Clothing Storage

guest464345 · Jul 31, 2019

I inherited the clothing issue from the last nurse and am actively trying to disinherit myself....I don't have any budget for it, and I don't have the time or inclination to scrounge for donations... I'm never quite sure how this ended up being a nurse job, you know?

Right now I have bins in a locked closet in the bathroom. I keep only t-shirts, joggers/sweats, hoodies, plain socks, basic underwear - just a few of each, organized by size. It stays neat because I choose and hand out individual items - I don't let kids rummage around and shop. They're high school students typically sent to me for a dress code violation or something even more ridiculous (like spilling a couple ounces of milk on their pants and insisting they can't go to class).

Side note: after a million complaints from dress code violators about my unfashionable offerings...the one kid who came in last year several times legitimately needing clothes (for cold weather or school activities - he's been shuffled to multiple foster placements and group homes, and owns almost nothing) showed up at the end of the year with a smile, thanked me, and handed back every item I had given him during the year, washed and neatly folded "because someone else might need them." I almost cried!

BettyGirard, BSN · Jul 31, 2019

I finally got out of the lost and found / dress code enforcement loop. I don't know how it got to be a nursing job (I guess my predecessor didn't complain as much as I do). I keep a few cheap panties in my office for those who have legitimate accidents or the like. Other issues (clothes that get wet from the outside, things that don't meet the dress code), etc... are handled by one of the front office secretaries. I suggested to her that the most appropriate solution was to just call the parent rather than trying to outfit the student herself. It's amazing how fast an alternative solution gets worked out for things like that when it's the administration that has the burden.

Keeperofbandages, LPN · Jul 31, 2019

4 hours ago, BettyGirard said:
I finally got out of the lost and found / dress code enforcement loop. I don't know how it got to be a nursing job (I guess my predecessor didn't complain as much as I do). I keep a few cheap panties in my office for those who have legitimate accidents or the like. Other issues (clothes that get wet from the outside, things that don't meet the dress code), etc... are handled by one of the front office secretaries. I suggested to her that the most appropriate solution was to just call the parent rather than trying to outfit the student herself. It's amazing how fast an alternative solution gets worked out for things like that when it's the administration that has the burden.

I have tried several times to get out of being the "clothing department" but it still stays in my office...

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2019

I had unexpected clothing storage organizational time whilst my PC had to be taken into the shop (cue The Grinch: I'll fix it up there, and bring it back here). I retained undies of all sizes (boxed and labeled prek-5t, 6-7, adult size), and divided the shirts and pants into boys and girls tubs. I am Goodwilling all the shoes and coats (which I never did use last year).

I made peace last year that I could not be the clothing department any more. Change of undies for kiddos and if the parent is unwise enough not to provide clothing s/he will have to come bring stuff. Otherwise it gets crazy with the staff wanting me to provide stuff for dress code.

BettyGirard, BSN · Aug 1, 2019

I suggested to the admins that I could just hand out examination gowns to those needing clothing and they could wear those. I was rather surprised a few months later when he asked where they could order those. I gave them schoolnursesupply.com and suggested that maybe some cheap scrubs might suit them better.

aprilmoss · Aug 3, 2019

Chortle... you mentioned this before Betty. Did they do it? I always get a chuckle of students running around with their butts hanging out of hospital gowns. That would certainly convince them to dress appropriately in the future.

BettyGirard, BSN · Aug 4, 2019

They did indeed buy a box of those. They have pretty good overlap so there's no "butts hanging out." Not the solution I would have gone with, but at least it's no longer my responsibility.

CampyCamp, RN · Aug 29, 2019

We had the great "fortune" of having a dresser donated along the line. There's no getting rid of it since the nurse has been doing this since I was in Kindergarten. I sort by size although there was once and incident where a parent noticed that the shorts which I would have classified as "gender neutral" actually hailed from the girl's department and was angry that we were shaming his son. There was a small bow at the waistband that couldn't be seen with a shirt and they were khaki colored. ?

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2019

I am keeper of the donated extra uniforms, as we wear uniforms at my school.

I have two metal closets in the hallway outside my office. One closet is shirt and sweaters, the other pants. Shirts, sweater, gym sweats are unisex, so I just sort by general size. Pants closet has shelf for adult sized girls, adult sized boys, and kids sizes.

For undies, I just order about 20 disposable underwear pairs for the gals with menstrual cycle mishaps (I work grades 7-12). Our uniform pants are khaki and unfortunately they are most unforgiving for these mishaps, so my supply of girls pants goes fast than the boys.

Luckily I got a new HS dean this year and Dean now comes down to my supply, grabs some and have created a uniform supply in the Dean's office for uniform violation vs sending them to me. It is working well thus far this year.