$200! How are you resourceful?

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Nov 22, 2008

Wow! I guess I am lucky. I was given $700 for my school of 1,000 and was complaining. I am VERY particular with who I give an ACE wrap to. If it didn't just happen and there is no evidence of injury, I don't give them out. For some reason, I have a few kids who seem to like the attention the elastic wrap gives them.

P.S. I was looking at my last couple posts and it sounds like I don't like my kids or my job. Really, in 1,000 kids there are probably

Aneroo, LPN · Nov 22, 2008

Wow! I guess I am lucky. I was given $700 for my school of 1,000 and was complaining. I am VERY particular with who I give an ACE wrap to. If it didn't just happen and there is no evidence of injury, I don't give them out. For some reason, I have a few kids who seem to like the attention the elastic wrap gives them.
P.S. I was looking at my last couple posts and it sounds like I don't like my kids or my job. Really, in 1,000 kids there are probably
LOL I totally understand. I have about 800, and can count on one hand the ones who I really just don't want to see anymore. LOL

Wishinonastar, BSN · Nov 26, 2008

Wow. I was not given a limit, but I am very cost conscious from working in a barely-scraping-by hospital home health for years. I think I spent about $300, and I just requested $70 more. I use a lot of bandages- I work in a vo-tech school so it is an industrial environment. I rarely use ace wraps, but we do not have gym class. I do buy my own juice and gingerale. It is probably tax deductible, but I have not kept track. I NEED it and I don't want to have to fight for it, so I just buy it myself.

Price comparison is my main way to save money. I am switching everything over to generic now. We had all name brand stuff when I came. I try to watch ice bags - they tend to grow legs and wander away. I am reducing what I carry too. Supplies can get outdated, and if I have not used it in a while I have to question whether I really need it.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Nov 27, 2008

I get my juice from the cafeteria for free, but I buy my own pretzels and cough drops. I buy a lot of my own office supplies, too. I spent over $100 of my $700 budget just on "sidekick" glucose meters, glucose tabs and TUMS. Plus, I buy a new Epi-pen each year-$100. Don't think I could do it with $300.

Aneroo, LPN · Nov 27, 2008

Wow. I was not given a limit, but I am very cost conscious from working in a barely-scraping-by hospital home health for years. I think I spent about $300, and I just requested $70 more. I use a lot of bandages- I work in a vo-tech school so it is an industrial environment. I rarely use ace wraps, but we do not have gym class. I do buy my own juice and gingerale. It is probably tax deductible, but I have not kept track. I NEED it and I don't want to have to fight for it, so I just buy it myself.
Price comparison is my main way to save money. I am switching everything over to generic now. We had all name brand stuff when I came. I try to watch ice bags - they tend to grow legs and wander away. I am reducing what I carry too. Supplies can get outdated, and if I have not used it in a while I have to question whether I really need it.

I'm telling ya- the rice is awesome (and cheap)!

I too buy my own snacks (yeah Wal-mart)! The person here before me had bought name brand advil and tylenol- I bought generic. Wal-mart brand pads. I bought a ton of telfa, but I love it for scrapes. I see more road rash, burns and scrapes than I had thought I would! We have a big gym course, and stairs. I see a lot of kids with twisted ankles or they hurt their wrist bowling (we have 1.5hr classes, and are 2 miles from the bowling alley, so there is plenty time to go bowling). So lots of gym and NJROTC with their exercises.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Nov 27, 2008

I wrap ice cubes in a paper towel and tie them in a Baggie. Not fancy, but nearly free!

psalm, RN · Nov 27, 2008

Our local newspaper has teachers fill out a wish-list for their classrooms at Christmas time and anyone can donate items. If your local newspaper does this, would it be possible to make a list for the school nursing office? Maybe a project for the Girl Scouts, Boy's Club or a church youth group?

mustlovepoodles, RN · Nov 29, 2008

My school has NO budget for the clinic. None. I just have to make a list of items we need and the bookkeeper decides whether we really need it or not :madface: Last year I had a local church come alongside us and they decided to outfit the clinic. I started the year with a gracious plenty pads, bandage supplies, ACE wraps, ice packs. In one day I had a seriously injured teacher on blood thinners(think, lots of bandaging) and a child with infected 2nd degree burns on both feet(also required lots of bandaging.) By October, I was begging for more supplies and I went all the way to the principal--the answer was still no. My supervising nurse came through for me, finally.

I work in a 900 student middle school. They are hard on themselves in PE. And they come to school without the proper care they need. Lots of scrapes & sprains. I use reusable ice packs--they do not leave my clinic. I also have ice available so I can send a kid home or to the ER with an ice pack. I am very discerning about who gets the supplies. The stuff I have has to last because there may not be more. I do not buy my own stuff because I will not be reimbursed.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Dec 1, 2008

I have a 500 dollar budget that covers my medical supplies, my office supplies, and any educational resources that i need. School Health is helpful - and provides us with a discount based on state contract (free shipping, too!) But i also peruse the other catalogues to get better deals - moore medical has decent prices on a lot of things - better than some. I also try to stock up when i can. One year i bought a lot of thermometer probe covers so i wouldn't need them for a few years. I also try not to leave any of my budget unspent. The closest i've come without going over was 10 cents...

Students that have ongoing supply needs- such as the diabetics need to have their supplies sent in from home. I do not have a general purpose glucometer or any spare lancets. I do keep a tube of glucose gel on hand, but i also expect that there will be provisions to raise blood sugar in the student's supply (beyond a glucagon order). I have had students come in with wounds that need a once daily change. There is no reason why this can't be done at home. Granted, I understand that some people can't stomach to change a dressing and i overall have no problem -i just require 2 things - a dr's order (just like i need to give a cough drop) and any needed supplies. I mean if it's a one time deal - maybe secruing a dressing or replacing one that's come off or is looking too icky to stay on - then no big deal... but not everyday.

Aneroo, LPN · Dec 1, 2008

I have a 500 dollar budget that covers my medical supplies, my office supplies, and any educational resources that i need. School Health is helpful - and provides us with a discount based on state contract (free shipping, too!) But i also peruse the other catalogues to get better deals - moore medical has decent prices on a lot of things - better than some. I also try to stock up when i can. One year i bought a lot of thermometer probe covers so i wouldn't need them for a few years. I also try not to leave any of my budget unspent. The closest i've come without going over was 10 cents...
Students that have ongoing supply needs- such as the diabetics need to have their supplies sent in from home. I do not have a general purpose glucometer or any spare lancets. I do keep a tube of glucose gel on hand, but i also expect that there will be provisions to raise blood sugar in the student's supply (beyond a glucagon order). I have had students come in with wounds that need a once daily change. There is no reason why this can't be done at home. Granted, I understand that some people can't stomach to change a dressing and i overall have no problem -i just require 2 things - a dr's order (just like i need to give a cough drop) and any needed supplies. I mean if it's a one time deal - maybe secruing a dressing or replacing one that's come off or is looking too icky to stay on - then no big deal... but not everyday.

I hear you on the diabetic stuff- I bought a giant container of glucose tabs. I have three diabetics, and the hormones and stress, their sugars can go all over the place. But I have a lot of student who come in, say "my blood sugar is getting low" and want something to eat or drink. Problem solved. These kids (who are able and have money for breakfast but just don't eat, so don't start in on that this time) will hopefully start eating breakfast after chewing chalky tabs a few times. Still effective, less appealing to repeaters.

GRAMMYTAB · Dec 2, 2008

:nuke: The teachers here in our elementary school add things like bandaids, hand sanitizer, kleenex etc to the school supply list at the start of a new school year. This helps out a lot. Even though not all parents donate items to the health office, it gives me a stock pile of some things and I don't need to buy as much out of the school budget. Tabitha