Resource books for new school nurse

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Hello, I'm also hoping to be a new school nurse. Have 2 interviews next week. I've had several years of nursing background, such as private-duty pediatric nursing and some office nursing. But I'd really like advice on which are the most necessary reference books for a starter in this field. I'm applying for LPN jobs so won't have to make plans of care, but will do first aid and help with screenings. Which books might help most on assessment and course of action for school-age kids, plus other info you need to know? (I already have "Manual of School Health")? Thanks!

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"I'm applying for LPN jobs so won't have to make plans of care, but will do first aid and help with screenings. "

Are you an RN? If so, you are responsible for care planning under many of the state nurse practice acts even if it is not in your job description. You will need to check on that. In order to not have RN accountability, you have to let your RN license go inactive, but then you would not qualify for the LPN jobs as you will have no license.

"Which books might help most on assessment and course of action for school-age kids?"

The best book for that is:

Individualized healthcare plans for the school nurse. C. Silkworth, M. Arnold, J. Harrigan, & D. Zaiger (Eds). North Branch, MN: Sunrise River Press

There is also:

Selekman, J. (2006). School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text. Philadelphia : F.A. Davis Publishing. http://www.nasn.org

NASN also recommends Well Child Assessment for Primary Care Providers. Margaret R. Colyar, DSN, ARPN, C-FNP/C-PNP, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. http://www.nasn.org

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Thank you for your response! I am an R.N. without school nurse certification who will be working under the school nurse in an LPN position. I looked at the WA state nurse practice act, which does have the basic practice for all types of R.N.s to include planning care. Does that translate that I would be doing ICPs even though it's not in the job description?

Thanks for your book recommendations. What about a pediatric dermatology book (such as Color Atlas & Synopsis of Pediatric Dermatology - Ryder,Johnson, Baden, Stratigos Kane), or the Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools (American Academy of Pediatrics)?

The resource you mentioned on ICPs I know is highly recommended, but it's much less expensive to get The School Nurse's Source Book of Individualized health care plans vol. 2, 1999. What do you think?

You mentioned Well Child Assessment for Primary Care Providers. I'm wondering if it's got the info we need for real-life assessment with kids who have symptoms. Someone in the book review on Amazon also mentioned there were pages missing or that page numbers were off, although maybe they just got a rare misprint.What about Health Assessment in Nursing, Morton, 1993? Or Pediatric Physical Examination: An Illustrated Handbook - Karen Duderstadt?

Thank you for all your help! Whoever has time to answer, I'd appreciate it. I'd like to order books as soon as I'm sure I'm getting the job.

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I would not buy a care planning book that is 11 years old. Conventional wisdom says that by the time a book goes to press, the information in it is 5 years old. The 2005 Silkworth et al. book was published by the same publisher and the intent at the time was to replace the 1999 Source Book.

" looked at the WA state nurse practice act, which does have the basic practice for all types of R.N.s to include planning care. Does that translate that I would be doing ICPs even though it's not in the job description? "

That is usually what that means. You should call your Board of Nursing.

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Thanks so much for the insight!

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