2nd Nurse for Early College High School?

[guest83140]

Hi, I have a question. I am the RN school nurse for 9th graders and have an assistant for 900 students. They are adding a Early College High School that is separated and on the lower level of my building. They have separate principals, secretaries, counselors and teachers. They are starting College with grade 9 and with approx 100 students. They want to add a grade each year and I think it can max out to approx 500 students. The Early College High School Principal stopped to introduce herself as she was passing through yesterday. ( I am working Summer School right now until June 27). She said she thought I would be their School Nurse for them as well. No one had formally told me this. And me and my assist were very busy and barely got lunch last year. I prob called 911 about 30 times ( drug OD, seizures, etc.) So if I took on this college I would have to keep a separate file, records, data entry codes, more paperwork). I emailed my current principal, she sent my email to the head medical director guy who ans. back that "yes absolutely she covers them and let me know if there is a problem". One of the head charge nurses resigned b/c she felt this guy and the school supt. never understood what nurses do and refused to hire a Nurse Coordinator. So we basically don't have a voice too much. The Student Support Director lady called me to say that she had tried to get a health professional but that the budget didn't allow it but she will try next year. The Medical Director guy never wrote anything to me. He walks around all day with the School Supt as if he is his assist. Sometimes I wonder if he really is a medical doctor. This is my first year at this school so I don't know too many people. The Charge nurse who has the high school says she is getting tired of fighting over nurse needs/issues. Hope she doesn't leave. Sorry for long post. So, for how long should accept them adding another school and should a Early College High School have their own School Nurse?:argue:

[hb4hikes]

That's a lot of kids. I would find out exactly who the "medical director" guy is and challenge him. At least to have someone hired to put together folders and the paperwork. My daughter started a EHSC program last yr in NC. They have no school nurse currently, upon introductions of the school's "team" the secretary was referred to as the school nurse jokingly. But as nurses it is not a joke, this program will expand over the next 3 yrs and I know they cannot deny children with medical needs and concerns. This program is not affiliated at all with the high school which is across the st so those nurses are a complete and seperate entity. These programs are gaining momentum and will be an asset to the system but I do not believe the "medical/nursing" component was considered in development and budgeting. Good Luck and be weary.

[bergren]

You are going to need to identify your present work load with data. 900 kids with a full time assistant is not that bad of a work load, so if this particular school has greater needs than that number suggests, you will need to identify those needs.

I have covered 2 campuses that were on the same property and it can be done safely.

Do you already do monthly / annual reports? if so, make an appointment armed with that data and have a conversation about this new responsibility. Adding 100 kids is one thing, adding 500 is another. I would go along with the students being added for the first year, but keep good statistics on how the added students increase the work load and revisit next year. Get a commitment re: when the new venture reaches XXX students, how will the health office staffing increase.

If you have not been doing reports or keeping statistics, you are going to need to go back and put together health office utilization data, number of visits, number of procedures, number of kdis with chronic conditions, number of kids with IEPs, IHPs, medications, emergency plans, etc. The number of health classes you teach, immunization follow-up, home visits, screenings and follow -up etc. Add to that the estimated time it will take to set up the new files etc.