What have I gotten myself into??? AAHHHH =)

[blackscrubs]

OK. As you all know, I am a new school nurse for elem, middle and high school. (about 750 kids) This is my first school nurse job. I went to my office yesterday to try and organize some things and OH MY!!! There are stacks among stacks among stacks of papers. Some stuff is dates 08-09, etc. I look at all of this paperwork and I am starting to FREAK OUT!!! How often and what reports are due? I also have hardly anyroom for all of my stuff! UGH! PLease someone, give me some insight!!! Thanks!

[kidsnurse1969]

It depends on your location. Each state has it's own requirements. What state are you in?

[schooldistrictnurse]

Even though the stacks of papers are a pain, looking over them will give you a clue to what forms are used for medication authorizations, IEP reports, annual health questionnaires, immunization reports, etc. As for the "old" stuff, I usually band things together at the end of the year with a "face sheet" that says SHRED IN 2013. Every state/school district has a different timeline for saving things--I save all forms for 7 yrs. The forms that are ready to be shredded go to a special ed class at the HS where they shred as a "job." As more and more things are done electronically, this will be less and less of an issue.

So I would recommend that you consider all that "stuff" as good resource material! Don't forget that the school secretaries are a font of information--if you went to them and said "what health related paperwork do parents get at the beginning of the year?" they may shed some light on your stacks and stacks.

good luck

[blackscrubs]

OK thanks! I am going to go to the Admin. office and get them to do a "health" word search on documents. I am in Texas. Thanks for the input!!!

[bergren]

Find out of your state holds a school nurse orientation STAT.

Join your state association http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=60

and also ask if they have a mentoring program.

Good luck!!!!