I need to stop thinking like a nurse !

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

for some reason my mind has been converted to nursing and "thinking" like a nurse. i can't help it ! its a good thing that i'm "thinking" like a nurse at nursing school or at clinicals but i can't do it at my job, because i'm not a nurse !

background info( i'm a cna working in the health room at a elementary school).

here are some examples: a teacher comes in and wants to look through one of her students health records. i say" no, i can't allow you to sit and look through health records because this is confidential information. however, i'll be more than happy to look up any info. you need". :nurse::nurse:so than i explained that i'm just following hippa, and she understood. so the next day i explained to my boss what the teacher asked, and she tells me " in the school system we don't follow hippa we follow ferpa, and teachers are allowed to look at records for their students":p

i was completely embarrassed ! :zzzzz

this is just one example of how i just can't stop thinking like a nurse. every time a student comes in, i have to hold back on how to treat and assess them because currently i'm not a nurse and i can't do certain things nurses can do. at work i never, let me say again never do anything thats not in my scope as a cna. all i'm saying is that yes its hard not to assess or follow the nursing process when dealing with certain things at work, instead i just report off to the rn and she does exactly what i would do if i was a nurse.

i know i'm just a student and i don't know everything about nursing, but i can't wait to be nurse. in five months i will be !

for now, i just have to remember i'm a cna at work, and i must turn off my critical thinking nurse brain for now. i also must remember that i'm working at a school not a hospital so the rules are definitely different !

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

As long as you are acting within your scope of practice, I think it is good to think like a nurse. It is good practice for when you are out there as a nurse, and it should be good for your confidence when your nursing instincts are confirmed by the nurse you work with.

I'm a school nurse, and there is NO way I would let a teacher read my health cards or other medical records. True, in schools FERPA applies, but the teachers are on a need to know basis. If the kid has asthma or something like that, sure they need to know how to handle it. But if the medical background includes notations of, say, past abuse or other sensitive information that is not currently applicable, they do not need to know about it. If the teacher has any questions, I will review the records and let them know what, if anything, they need to know. I think you did the right thing!

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

As long as you are acting within your scope of practice, I think it is good to think like a nurse. It is good practice for when you are out there as a nurse, and it should be good for your confidence when your nursing instincts are confirmed by the nurse you work with.

I'm a school nurse, and there is NO way I would let a teacher read my health cards or other medical records. True, in schools FERPA applies, but the teachers are on a need to know basis. If the kid has asthma or something like that, sure they need to know how to handle it. But if the medical background includes notations of, say, past abuse or other sensitive information that is not currently applicable, they do not need to know about it. If the teacher has any questions, I will review the records and let them know what, if anything, they need to know. I think you did the right thing!

Thank you, thank you, thank you ! I was hoping a school nurse would reply ! You hit the nail right on the head. I wish I could send you emails directly because there is so much more I need to vent about. Kids coming to the health room for the smallest non urgent things, dealing with teachers and other staff, and etc. But overall, I do love my job. My boss also told me your exact words teachers need to know things on a need to know basis. However, I'm still not comfortable letting them open up files to look at health records whenever they feel like it. Thanks again. Take care !

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Have you checked out the school nurse forum yet? We do lots of venting over there and I am sure you would be welcomed with open arms! You can also PM me anytime!

https://allnurses.com/school-nursing/

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Get outta Town ! I had no idea... See ya over on the other forum. Thanks !