Attending school with client?

[UTVOL3]

Does anyone here do this? I have orientation coming up with an agency staffing these positions. I've never done agency work before and also never been in a school setting. Besides all the pertinent clinical info on this client, what else should I look out for? I will start Monday if orientation goes well. So I want to be prepared with what to ask while at the agency.

Thanks in advance!

[realnursealso/LPN, LPN]

When I attended school with my Peds patients, all that was required of me at school was to monitor their medical needs. The school district had a one on one that was in charge of the pts educational needs. I was required to spend all time with my patient, never leaving them in the classroom, except for a quick trip to the bathroom.

[UTVOL3]

Thank you for the response! Did you pack your lunch? Since there isn't much to do when the child is doing school work, did you bring a book? This client is high school age. And apparently requires little in the way of care. So the recruiter says.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

-often bring a lunch that doesn't require refrigeration or heat

-often no book or cell phone, per most school & company policy, as you are paid to be 1:1 with a student and cannot be monitoring if otherwise engaged

-get clear expectations of your role, what issues are your responsibility and what needs to be referred to the school nurse, what you are permitted to do (some classroom aides see you as a 1:1 academic assistant for the student when that is almost never the case).

-You do not override school policy and are not to assist with any other student.

-Careful with sharing protected information, people are nosy and ask questions.

-you are not a school parent liaison. That's the principal's/teacher's job. You work only within the scope of plan of care period. This is definitely an area where nurses cross professional boundaries. You would be surprised (or not) at what I've seen in private and public school settings.

[UTVOL3]

Thanks! I am most concern about that overlap with the educational professionals. I have my company orientation tomorrow. I have a list of questions about a page long for them.

[middleagednurse]

I spent 2 1/2 years going to school with my client. The situation will vary depending on the school, and the client. Just remember you are a nurse and not a teacher, and the teacher is a teacher, not a nurse. And keep open communication with teacher and parent and other staff.