Must Have Supplies

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Specializes in School Health.

What are some "must have" supplies that you have in your office? Besides first aid supplies, my go to is bread ties! The wire makes a great "temporary fix" when my student's with glasses lose a screw.

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Salt. I do salt water gargles for sore throats all the time. Makes kids feel like I'm doing something, and it tastes gross so unless they're really feeling bad they don't come back to see me!

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Specializes in School Nurse.

Actually, I got one of those eyeglass screw kits with the screwdriver and the magnfier. Oddly, I get as many requests for it from staff as the kids.

If that won't fix it, there's always tape (tape the school has in the stock room).

Larger ziplock bags (gallon sized) get heavy use in my office for containing soiled clothing, to packing meds for field trips, ice packs, etc... It's one of the few things I don't get either via medical supply chain and the school stockroom doesn't have.

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Specializes in school nursing.
20 hours ago, MamaWifeNurse said:

Salt. I do salt water gargles for sore throats all the time. Makes kids feel like I'm doing something, and it tastes gross so unless they're really feeling bad they don't come back to see me!

Yes, I learned this halfway through my first year school nursing. SO HELPFUL!

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A few more:

Those ketchup packets your get from fast food places for mini ice packs. They work great for swollen eyes during allergy season and also little bumps and bruises.

I put vaseline on EVERYTHING. Cuts, dry skin, chapped lips, bug bites, "it hurts right here" spots that are invisible. Makes the kids feel like I'm doing something.

Peppermints. I have the soft allergy free ones. I give them to some of the kiddos with stomach aches.

Grocery store bags. I double them up for the ones that are going home throwing up to keep the car clean. Parents are SOOOO thankful for this!

Stickers. Especially when the little ones are upset, it gives them something to distract them. Had a little one yesterday waiting for EMS to arrive for his asthma exacerbation. I let him dig through my sticker bin. It helped him from being so scared while he waited. (He's fine by the way!)

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Specializes in kids.

Paper wash clothes, very absotrbant for those yucky nosebleeds.

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