Mass state mandated screenings

Flare, ASN, BSN · Jan 26, 2011

I did all of 6th and 8th grade for hearing and vision in December. Used the PE class as a pull point, since my students are not in the same rooms all day long. I was granted a sub nurse for my screening days and we set up to have one of us do hearing, the other eyes. I sent emails out a week before and then again the day before to tell teachers that we would be doing screenings and NOT to send students for anything but meds or true emergencies. When we gotinto the mechanics of the actual screenings, we took kids 10-15 at a time and advised them to sit or stand quietly in the office until their turn, they would get eyes checkes, go get hearing checked and head back to class - and send another student when they got back to class. It worked surprisingly smoothly and the kids were really quiet and cooperative in the office. But I also had a really great sub with me who knew what she was doing, so that was key too!

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2011

I screen during the student's PE time. It usually takes me 2 PE classes to finish a class, but at least it is not an interruption to instructional time. They only miss about 5 min each of exercise and can pick right back up where they left off generally. I screen in the PE coach's office attached to the gym. This does get noisy, but I still have very few fail the hearing even with the background noise. Those who do not pass the initial screening get re-screened in my office where it is quiet.

The PK kids who do not go to the gym for PE get screened in their classroom. I set up tucked in a corner and just go down the roster til the class is done. They take the longest since they have never been screened before, but I am usually finished up by lunch if not an hour or so sooner.

I am always interested to hear how others handle their screening. I have done it a bit differently each year, so always looking for improvements. Another tip is to screen kids when you see them for minor injuries or illnesses if you are going to need to screen them eventually. Since they are already missing class might as well take another couple minutes and get it out of the way. I also try to screen newly enrolled students while their parents are filling out enrollment paperwork. The kids are usually just standing around waiting to go to class or getting into something in the office, so it ocupies them and minimizes interruptions to instruction later :)

hobiehobie · Jan 28, 2011

How did you get their height and weights?

hobiehobie · Jan 28, 2011

I have screened during regular visits and I am surprised how many can be done that way.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Jan 31, 2011

heights and weights are done by the PE teachers and the data is then given to me.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2011

How did you get their height and weights?

I bring my scale and a growth chart into the Coach's office. Usually my screenings are done before the PE Coach does his, so he gets them from me, lol. I really like to do the height and weight screenings one at a time in the privacy of the coach's office for the kids' sake.

schoolnurse09 · Feb 1, 2011

The state of NE mandates that screening be done the first quarter of the school year. I screen grades K-6 on one day or 2 half-days per school ( I have 3 elementary schools with a total of around 800 kids) with parent help. Screening laws will change in 2012 and we will have to screen all Pre-K, but not 5th & 6th grades. We will also have to start screening for near vision, which we don't do now. We screen for distance vision, height, weight, dental status. K, 2nd and 5th get hearing screened in November.

smily nurse, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2011

I am in a PK-2; I pull the kids from lunch after they eat. They are restless and want someting to do. They are all pretty so-operative and seems to be working well.