Implementing new programs

SaltineQueen · Sep 19, 2017

Ummm...first... Holy cow! That's a lot of kids a day for your size school!

Second, seems like you're doing a fantastic job already. One thing I do is "Tasting Tables." Every other month or so, or however often it works out, we choose a fruit or vegatable for kids to try & then vote on whether or not they like it. I try to pick things that most kids wouldn't be exposed to, to try to widen their fruit/veg repitoir. I also do a "Family Fitness Challenge" in February (heart month) where kids are challenged to exercise at least 20-30 minutes a day with family. Then I choose a winner from each grade level with the most participation days & they get some sort of healthy activity/game type prize.

SaltineQueen · Sep 20, 2017

Thanks so much for the suggestions! I will be starting newsletters this year :)

If your population has access to computers/smart phones you could also do a website with health topics & other information on it. Ours is hosted through webs.com for free.

NurseMrn · Sep 20, 2017

Ummm...first... Holy cow! That's a lot of kids a day for your size school!
Second, seems like you're doing a fantastic job already. One thing I do is "Tasting Tables." Every other month or so, or however often it works out, we choose a fruit or vegatable for kids to try & then vote on whether or not they like it. I try to pick things that most kids wouldn't be exposed to, to try to widen their fruit/veg repitoir. I also do a "Family Fitness Challenge" in February (heart month) where kids are challenged to exercise at least 20-30 minutes a day with family. Then I choose a winner from each grade level with the most participation days & they get some sort of healthy activity/game type prize.

Yes, it is RIDICULOUS. I sent out my staff email yesterday morning about health office visits, and yesterday I saw FOURTEEN kids! (not including my 17 med kids). We will see how long it lasts... lol

And I like the Family Fitness Challenge idea! Our school has a grant that gives us health fruit/vegetable Thursdays. So they do get to try new things then :)

Apples&Oranges · Sep 21, 2017

The way I was first introduced to school nursing was as agency. I was asked to come in for a few days to assist with routine screenings so that the regular school nurse could concentrate on her job, while I took on the "special project" of vision, hearing, etc. Well, they liked me, and I liked them, I started getting calls to sub, and then became the permanent sub when the HS nurse left unexpectedly.

This might be something to suggest, if your admin wants you to take on special projects, great! Can you ask for some temp/agency help while you work on that? Even looking into what agency costs per hour might make them rethink your value (60$/hr cost to district seems standard, not that I ever saw that much in my measly paycheck...)

If you're super lucky, they will actually agree to it, and you'll be able to spend some time working on amazing things...either way, it may be a win!

NurseMrn · Sep 21, 2017

We have a float nurse for the district. However, some of the other nurses take full advatange and have her scheduled at their schools every week, so it can be difficult to get her. She is the one who will come when I am doing heights, weights, vision, and hearing! The whole float nurse has been a big issue... especially when it comes to absences. We are supposed to put in our absence... they try to get a sub (the ONE we have lol), if she is unavailable we are supposed to try for an angency nurse, and if all else fails THEN the float nurse covers. Bass ackwards if you ask me!!!!