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Specialties School

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Is the school nurse responsible for employees/teachers if they got hurt on the job? Do any of you school nurses have to clean any injuries up on teachers? Had a teacher come by my office asking me did I have anything to rinse her toe off with because she bumped it on the door. I told her the only thing I have is water. I guess she told the principle about her incident and that she came by my office. The office manager informs me that I have to clean any employee's wounds or whatever wrong if they get hurt on the job. Spoke with district nurse she says no that we are only here for the students if any employee gets hurt on the job they have to call this hotline number.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I will look or assist my co-workers/teachers if they need help, but we have a hotline like you for staff to call if they have gotten hurt on the JOB. My job is taking care of student's needs.

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I will look or assist my co-workers/teachers if they need help, but we have a hotline like you for staff to call if they have gotten hurt on the JOB. My job is taking care of student's needs.

Exactly but the school principal and office manager try to play me like I'm dumb saying I have to clean and put a bandage on staff if they get hurt just like I would the students but my district nurse told them they are adults they can clean their own cuts and whatever we are here for the students but if we want to be courtesy we could help

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

I don't really see the big deal. I would help a staff member who came to my office with an injury. That's just being a good friend/coworker. What good is a toll free number to call if you are bleeding? I mean, anything big, I would obviously insist they go to the ER or clinic, but little things, sure I'll patch them up. I'm a nurse...its what I do :)

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I will try to accommodate staff, not wanting to make any enemies, if I can. If there is a student in the clinic, I would direct the teacher to supplies and the sink. The students take priority.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I have to do the workers comp claims and reports for any and all work related injuries. If a staff member came in with a cut on their foot attained at work i can certainly help set them up but would expect that they could clean and put a bandaid on their own toe. If it required more a more skilled dressing, i would certainly assist them. If it's them still wanting something from an injury attained at home, i may note it, but no WC report.

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Specializes in kids.

What Flare said, the nurses in each building are responsible for making sure a WC form gets filed. I will help them help themself.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

As stated above, I'm responsible for any "immediate" medical attention that may be needed. Otherwise I don't have to look at, listen to, or offer an opinion about every cough, ear pain, malady, scrape, pustule, swelling, rash, eye problem, chest pain, bubonic plague symptoms, etc., etc...but I do, because I'm just such a nice SOB.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

By the by - one of the biggest challenges with the WC write ups is sometimes getting the staff to come to me for their injuries when they deem it unnecessary to. In my business admin's eyes - everything needs a report, which is fine, but the teachers don't want to be tied up in my office for 20 minutes doing paperwork and making a call just because they closed their finger in a filing cabinet drawer and wanted to put an icepack on it for 2 minutes.

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Specializes in School.
By the by - one of the biggest challenges with the WC write ups is sometimes getting the staff to come to me for their injuries when they deem it unnecessary to. In my business admin's eyes - everything needs a report, which is fine, but the teachers don't want to be tied up in my office for 20 minutes doing paperwork and making a call just because they closed their finger in a filing cabinet drawer and wanted to put an icepack on it for 2 minutes.

My favorite is walking down the hallway and teacher says "I did such and such (on the job injury)" Which I reply "Come to my office for paperwork so we can do a "Report only" so if you have issues and go the dr....." Then they say, "oh that's okay, I'm reporting it to you know." Nope, Nope, Nope. In about an hour I may forget our conversation not to mention on day 31 when you time has run out and I absolutely have no idea.

On treating, I will give them supplies to help themselves and/or help as needed. My teachers here are great. They come flying in tell what they need and I tell them where to find it.

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As long as there aren't students waiting, we take care of the teachers and staff. Not because we are required to, we just do. Just had one that cut her hand at home this morning and bled through the bandaids. A butterfly and band aid and she was on her way. She was also thankful that we could help.

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I assist with major incidents, otherwise I point to the sink, soap, antiseptic wash and bandaids - the teachers can doctor themselves up. When it comes to WC paperwork I am not responsible for filling out the forms or turning them in - my job is to print the forms, give them contact info, remind them not to use personal health insurance and direct them to the nearest URgent care clinics or Hospitals that are approved to handle our districts WC cases. Employee is then responsible for filing out the paperwork and faxing/emailing into our Risk Mgmt peeps.

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