High school nurses

[RatherBHiking]

I'm considering switching to high school but I have no idea if I'd like it. I've always worked elementary and middle school for a short time which I didn't enjoy. High schools are bigger so I'm sure they are busier. How many kids do you see a day? What kinds of things do you mainly deal with? Do you enjoy it? Just wondering how different it is. Any insight you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Farawyn]

I work in a PreK - 12 school so I have all ages. I greatly prefer the younger ones to high school. My older kids here don't want ice packs or crackers or any of that jazz. They know what they want when they walk in my door ( they've been texting mom the last hour anyway ) and nothing I can say will change that. Not all mind you, some are great and honestly are looking for a way to stay in school, but for the most part, they just come to me because if they want to go home sick, they have to go through me.

I meant to reply yesterday, but got caught up.

I work 7-12, 750 kids, I see 20-40 a day.

You will have increase in sports injuries at this age, 'cause, sports.

You may have to do sports clearances.

Follow up with immunizations, Meningococcal.

psych- drugs, sex stuff, eating disorders- all come through my office.

And the texting. My pet peeve.

[iggywench, BSN, RN]

I forgot to add the incidences of dealing with lice go WAAAYY down in high school, and we have athletic trainers who handle the injuries of student athletes. I do get the occasional PE injury, though. We are required to do scoliosis screening on our students who do not have physicals on file, but I already had to do that on all of my 6th-graders at my old school. I don't miss the 6th-grade shot letters; the only vaccinations that I have to handle in 9th grade are new students.

[Farawyn]

I forgot to add the incidences of dealing with lice go WAAAYY down in high school, and we have athletic trainers who handle the injuries of student athletes. I do get the occasional PE injury, though. We are required to do scoliosis screening on our students who do not have physicals on file, but I already had to do that on all of my 6th-graders at my old school. I don't miss the 6th-grade shot letters; the only vaccinations that I have to handle in 9th grade are new students.

OHOHOH!!!

Ringworm goes UP!!!

[Running Cat Lady]

I was talking to my supervisor about this. I stay in middle school because I barely tolerate the lower elementary school grades, I'm only ok with 5th and 6th and that's it. She said high school is "so much fun" but I have to put in time with the lower grades (and get my credential)before I can ask for a high school placement. Only credentialed nurses in high school and they tend to stay there for years.

[iggywench, BSN, RN]

I was talking to my supervisor about this. I stay in middle school because I barely tolerate the lower elementary school grades, I'm only ok with 5th and 6th and that's it. She said high school is "so much fun" but I have to put in time with the lower grades (and get my credential)before I can ask for a high school placement. Only credentialed nurses in high school and they tend to stay there for years.

High school nurses have the coveted positions here, if you like the older kids. Our work hours are 7-3, instead of later hours, and all of the clinics have assistants. Now that I got this position, I have no intention of leaving until retirement!