Minor Questions

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Specializes in School Nursing.

If there is already something like this, please let me know, but I thought there could be a thread for minor questions that we would feel silly to start an entire topic for. I know there are a lot of newbie school nurses who cling to this forum so I thought it might be a nice spot for our side concerns.

An example: do you have your students clean their inhalers after each use? In the hospital, not a single one of my patients EVER did this. None of the students seem especially inclined to do it except for one who does it every time with a tissue.

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Specializes in NCSN.

I clean their spacers after each use, and their inhalers when they are sick, but not between every use

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

I clean them every friday or end of the week and let them air dry over the weekend.

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How often do your diabetics change their lancets? I swear, one of mine says she only changes it when it's too dull to draw blood anymore. :nailbiting:

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

Excellent practice question!

No to the inhalers (the few I have are "emergency use" as most kids carry theirs). No, because I don't do this with mine at home. Yes to the spacers and yes to nebulizer tubing and mask.

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Specializes in NCSN.
How often do your diabetics change their lancets? I swear, one of mine says she only changes it when it's too dull to draw blood anymore. :nailbiting:

I have the same problem with one of mine!!! I've asked the parent if it's ok if I at least change it weekly and they didn't understand why I wanted to since "they last longer than that" :banghead:

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I clean spacers, Neb mask/mouthpieces & neb med cup after each use - if it is an older kid 4th/5th grade, I teach them how to do it and they are responsible for cleaning them. I only clean the actual inhaler if it is not working properly.

A couple of my diabetics use a multi lancet cartridge - they change the cartridge once a week. The others use a single lancet and they change them after each use (most of the time).

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

My second grader uses the same lancet all week, tries twenty times to get blood and once she bleeds she flings blood everywhere, then wipes her finger on her shirt. Every suggestion to change lancet, change finger to less calloused or to use tissue is totally ignored. I heard she didn't re-enroll for next year, is it wrong for me to be doing my Snoopy happy dance?

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

My diabetic kiddos usually change once a week unless they are having a particularly difficult time getting blood. Two of them lick their fingers after checking. Yuck.

My minor question:

What did you all say you used to remove ticks, vinegar or vegetable oil? I remember seeing it, but I can't find where and the ticks are bad already in KY.

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Specializes in School Nurse.
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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
My diabetic kiddos usually change once a week unless they are having a particularly difficult time getting blood. Two of them lick their fingers after checking. Yuck.

My minor question:

What did you all say you used to remove ticks, vinegar or vegetable oil? I remember seeing it, but I can't find where and the ticks are bad already in KY.

I put a drop of soap on a cotton ball. Swirl that on the tick and it'll turn loose; plus you've cleaned the area too.

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attachment.php?attachmentid=24451&stc=1https://cdn.diabetesdaily.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/21/files/2014/01/2328527271_5e2fd3f25e2432.jpg

No reusing lancets or needles! I love this picture, I've shown it to lots of patients and a few students/parents.

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