Boredom on the job-- creative activities for school nurse down time

Hi there-
Well, funny you should ask...Yes, I do get bored sometimes, too. Right now I'm in a new building (for me) so there's still a lot to scope out in my down time, just getting to know the students & staff.

Let's see - if there's no "sicklings" coming in, no more care plans (that I know of) that need done, etc, I try to find something work-related to read or start jotting month-by-month To-Do's for NEXT year....and I'm pretty sure that's how you fill in the free time, too!

There's usually some ways that I can help out the office staff, but, I'm not real fond of busy work.

I'd love to have some sort of theme each month to put up a display poster and/or send out an informative email to staff about a specific health topic. Art work is not my strength - and I'm still working on the emails....

Any ideas??

Well, I have this issue too from time to time. I guess it depends on the day and what's going on in school how busy I am or am not. When I do have luls I usually get online and try to brush up on nursing knowledge. Like someone else had posted, I feel like I'm at a disadvantage at times being so isolated from the normal nursing setting that I need to make up for it by research. I just joined the NASN too so I'm hoping that will help me stay current in the school nursing setting. If I'm tired of doing that stuff....I just finished the Twilight book series....ha ha

I google "monthly awareness" and I found a website that lists the awareness themes for the month (Ex- Breast Cancer Awareness Month). I write a small newsletter on Word and send it out at the beginning of the month. I try to include information from a local free health center that offers free classes or screenings as well. If you'd like, I can email you my most recent newsletter.
ETA- AC Moore and Michael's have some bulletin board supplies. Even the Dollar Tree has them. It's harder to do cute boards for the older kids though. The one I have up now is divided up in the top third and then the bottom two thirds. Top third just has a poster there for now, the bottom 2/3 has "What you need to know about MRSA". I found a ton of info from the CDC, printed it, and put it behind some cute scrapbook paper (finally putting my scrapbooking stuff to good use).
I will be changing it soon to "What Is It? Cold Vs. Flu" and list the signs and symptoms of both, info about flu vax (I know my school is tired of hearing about it) and handwashing. I use a ton of clip art (thank you Microsoft Office)!
I've bought breakfast food out of my own pocket, and put it in the breakroom- underneath the information about whatever it is I want to inform them about (recently it was flu vax info and locations/times, and I did suckers on Natl. Great Smokeout Day).
I'd avoid helping office staff. If not, you'll be seeing a student and they'll expect you to help answer phones!

Hey, Praiser!
C'mon over to my place. With the new immunization laws in PA, I'll be busy till May Seriously, though, even if the pay isn't great isn't it fantastic to have a job where there is some down time? As frustrated as I sometimes get, I love this job!

First, relax and deep breathe - this too will pass. Enjoy the luxury of a few minutes of reflection........

Professional activities during down times:

Be a team player - call front office and ask if there is anything that can be brought down to your office to work on? Calls to absentee kids? Top 20 kids with absences for the year? This will pay off when you need help.

Start your monthly / quarterly annual report - Don't let your achievements be overlooked

Start your own merit review for your supervisor

Visit your job description and rewrite it

Do you know your employment benefits - I am shocked by the number of school nurses find out after years on their job that their school provides benefits they were not aware of. Ask if you are eligible for tuition reimbursement, continuing education money, free membership in national association.

Read the recent school board minutes - who on the school board is a student health advocate, a fitness nut?

Start a immunization awareness campaign for the next school year - bring together your partners: PTA local paper, local health care providers, health department etc.

Check in with a phone call to the parents of your kids with chronic illnesses for an update or to just see how they are doing.

Start updating your health evaluations for upcoming 3 year IEP reviews.

Read Journal of School Nursing - left it at home? Login online and read back to 2002: www.nasn.org

Take a Online school nurse Continuing ed offering: www.nasn.org

Conduct a needs assessment
- What are your top 5 visits to health office?
- What are top 3 injuries in school?
- Calculating the average BMI of your school.
- What percent of the student body is over the 85%
- Use the School Health Index to evaluate needs in your school
- Use EPA IAQ Tools for Schools
- http://www.keepschoolssafe.org/schoo...ound-check.htm
- Conduct a teacher survey of health information topics they are interested in
- Ask science teacher when the research process lesson will be conducted - see if students can do a audit of bathrooms - water temp, towels soap cleanliness?

Ask your local school nurse association if they needs assistance -

Improve your school health office website

What software program do you want to learn? take a PowerPoint, Excel, word processing tutorial

Does your district own a Zoomerang or Survey Monkey subscription? Teach yourself

Write a newsletter item for the faculty or parent newsletter

Put together an inservice for staff

Start a Biggest Loser or fitness pedometer competition for staff

Apply for a grant
- Your school's PTA mini grant for a new text book or equipment
School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text
Protecting and Disclosing Student Health Information
AAP Redbook
LexiComp Pediatric Drug Reference
- Grants: http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=387
- http://www.healthinschools.org/

Write your state or congressional representative to advocate for the health of school children

Review the policies and procedures and compare to the latest evidence for practice

What else?

Great thread for school nurses!

bergren, wow, tons of great ideas! Thanks to everyone for everyone sharing your ideas and advice. Keep the ideas rolling!

Study for the February 2009 national school nurse certification exam. The deadline for registration is December 31, 2008.
www.ncbsn.org

A Certification prep book was published this last June:
Selekman, J. & Wolfe, L. School Nursing Certification Review.

I usually do light studying because I'm a nursing student. I do get on AN too.

New Bulletin Board Idea!

(More for high school kids)

I'm getting ready to change my bulletin board. Our spring break isn't until April (week after Easter), but I've noticed these girls already tanning.
I bought some cute scrapbook paper yesterday- some is tan, some is blue with clouds on it.
I'm going to set the board up like the beach, and will probably cut out some waves on some blue construction paper.
Title: Fake it, Don't Bake It

Will include:
Pics of skin cancer
Mole Change Warning Signs
Dangers of tanning beds
Tanning Alternatives
Ways to protect against sun damage