Is there a newbie curse? I think there is a newbie curse

OldDude · Mar 28, 2016

It's not a newbie curse. My own theory as to why there are so many injuries, especially playground injuries, is that a large number of kids are not accustomed to playing outside except for the brief moments they are at school. Their musculoskeletal systems have not been condition for play because of inactivity instead of the hours of playing outside; running, jumping, climbing, falling, pulling, pushing, etc. Subsequently, not only do they not have the coordination for play, they break an arm from a 2 foot fall off the playground equipment.

Our "new" playground equipment was installed for the 04/05 school year; State of the art, engineered wood fiber playground surfacing and all that. Since then I have had 17 broken arms from that playground. Many of the fractures were the typical deformed distal radius/ulnar fractures that required surgery.

Of course this is only my opinion but it's the only explanation I can come up with. Hang in there!!

rbytsdy · Mar 28, 2016

This has been a strange year. I've been a school nurse for 2 years and I've called 911 so many times this year! 2 broken arms, 1 case of anaphylaxis and 1 SOB. In the previous year and a half, I think I called 911 one time for a staff member who fell. My school goes up to 3rd grade.

I agree - when it's stressful, it's uber stressful. I joke about ice packs and belly aches but when there is an emergency, it's just me. I had the paramedics for a 3rd grader who had SOB. It was the strangest thing - she had a faint wheeze that apparently turned into the worst panic attack the paramedics had ever seen. I cleared the wheeze with albuterol but she was already too upset. One of the teacher was joking with me later that it must be like being back in the hospital. I said - no, not really!! I worked med surg. We called the RRT if there was a breathing emergency. There was ALWAYS someone else nearby.

GdBSN, RN · Mar 28, 2016

When I took this job, I was fortunate enough to work with the retiring nurse for week. I think she told me she had only called 911 once or twice in the past 2 years. I have had to call 911 five times this year. The thing is as nurses, we know when we need to call 911, the longest wait is when we are waiting for them to arrive...In my mind when they arrive, it's like tag you're it. [emoji28]