What info for sub nurses?

Specialties School

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I'll be doing a training on Thursday and Friday this week, so my school is getting a sub! What information do I need to leave for them?

I have a folder from the nurse last year, but it's fairly sporifice, and I'm trying to update it.

I've got a list of my scheduled meds, the students, the meds, and the locations of the meds and the students at the time of administration.

I'm also making a list of my PRN meds.

And I'm making a list of my equipment and the locations on where to find it.

What else should I make note of? Good times to eat? Where the staff lounge is? I want to make it as easy as possible for the sub nurse. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of written medical policies, (that I'm trying to change!), so I can't provide that type of info.

Thanks for your input!

Tell the sub nurse who your frequent flyers are. I leave that for my nurse.

Make sure you have the care plans readily available, list of any children that have restrictions/exemptions, & maybe a sheet that she/he needs to start/end of day (where keys are located, how to open & close clinic, clinic hours, etc.).

Specializes in School Nursing, Hospice,Med-Surg.

I have a little set-up and break-down routine I go through every morning and afternoon (un/locking drawers/closet, getting ice, med count, etc). I've listed that out in steps and put it in a notebook for my sub along with my daily meds and instructions for my diabetic student and epileptic student. I have schedules printed out for my routine med kids in case they don't show up and she needs to hunt them down.

I have passwords for my computer, voicemail, etc in case she needs to check anything.

Specializes in School Nurse.

I have the extensions of the office staff, your extension, the lead nurse extension, and who to notify in an emergency. I have a Special Procedure section, Evacuation/Drills section, and Student & Staff to keep an eye on section. Phew.

I have each of the class pictures in a binder with little symbols on them, the key is in "sub binder". The binder also has: list of kiddos with emergency care plans, daily meds, PRN meds, and a list of things going on with different kids (concussions, fakes sick and mom said no vomit, no fever has to stay). I keep a master schedule and a list of phone numbers with it as well. All of my drawers and cabinets are labeled, so I don't worry about the sub not being able to find things.

After subbing for years, here are some of my ideas. Leave the phone number and address of the school on your desk.When I would call the parents of sick kids it is handy to have the return phone number in front of you and the address in case it's grandparents picking up. Also the names of the secretaries in the front office, they are especially helpful when you can't find something. Location of emergency cards of all the students. A map of the school and exits for fire drills. Policy for who can pickup sick kids, in our school we still need to notify parents and receive an email from them even if someone on the emergency card is picking up. Good Luck!

Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

I have a detailed schedule of my daily kids.

When to fill out an accident report and what to do with it afterward.

Cabinets are all labeled.

I have a list of all medications in my school, who the kid is, and what grade they are in.

I have a list of medication trained staff.

I have a list of all allergies in the school.

I have a nursing assessment sheet that is filled out on kids that come in when the sub is here (full time uses computer), and I scan them in later.

Our sub nurses shadow each school when they are hired, kinda gives them an idea of where things are, how things flow.

Specializes in School nurse.

Your cell number lol. The only other thing I can think to add to the extensive list presented is location of aed's and instructions for looking up a student if you have EHR.

Your cell number lol.

I usually do this but once I ended up on the phone with a sub nurse for over two hours because she knew NOTHING about computers. I had to talk her through clicking on the firefox icon. All while trying to attend to my own sick kid. :wacky:

Your cell number lol. The only other thing I can think to add to the extensive list presented is location of aed's and instructions for looking up a student if you have EHR.

I didn't even think of that! I'll be out at training, but it's probably a good thing to provide just in case.

I usually do this but once I ended up on the phone with a sub nurse for over two hours because she knew NOTHING about computers. I had to talk her through clicking on the firefox icon. All while trying to attend to my own sick kid. :wacky:

Oye, that's when you try and wrangle someone at the school to help!

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