Knee surgery

[momto5RN]

Hello School Nurses!!

What recommendations do you suggest for a middle school student that had knee surgery and will be returning back to school? The student will be on crutches and is non-weight bearing. The student will be paired up with a buddy for support going up and down the stairs and to help with books and such. There is no elevator in the school. Other accommodations are letting the student leave class 5 minutes before the rest of the class and eating lunch on the second floor where most of his classes are. Anything else?? Thank you!!!

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

These all sound good, but no elevator? I'm surprised a school isn't required to have one, to be honest. Going up and down stairs on crutches can be a process. Does you middle school switch classes or are all classes in the same room?

For switching of classes, I would also set-up no penalty for arriving late to class either. Student may need to wait for crowds to clear on stairs if needed. Some kids are awesome hoppers, of course, but not usually at first .

[BeckyESRN]

First one on and off of the bus, if he rides the bus. Stairs with crutches would worry me, but that can't be helped. Use of the closest restroom, even if that's the staff restroom.

[Eleven011]

That is what we do with students on crutches. We have a school with stairs and no elevator. We do have a chair thing that goes up and down the stairs, but its seriously slower than a slug and its never where the student needs it (top or bottom of stairs). So they usually opt to hop down with another students help. They leave class a few minutes early to beat the hall congestion and are never counted tardy if late.

[Amethya]

Elevator pass, extra 5 mins to get to their classes and limited PE. I send it to all their teachers and PE teacher, as well as some of the admin so they know.

[momto5RN]

Thank you all!! He is doing well so far today but of course it is snowing out and I don't think they will let us leave early today.

[Farawyn]

I don't like the no elevator. Eeeek!

[momto5RN]

Yes, I agree!!! I work in an old Catholic School. I have been monitoring him on the stairs today. And there are a lot of stairs unfortunately. Seems to be doing good. I told him to please take your time going up and down. And there is another student in the same class who just had foot surgery too. Is it spring break yet?!?!