Published Dec 4, 2017
chasinRT
199 Posts
Do you have employee health duties beyond first aid/illness? If so, what?
KKEGS, MSN, RN
723 Posts
Nope. We provide first aid and a phone number to a Worker's Comp Nurse Line that takes care of the rest.
JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN
3,035 Posts
Same.
cooties_are_real
326 Posts
We do first aide/illness/workman's comp and most of our nurses are wellness coordinators.
Guest
0 Posts
I'm in a small school so it hasn't been too bad, but teachers def come to me when they aren't feeling well. I am fine handing them the thermometer to take their own temp, giving out cough drops and giving basic advice, but I usually always tell them if they feel that ill to call their primary care doc. Sometimes the principal just wants them to see me so I can OK them going home/leaving early.
nmr79
218 Posts
Same here, even though the teachers and even the admin always feel the need to get me more involved than that.
ruby_jane, BSN, RN
3,142 Posts
I will do assessments on teachers (mostly temp checks and a few BP checks). They help themselves to medication. I don't have a lot of OTC meds. A couple of teachers have rested out their Braxton Hicks contractions while we waited for the OB's office to open/return from lunch - I always call the doc. They almost always tell the staff to come in for a check up.
We have an EAP accessible through HR. I would really hesitate to call what I do "employee health" as I have no standing orders and almost everyone gets a "follow up with your doctor" from me. I document well enough that I hope to avoid any of those potential liability stories you read about where the school nurse didn't refer out.
The only official capacity I have is an initial assessment write-up for a worker's comp condition. I document the incident as reported, any palliative care, and then send them to one of a list of providers. In the event of something catastrophic I'd call EMS.
100kids, BSN, RN
878 Posts
I am officially responsible for first aid and referral out to their doctor but that's it. I have done blood pressure checks, an eye exam for a driver's license and a TB check but I am not required to do them.
OyWithThePoodles, RN
1,338 Posts
I've done daily BP checks on preggos, or custodians with issues. Pain in my rear, but ya know.
High BP's I usually recommend a dr. visit or call at the very least. I've sent a few out, one by ambulance for other issues. Preggos with cramping, always refer to md. I take a lot of temps and look at throats.
aprilmoss
266 Posts
Yep, the district has a wellness program that they administer for all the employees. Technically, I don't have any responsibility for other than the students, but I'll obviously handle minor first aid and emergencies.
WineRN
1,109 Posts
Yes! My teachers are always shocked when I tell them that I can't excuse them from work. I had a teacher that I was 99% sure had strep (confirmed later) and when I explained what I recommended but that it was up to her, she was upset that I wouldn't talk to our admin team for her.
I am the staff wellness person, so i do programming and in general most of my staff keep me in the loop with their health issues.
But when push comes to shove, I'm only there for first aid and workman comp referrals. I remember someone on here posting about a teacher who was non-compliant with their chronic health condition and it somehow became their problem to manage the teacher's health episodes. THAT would drive me nuts.
ana010
99 Posts
This drives me NUTS! These people are adults, but expect someone to call in for them! Man up!