Drowning

[MrsNurseJay]

New SN here...day one is tomorrow and I’m already DROWNING. Please give me positivity that it will look up soon!!!!!!

[Bulldogs, CNA, EMT-B]

Hang in there it will get better.

[jnemartin, BSN, RN]

The start of school is the worst. The first couple months is usually all about getting meds/consents and immunization history from parents, which can be very challenging. Just prioritize what you need to do each day, and ask your questions here - we will help you!

Some pro tips:

-No "resting" (in absence of other symptoms/illness) in the nurse's office.

-Always leave a voice mail, because parents assume if they miss a call from the school, it is the nurse.

-Make sure you take a lunch (make a sign for your door or whatever you need to do - I went my whole first year without ever taking a lunch). You also make friends with the teachers this way ?

-If kids are visiting for unnecessary reasons, talk to them directly about it and consider looping others in, and quickly. I was very tight-lipped about my student visitors due to my background in hospital work... but after attending a progress meeting, found that all my frequent fliers were having social or academic problems. I felt horrible knowing I could have intervened sooner and helped get them back on track sooner. So speak up!

There's so much more, but those were some of my biggest learning curve items from my first year.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

In addition to jne's excellent advice:

What's the priority? Is it making sure that all kids are vaccinated? Then do that first. Everything else - the IHPs, the forms, can wait.

What's second? Probably new health conditions. Everything else can wait.

Hang in there. None of us like the first weeks of school!

["nursy", RN]

Every new job involves the learning curve, so hang in there, you'll get it!

[BluebellRN, BSN, RN]

It gets better!! Hang in there and let us know how it's going ?

[BooBooCrew, BSN, RN]

So many good tips, jnemartin!

I am in my first year of school nursing too and it has been CRAZY!! I read and read and read on this board and found so many helpful tips ? There were a few extremely helpful ones that I feel like have helped keep my nose just above water.

[LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN]

Welcome!

ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

Hope your week is settling a bit!