How much autonomy do you have?

[RN-DC]

Hi, how much autonomy do you have in your school? Do you have someone you answer to other than administration? Do you have a medical director or nurse manager? If not, who do you go to for medical related questions?

Thanks in advance.

[Farawyn]

Far, is that a NYSDOH thing? Because I don't send any reports. The only thing I sent to NYS is immunization survey every year.

I think it is county. But it may headed to NYS as well.

I don't see why we wouldn't have to report how many cases to the state, right?

But now I'm not sure.

[djh123]

I'm not in a school, but I just have to comment for fun. In my LTC facility, I have almost complete autonomy, until mgt. decides or finds that I didn't do something to their satisfaction.

[GmaPearl BSN RN]

We do a yearly report for the state. Our logs can be accessed electronically by our RN Director of Health Services and she can generate reports and collect data to support our existence when the school board tries to balance the budget by cutting school nurses...

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I have 2 principals, I run most things by them, not because they want me to, but more to justify my worth.

[bsyrn, ASN, RN]

I do keep documentation on kids I see (not for every temp I take or diaper rash I look at, but for more major medical issues)

It is very important that you document everything you do with your students, not documenting can really come back on you.

I report to my principal and our medical director.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

My building principal or superintendent. I do confer with my other district nurses, have a contact at various medical offices I know I can call and a few docs as well. Have been here forever so have built up a network.

[Astocker93]

I answer to my administration, of course, in terms of paperwork and preparation, but short of that... it's just me. My staff answers to me, but in terms of medical decisions, the only person I'm concerned about answering to is the insurance company and possibly the DOH if something happens. I'm very lucky in that if I have a medical question, I've got a lot of friends with different scopes of experience... not to mention that with my medical problems, I see my doctor once every other week or so, and he is more than happy to answer any of my questions (talk about lucky me).