Just hired as school nurse-scared!

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I have been working in education and case management for the past 6 years. I just was offered a job as a school nurse. As I feel confident in the teaching, developing plans, staff education and such, I am very nervous about the assessment and clinical skills. I know that this is basis of nursing, but I haven't been in that part of nursing for 6 years. There are Health Assistants that handle most of the hands-on stuff, but they will be calling me with questions. I am a little nervous because these are kids. I don't want to make a mistake.

I'm wondering if I made a mistake. I would be the only school nurse for the entire school district. Help!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

First of all, relax... you're in good company. There is a good sub section of this forum for school nurses specifically.

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

start by going there and perusing a few threads from nurses who have been in your exact same position.

Then feel free to use that forum as a tool to reach out to us with questions you may have. We all usually check it pretty regularly -especially during the normal 10 month school year.

On a more local level - look into joining your state's school nursing assoc. or the national assoc www.nasn.org

get to know a few school nurses in your area that you can call on if you need support.

Good luck - i am sure it won't be as scary as you think

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Wow - - One nurse for a district? Every school here has its own full-time RN. And so did the schools in the other 3 states where my kids went.

Who gives the meds in those schools - especially prn meds?

Any diabetics? Who interprets the blood sugars and the need for insulin or food?

Please ask exactly what your responsibilities are.

Best wishes!

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The Health Assistants in each school do the med dispensing, insulin, etc. I would be in charge of educating the Health Assistants and they would call with any questions. Sounds like a big job!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Oncology.

If you are nervous about the assessment skills, why not find a nursing textbook regarding head to toe assessment and start reading up? I'm sure you can find one for CHEAP on Amazon.com. You can probably find a good clinical skills book as well. :)

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