I don't do well under pressure. Pls help

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I get really nervous when I have too many (more than 1) students in the Health Office. Is this normal? I could feel my face turning RED. Any tips or advise?

What is it that stresses you out? Just the sheer number of kids? Are you concerned that teachers may criticize how long they're out of class? As others have said...there's only one of you. Triage and then go in order of importance. If they're all minor things go in order of arrival. I have 2 beds. Threre have been times where I have a kid in each bed, someone in the bathroom, a kid in a folding chair in the clinic and kids sitting out in the office waiting. It all worrks out in the end.

A little side note: I have Bipolat disorder, GAD and ADD. I work for a special ed school and I see about 15-20 students a day (Not a lot I know) but I feel so burned out with amount of attention (Nursing assessment I should say) that I'm giving them.

Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..
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A little side note: I have Bipolat disorder, GAD and ADD. I work for a special ed school and I see about 15-20 students a day (Not a lot I know) but I feel so burned out with amount of attention (Nursing assessment I should say) that I'm giving them.

That is a lot. Some of my more needy kids definitely make things hard some days. Can you also try to make your office more "calming"? I have nice music playing and an essential oil vaporizer that uses eucalyptus and lavender oil. I am not at all into essential oils, but the smell is nice and it definitely makes for a calm environment. Sometimes after a really stressful rush of students I try to do deep breathing with calming spa music on (free on youtube)- always helps.

Specializes in ICU, ER, Home Health, Corrections, School Nurse.

Maybe you're just doing too much. Our templates for all the maladies include every possible scenario...so for stomach ache it wants bowel sounds, abdominal palpation, etc. If someone comes in with a stomach ache, lays down for 10 minutes and then happily goes back to class, there's no reason to do a complete head to toe exam. If something is potentially serious, you'll be able to tell while they're laying down that they're not getting better, resisting going back to class etc. That's when the assessment can kick into a higher gear. Even if you do send someone back to class with something potentially getting worse, they will be back, trust me. Even with special-ed, these are basically healthy kids. Certain things I will give close attention to--asthmatics, head injuries, allergic reactions, or severe injuries. The rest of the never ending headaches and stomache aches, mint, water, few minutes on the cot and out the door.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ICU.

Why would two kids bother you? I mean this in the best way possible, but it's not a pediatric ICU, just two in a school setting. Focus on the fact that their acuity is likely low and there's no need to panic. You have time to assess them, prioritize, and intervene. If their airway is fine, their breathing is fine, and their circulation is fine, take 10 seconds to collect yourself and go from there.

Specializes in School nursing.
That is a lot. Some of my more needy kids definitely make things hard some days. Can you also try to make your office more "calming"? I have nice music playing and an essential oil vaporizer that uses eucalyptus and lavender oil. I am not at all into essential oils, but the smell is nice and it definitely makes for a calm environment. Sometimes after a really stressful rush of students I try to do deep breathing with calming spa music on (free on youtube)- always helps.

The smell doesn't bother any of your students with asthma? I have two students that would case acute symptoms with so no go. Everything is fragrance free with one exception - the "fresh scent" toilet spray. My bathroom would not survive the daily parade of MS/HS boys without it...

(And so much YES to vomiting NOT being an emergency. Like I have said before. Vomit happens. Sometimes you just have to let to happen. I will never rush out of my office to hold a kid's hair back and embarrass them even more than the vomiting did itself.)

The smell doesn't bother any of your students with asthma? I have two students that would case acute symptoms with so no go. Everything is fragrance free with one exception - the "fresh scent" toilet spray. My bathroom would not survive the daily parade of MS/HS boys without it...

(And so much YES to vomiting NOT being an emergency. Like I have said before. Vomit happens. Sometimes you just have to let to happen. I will never rush out of my office to hold a kid's hair back and embarrass them even more than the vomiting did itself.)

Has not bothered any of them and there is a separate area where I would neb someone. My office is really tight so usually any of my asthmatic kids get seen outside my office in a separate area with outlets, chair, etc.

Everyone walks in expecting you to be ready and waiting for them.

Remember that anywhere else - doctor, emergency, clinic - they would have to WAIT. Because you can only see 1 patient at a time! I literally ignore everyone else coming in to stand there (barring a clear emergency). You have to triage but also just go down the line.

Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

What also helps is having the students use passes. This helps because if the teacher filled the pass out correctly, you already have a quick note of who, what, and when. This helps because you don't have to take time to write all of that information down (except maybe a temp, etc.) which can be time consuming.

Breathe. I too have GAD and there are times when I see upwards of 50-60 students. If budget allows, order boxes of band-aids to pass out to teachers which eliminates those many paper-cut and hang-nail visits.

Working in a special needs school does make it rough at times, these kids are more complex and you don't want to miss anything so you might "over assess" if that makes sense.

You've got this. Develop a system and stick to it. If anything can be delegated to the instructional assistants in the class, do it.

Specializes in pediatrics, School LVN.

If the kids walk themselves into my office and aren't gushing blood or in respiratory distress they can wait their turn. I find that weeds some of the "I just want don't want to be in class" kids out because when they see that there are 4 students in the office and they will have to sit quietly with nothing to do and wait their turn they are miraculously able to return to class without being seen. Having them wait their turn also allows me to observe them without them knowing they are being observed so I can see who is trying to get out of class and who really isn't feeling well. Take a deep breath, you can only do what you can do. Emergencies always take priority everyone else can sit and wait or come back. I've even had my kids who get regular meds sit for a minute or two until I am comfortable the student I'm with is stable. Getting their meds a couple of minutes late won't hurt them. It's only my second year, but I am much more comfortable and confident then last year. Good Luck and hang in there.

Specializes in as above.

unless you have a private waiting room, get used to it! They are there for a reason! Help them, thats why you took the job.

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I have ADD and some anxiety and I get you OP. I get so overwhelmed when I have so many kids in my office (and I have a tiny office, 3 chairs and only one bed.) What I do is I recenter myself, breathe and ask each kid what they need and write it down and the most important ones go first and so forth. Another kid comes in with headaches and my bed is busy, I give them the option of either sitting or going back to class and coming back in 10 mins. If there's no room, I ask them to go to class and come back later.

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