How many kids do you see in a day?

RNLisaC · Mar 30, 2017

This is so helpful!!

RNLisaC · Mar 30, 2017

I usually see 30 to 40 at my middle school (850 kids) and 55 to 60 (600 kids) at my elementary school in a day. I have seen as many as 80 kids in a day at my elementary school though.
I travel between 2 buildings and have a full time health aide at each location so I do have some help. We had to crack down on what constitutes a health office visit at my elementary school earlier this year after we saw 150 kids in 2 days! We sent a school wide email that said the following:
The Health Office is being swamped with daily visits and our workload is becoming unmanageable. We are seeing, on average, 55 to 60 students in the Health Office every day and lately it's been as high as 80. In an effort to cut down on unnecessary health office visits we are asking for some help in keeping kids in class instead of in the Health Office for the following minor conditions.
* We ask that no students, unless they take scheduled medication, be sent to the health office before 10:00am. If their parents thought they were well enough to go to school they should stay in class.
* For minor cuts and scrapes please have students wash with soap and water and give them a bandaid.
* For stomach aches please have students take a drink or water and try using the restroom before sending them to the Health Office. If it's close to lunch tell them they will be eating lunch soon and see if they feel better after that. If they are still complaining after lunch and recess they can come to the Health Office.
* For sore throats and headaches please have students take a drink of water. Unlike last year the health office no longer gives out lemon drops or cough drops.
* For children complaining of not feeling well, if they come to the health office and are not vomiting or in obvious distress we will take their temperature and, if no fever is present, send them back to class.
* We know that you know your students better than we do. We do not see them every day. If one of your students really seems sick please send them to see us but please let us know your concerns with a quick note or phone call. We see a lot of kids who seem like they are just trying to avoid a certain part of the school day but if you think they really are sick, and not just trying to avoid math, we want to make sure we address your concerns.
If you have any questions please let us know and thank you for your cooperation.
Hope that helps! And good luck! And as another poster said, your shop, your rules! YOU are the expert in this area, not the administration or teachers.

This is AWESOME!

RNLisaC · Mar 30, 2017

I have been a school nurse now for 3 years. My clinic has an average of 60+ a day. Teachers are not allowed to send students before 9:30....This has saved my life

How many students total in the school? That's a lot!! WOW. I am curious and if you also see the adults, the staff. I also have not included that in the numbers.

RNLisaC · Mar 30, 2017

I have 400 in my PK-6 school, and I see between 30-50 a day.
It varies based on who has a sub, and if testing is going on.
Of course I have those frequent flyers that come everyday, maybe 2 or 3 x a day, just because.

There's so many questions that I have because all of you are doing it. You're kind of in the range I am. Out of curiosity, do you input all immunizations, physicals, and do all the screenings? I was able to get rid of inputting absences because every time a doctor's note came by my desk, I was supposed to look it up and change the absence to excused. TOO MUCH.

RNLisaC · Mar 30, 2017

"All bumps, bruises, tummy aches, head aches, and chronic pretenditis students got to sit or lay down in the office. So the frequent flier flock was bigger than I think most are. Once they figured out that I wouldn't be keeping them in my office, and if they stayed it would be pretty darn boring, most of them gave up."

I think I need to do this. I have this huge white board and it was out of control until I took the markers away. I need to make this super boring. The subs and the nurses that didn't last seemed to have encouraged books, the board, coloring and laying down. Unless a kid is really sick or you can tell they have a bad headache, I don't let them lie down.

kidzcare · Mar 30, 2017

That sounds decent. Stupid question but do you lock up all of your medications including the inhalers? I have been given some backlash because I am told that the statue states that the inhalers don't have to be locked up. I don't understand this because it's a medication. I am researching further.

Epi pens and inhalers are considered emergency medications and we do not lock them up at all.

GdBSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

You may get better support from your administration if you gather daily numbers, show what was and was not a necessary clinic visit, and relate all that to lost instructional time for every visit to the clinic.

basketball13 · Mar 30, 2017

At my busiest and biggest elementary school (around 230), I see around 20-35 (for a full day that is, on my half days I see around 15). Some days are easier than others. Some days it is mainly very minor reasons (bandaid for a cut, ice pack for an imaginary bump, itch cream, simple temp check). I personally do not mind seeing kids for all of these minor things.. I see it as job security lol. I quickly take care of each child and send them on their way. However, there are some days when it is a little more complicated. Hygeine issues, lice issues, truly ill or injured but cannot reach anyone by phone, etc. Even if I see significantly less kids on those days, it is much tougher for me and frustrating on those days. I've never had to take work home though.

Each1Teach1 · Mar 30, 2017

There are about 230 students in my K-2. I see about 20-30 students per day. I get so backed up with the documentation. For every student, I have to write a quick summary in a log book, then in their permanent health record (written not electronic), I have to write: time in, time out, full vitals (for everything except cuts and bruises....so yes, full vitals for headaches, stomachaches, earaches, vomiting, sore throat), child's complaint, my assessment, treatment, response, which parent I contacted, what their response was if any, where the child went afterwards. Our supervisor gives write-ups if she scans over files and something is missing. I hardly have enough time!

I get the frequent flyers, so much so that I know some parents' phone numbers by heart. I get frustrated with the smiling, laughing or skipping children who come in with complaints. I have to call home for EVERY visit....including PAPER CUTS!!! I suspect that the teachers are not screening the kids.

Child: Can I go to the nurse?

Teacher: Yep.

:cautious:

WineRN · Mar 30, 2017

You may get better support from your administration if you gather daily numbers, show what was and was not a necessary clinic visit, and relate all that to lost instructional time for every visit to the clinic.

THIS! I'm not sure what program you use to chart but SNAP allows you to pull up all sorts of fun stuff (frequent visits, the # of students each teacher sends, the time each kid is in your office, etc). I have weekly meeting with my Principal and Vice principal where I bring there numbers up.

Also in my previous comment I forgot to mention I have about 13 daily med visits (diabetic and student on 02 who gets tank changes) plus I see at least 1 staff member a day, usually more.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Mar 30, 2017

K-8 private school with 125 students. See 8-10/ day average with most visits

foggnm · Mar 30, 2017

Wow, reading these numbers with nearly 5-10% of the populations coming to the nurse daily seems like a lot. In my district it would be unusual for nurses to stay late or take work home. But we also have health assistants to do some of the administrative work and see students. In general, and my peers would agree, school nursing should not be an overwhelming or overtasked job. Of course that could vary greatly depending on how the district is managed. As far as students go, I rarely see the same student twice in a day because we either take care of the problem or get them home. And if I'm seeing a student frequently that isn't sick, then I'd discuss it directly with the student and/or their guardians. School nursing is an enjoyable job. It should not feel like hospital work.