Just starting a school nurse position

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I am a RN that has worked in a local ICU for 14 years. I recently accuired a school nurse postition. I am well aware that this new position is very different from what I am doing. I have been trying to look into resources and books that would be helpful and wondered what some fellow nurses might have in the way of insight. I am not going to be able to have someone train me so I am mostly on my own. I bought a school nurse handbook. Are there any magazines out there for school nurses? What tips could you give to help me? I have been reading Gerri Harvey's site and find it very helpful.

I know that the simple things are going to get me. IE gum in the hair and such. What types of education material do you do with the students? Are the teachers receptive? To what extent do you do Universal precautions thru out the school? Do buses carry kits?

I should add that this is a Elementary school and they want me to start more health programs.

Thanks in advance.

Stac

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Oh my. Do you know what your state mandates are? We have to do hygiene classes, hiv classes, cpr etc. It's all mandated by the state that you live in. It's a lot more than band-aids and gum in hair. Good luck. I'm sure the first year will be a learning experience.

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Many states put on a fabulous orientation program for school nurses that gives all the basics specific to your state laws and directs you to lots of resources. Go to the NASN web http://www.nasn.org site and click state affiliates and email everyone lsited or check their website for orientation announcements. AHI is having a Chicago SN conference Aug 4th at McCormick Center and many states are having their summer conferences right now (I am in Wichita at the Kansas one right now)

Ask your state assocition to assign you a mentor who can help you through those first months. It is good to have one both within the district and outside of the district that you work in.

I tried to collect school nurse resources on my website, but it is woefully out of date and many links may be dead :

http://www.usinternet.com/users/bergren

I am a RN that has worked in a local ICU for 14 years. I recently accuired a school nurse postition. I am well aware that this new position is very different from what I am doing. I have been trying to look into resources and books that would be helpful and wondered what some fellow nurses might have in the way of insight. I am not going to be able to have someone train me so I am mostly on my own. I bought a school nurse handbook. Are there any magazines out there for school nurses? What tips could you give to help me? I have been reading Gerri Harvey's site and find it very helpful.

I know that the simple things are going to get me. IE gum in the hair and such. What types of education material do you do with the students? Are the teachers receptive? To what extent do you do Universal precautions thru out the school? Do buses carry kits?

I should add that this is a Elementary school and they want me to start more health programs.

Thanks in advance.

Stac

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