years experience the raises get significantly better. But I wonder why they are so hard on us until then. Education is a different world than business or the hospital and I have more to learn about the cultures and traditions they have.

Thanks for your insights! This will be a great adventure!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i can't help you with medicaid claims - we don't do them in this state. If there is a workshop, you may want to inquire with your district or a local SN as to how much of this you actually do before shelling out the cash for the workshop.

As far as the fee for the electricity... are you f'ing kidding me! Are they going to charge for water by the flush too? I've never seen that here - but on the other hand, i seldom have any electronics of my own to plug in, save for an occasionl charge to my cell phone and a space heater on the super super cold days.

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immediately make friends with the custodians............ they know the ins and outs of the school better than anyone else. not kidding. :cool:

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Specializes in DD, PD/Agency Peds, School Sites.
immediately make friends with the custodians............ they know the ins and outs of the school better than anyone else. not kidding. :cool:

As a former school teacher, I cannot agree with you more!

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