A newfound appreciation

Published

I had my first Peds clinical today at a high school and let me tell you, it was AMAZING. Whatever pre-convinced notions I had about school nursing (if I were being honest) were completely shut down by my preceptor. I never really realized the amount of "hats" a school nurse must wear and also the incredible amount of administrative red tape she has to go through (including sitting through district meetings). It's not band-aids and boo boos. It's so much more than that. My hats off to all you school nurses! I am sooo excited for my return next week!

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
Thanks for covering my side boob. Not sure what I'd do without you

You little minx, you.

:bag:

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Specializes in CrItical Care, Street Medicine/PHM, School nurse.
It's nice that you are getting such good school nursing exposure! I never did anything in the schools when I was in college. I think that's the case for most students which could explain why so many nurses who don't work in schools assume we don't do anything.

In other words: tell all your friends that school nursing isn't a cake walk! Spread the word that we are smart, hard-working and, most importantly, fetch.

Definitely got the impression that my cohort felt the same way I did during post conference. Going to schools for clinicals is very beneficial to all students and I wish that they would do this for all nursing students.

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Yes, being a school nurse is a whole different animal!!!! :yes:

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Specializes in Nephrology, ESRD.

School nurses are so important! I looked at a few openings for school nursing when I first graduated but I never applied because I knew there was NO way I was ready for that. Those nurses work independently, see different conditions and rely on their nursing judgement. They have a big workload depending on the district but they also make an incredible difference in kids lives! We had a guest speaker during school that was a school nurse. She talked about how she would pay out of pocket for "breakfast" type foods, like granola bars. She worked at a school in a low income district. She would get a lot of kids come see her with stomach aches. She caught on that these kids weren't eating breakfast. She provides snacks to any of the kids that come to her. She saw a decline in kids missing class in the morning because they would get a snack before the bell range. This in turn helped with their attention/focus and grades. Made me so sad and I just wanted to adopt a bunch of students and feed them food.

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Specializes in kids.

This ain't for sissies!

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Specializes in kids.
My entire cohort in general had a blast at clinicals yesterday! The nurse I was with handled everything from feminine products to someone who was under the influence (he confessed to using cocaine/xanax) and seizures. It's a lot of work and a heck of a lot of responsibility for one nurse to deal with. During a yearly crisis management meeting that we also attended, I noticed that most of the admins, social workers or other staff almost always had a comment of "or we could ask the RN...send the student to the RN...the RN can initiate...etc". I feel like they drop so much on the RN without even considering other resources (like the school officer, etc).

Word!

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Specializes in CrItical Care, Street Medicine/PHM, School nurse.

"School nurses are so important! I looked at a few openings for school nursing when I first graduated but I never applied because I knew there was NO way I was ready for that. Those nurses work independently, see different conditions and rely on their nursing judgement. They have a big workload depending on the district but they also make an incredible difference in kids lives!"

^^This. The first thing that came to my mind was "I could NEVER work in this field as a new nurse". Critical thinking skills and the confidence to actually work independently are two skills that take TIME to obtain. In the hospital there is usually a nurse buddy or some sort of immediate resource available but working in schools is very different. There is an entire student body (hundreds if not thousands of kids) depending on your professional judgement and that to me is both amazing and scary. Honestly, I feel like this rotation is probably the one rotation that has given me the most unfiltered look into what nursing is (everything beyond the basic clinical skills). Don't get me wrong, I love my hospital rotations but I feel that I am more sheltered and secure in that environment.

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Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
My entire cohort in general had a blast at clinicals yesterday! The nurse I was with handled everything from feminine products to someone who was under the influence (he confessed to using cocaine/xanax) and seizures. It's a lot of work and a heck of a lot of responsibility for one nurse to deal with. During a yearly crisis management meeting that we also attended, I noticed that most of the admins, social workers or other staff almost always had a comment of "or we could ask the RN...send the student to the RN...the RN can initiate...etc". I feel like they drop so much on the RN without even considering other resources (like the school officer, etc).

I work with a special needs child and escort him to school. I've gotten to know the school nurses there a bit and watch what goes on while my student is in class.

I too have witnessed the buck being passed to the nurses. Insanely common sense things mostly. They go to the nurses office with every little thing they can. Not medical things, just day to day stuff: This student's shoes don't fit well, can you get me another pair for the mean time (extra clothing not kept in nurse's office, everyone knows that)..........and tons of things like that.

They tell me some of the things parents say and do too. Not even gonna open up that box.........

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We do wear a lot of hats. I am the only medical person in the building, I am the lost and found, the extra clothes keeper, the keeper of snacks, the fixer of broken hearts, etc. I have the best job ever! My main complaint is that administration and the school board keep making policies that effect me but never consult me. Like the new, more stringent no nits policy.

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Specializes in kids.
We do wear a lot of hats. I am the only medical person in the building, I am the lost and found, the extra clothes keeper, the keeper of snacks, the fixer of broken hearts, etc. I have the best job ever! My main complaint is that administration and the school board keep making policies that effect me but never consult me. Like the new, more stringent no nits policy.

Me too! AND I have the distinct pleasure of being in charge of tissue box dispensing!

For Reals

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Me too! AND I have the distinct pleasure of being in charge of tissue box dispensing!

For Reals

Me too! It's so awesome.

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My entire cohort in general had a blast at clinicals yesterday! The nurse I was with handled everything from feminine products to someone who was under the influence (he confessed to using cocaine/xanax) and seizures. It's a lot of work and a heck of a lot of responsibility for one nurse to deal with. During a yearly crisis management meeting that we also attended, I noticed that most of the admins, social workers or other staff almost always had a comment of "or we could ask the RN...send the student to the RN...the RN can initiate...etc". I feel like they drop so much on the RN without even considering other resources (like the school officer, etc).

And imagine doing this in 5 buildings, simultaneously! EVERYDAY! Early childhood through 12th grade! LOL - It's not for the weak. I'm a mental health professional, case manager, informatics expert, telehealth RN, potty-trainer and birth-control advisor during any given hour ;-) I question my sanity at the end of each day. It's the toughest nursing job you'll ever love!

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