advice for a new school nurse?

[blah_blah_blah]

Hey guys!

I was just hired as a sub nurse for a school district about 30 minutes from my house. It's a pretty big district (in my opinion) with 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools. I will be rotating around to wherever I am needed.

I am a "new grad" nurse (I got my license in August of 2014 but held off on looking for nursing jobs until I finished my BSN in May 2015) I also have been working per diem in a psych ER since September.

I'm super excited to start this job since I did a short rotation in nursing school with an elementary school nurse and I absolutely loved it. In that short time I got to perform vision, hearing, and colorblindness tests. I also saw live lice and nits for the first time . I know a one week rotation of shadowing a school nurse does not even scratch the surface of school nursing, but I enjoyed it so much that after that experience, I started to seriously consider school nursing either part time/subbing or as a career option for when I got older and didn't feel up to working in a hospital anymore.

Are there any pieces of advice or words of wisdom you guys would like to share with me? Thanks!

[huffmannurse]

I would suggest for starters that you learn the school climate, learn how to speak "school language", and how to thrive as part of the school team. From there- get really good at identifying lice, learning everything there is to know about lice, so that when the hysteria hits. You can educate, educate, educate all parties involved. Learn to not get all "itchy" when lice is a source of conversation. Learn immunizations front ward and back ward, learn who the "crazy parents" and "crazy teachers" are. Be good buddies with the secretaries, food service, and janitorial staff. As in any other specialty in nursing, don't be afraid to ask questions.

We are glad you have found this list serve, and hope that we can help you as you begin this fun, but crazy journey. Annnnd....hope you enjoy your long holidays and summers!! They are awesome!!

[blah_blah_blah]

I would suggest for starters that you learn the school climate, learn how to speak "school language", and how to thrive as part of the school team. From there- get really good at identifying lice, learning everything there is to know about lice, so that when the hysteria hits. You can educate, educate, educate all parties involved. Learn to not get all "itchy" when lice is a source of conversation. Learn immunizations front ward and back ward, learn who the "crazy parents" and "crazy teachers" are. Be good buddies with the secretaries, food service, and janitorial staff. As in any other specialty in nursing, don't be afraid to ask questions.

We are glad you have found this list serve, and hope that we can help you as you begin this fun, but crazy journey. Annnnd....hope you enjoy your long holidays and summers!! They are awesome!!

thanks for the advice! I really need to brush up on my immunizations then . One thing I am worried about is since I was hired after the beginning of the school year "rush" so to speak, I am worried that when next school year rolls around, I will not know what to do when it comes to students bringing in paperwork for medications and such. I guess I'll have to ask for a few more days of training at the beginning of next year!