How to do you run your clinic?

NutmeggeRN, BSN · May 29, 2018

What age? That makes a difference. I encourage my HS kids to do as much for themselves as possible (after I make an assessment). Putting the reason on the pass may work for younger kids.

SaltineQueen · May 29, 2018

I'm K-3. I do have a pass for teachers to send with a list of the most typical reasons they can check, space to write if nothing applies. I send it back to class with them with a quick synopsis of what I did for them. I don't allow kids to get into my stuff on their own.

I would not do a sign in sheet. That seems like a privacy issue. Or lack of privacy...

Amethya · May 29, 2018

Eh. I just take them as they come in. They come with passes, sometimes with what's wrong with them. And I just take them one at a time.

OhioBPH · May 29, 2018

You MUST have a pass (or be apparently ill i.e. grey or green or bleeding) to come to the clinic. I have 6-8 grade and they try to sneak between classes, that's a no-go here. Their pass does not have a reason.

I keep a log (under a schedule) on my clipboard where I take their name, the time, and CC, temp, who I called etc so that if I do not get a chance to document right away I have the notes. This also helps me with my stats for end of day.

I will take up to 3 kids in the clinic at once, after that they line up in the hall and come as they arrived. If I have a special case then I close the door to keep everyone else out.

SavyNurse, ADN, EMT-B · May 29, 2018

I am currently a sub and I did Apply for a job awaiting to hear back I'm not too hopeful. But just curious to know how do you run your clinic? 1.) Do you uses passes with listed reasons for the teacher to fill out? 2.) Do you have a sign in sheet the student fills out with symptoms? 3.) Do you use a number system? 4.) Do you allow students to grab their own ice and own bandaid or do you do it for them? Just curious to know how you run your clinic and What works best.

1) passes with name, date, and time so they aren't wandering. Also, so I know their full name for emergency reasons (fire drill, look up last name to get number to call home). If the kid can tell a teacher why they need to go to the nurse, then they can use their voice and tell me. I have caught a good amount of kids lying and changing their story this way (wanting to go home or avoid work).

2) I fill out the time in/out, name, complaint, action by me/assessment, whether a call made home, and whether they return to class or home on a daily log sheet.

3) No number system. Prioritize based on the children's needs. Example: Injury before "feel sick"/runny nose.

4)Teachers all have a bag of Band-Aids so they should not be sent down unless it is a large cut/abrasion. Ice, I give out because I have a limited amount and need to assess the injury anyway.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · May 30, 2018

What age? That makes a difference. I encourage my HS kids to do as much for themselves as possible (after I make an assessment). Putting the reason on the pass may work for younger kids.

Same. Though no one can just grab ice. I don't given out ice without assessment unless it an ongoing injury I am already aware of. Yep, that means I make HS students take shoes and socks off to check feet. If they really need that ice, they'll comply :).

But everyone needs a pass. I don't have reasons on the pass - just name, teacher name, time out of classroom, line for me to sign and time they left my office. My office is small, just I don't have a sign in sheet, but when I'm busy, I'll give students a verbal number ("you are number 4, have a seat!")

But I do make the older ones do a lot of their own once I give them permission to touch things. I have heat packs in easy reach, for example, and will instruct student to take one, put in microwave for x seconds, wrap it while I assess another student.

AdobeRN · May 30, 2018

I have K-5. Teacher can send the kids with or without a pass, doesn't matter to me. I do not let my kids just grab ice packs, bandaids etc. I try to look at everything and ask how injury happened so I can record in the computer. No number system - just prioritized based on the need. If I have several students at once they line up in my entrance hallway of my room and wait their turn.

The diabetics may sometimes come in 3+ visits during the day - they know they don't need to wait for me to check BG if I am busy with other students - I have a notepad on the desk where they each keep their glucometers and if I am busy with others they will write down time in and BG number for me. If Low they will just say "Im low" tell me the BG number, grab juice from the fridge and have a seat.

cjl_RN, BSN · May 30, 2018

What age? That makes a difference. I encourage my HS kids to do as much for themselves as possible (after I make an assessment). Putting the reason on the pass may work for younger kids.

7&8 graders. The nurse currently does do a number system. One of the other nurses has a pass that lost reasons,name,teacher,then time in and time left and if parents were notified.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · May 30, 2018

7&8 graders. The nurse currently does do a number system. One of the other nurses has a pass that lost reasons,name,teacher,then time in and time left and if parents were notified.

Why would parents be notified before the student even got to your office...oh, wait, because some teachers are nurses, right?

I would never put that on a pass because I don't want to be an option :).

beachynurse, ASN, BSN · May 30, 2018

I am in a very large high school, with grades 9-12. The students must have passes from their teachers to come to the clinic, unless it's an emergency. This is for accountability of where students are and for how long they are out of classes. I am very big on developing independence at this age, so I maintain a self serve table available for the students. It holds, tampons, pads, band aids, saline solution, lotion, and a few other odds and ends. These students still need to have passes, and sign in when they come. We always take a peek at cuts, just to be sure taht they only do need a band aid. They can wash their hands, get their band aid and get back to class. We use an iPad for singing in. Our IT person developed a google doc form for us to use, where the student signs in, chooses their grade, what's wrong with them. Once they hit enter, their names can only be seen by me and my assistant on our computers. I love that!!

cjl_RN, BSN · May 30, 2018

Why would parents be notified before the student even got to your office...oh, wait, because some teachers are nurses, right?
I would never put that on a pass because I don't want to be an option :).

So the pass on the left side is what the teacher fills out their name, reason, time they left class, and on the right side is my part to fill out including time they left clinic and what temp was and if the parent was notified.