Interview today for school nurse position that deals with Life Skills students..

jess1215 · Oct 30, 2009

I just started in the same type of position about a month ago. I work with similar students at the high school level. My main focus is one student who requires the most care (tube feedings, changing, meds, monitoring seizures) but I am also the nurse for the rest of the classroom. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it, coming from a more traditional acute care setting, but I really like it. As for paperwork, most of our charting is done in the computer. I do daily notes if there is an issue, and document the meds that are given. All communication to the parents goes through the teacher unless it is something specifically medical. It is a very physical job, always on the move, but so rewarding and the hours are great!

blueiwahine · Oct 30, 2009

Thanks Jess1215. My only other concern is the lifting...that was something I was hoping to get away from...one of the reasons I left the hospital floor setting.

jess1215 · Oct 31, 2009

We have a hoyer lift in the classroom...but some don't and they just lift the kids. Even with the hoyer, it is a very physical job and I definetly feel it at the end of the day. Many nurses have quit with back problems. Every school and set of students is different though.

blueiwahine · Oct 31, 2009

Do you also have another school nurse that deals with all the other students? If so, in your slow time do you assist her, cover her lunch time, etc?

tsansom · Nov 1, 2009

Before you take the position, check and see what the student to teacher ratio is and how much the teachers help with all those diaper changes. In my school, I have a Life Skills class that has 4 students. They all wear diapers and most have to be lifted to a changing table. They can be very heavy....like dead weight. When the teachers assistant is absent, I have to change the female students. The teacher is male and he usually does the lifting, even though they have a lift, just because it's quicker. I found the diaper changes to be difficult to do because of the weight of the kids or shape of them and most are not able to help you. By the time I did one of them I was sweating.

blueiwahine · Nov 4, 2009

Thanks everyone...just got a message to call the school back about the interview...they have a few more questions to ask.

blueiwahine · Feb 3, 2010

Update...I got the job...I simply love it. Have 20 kids in the 3 Life Skills classes... 4 kids that take medication on a regular basis, 1 tube feeding, who also has multiple seizures daily and a couple of other students that have seizure periodically, as well as walkins from the kindergarden and 1st graders on my wing. Every day is a surprize. Have been there 2 months.