new and feeling blue..

Specialties School

Published

Hello board,

I am new to this specialty. I accepted this job beginning of the month, I came in to no school nurse on campus. No training, the only training I have received is a piece of paper with my daily routine and deadlines for my screenings. I have called coops to get set up with my certifications and am having a hard time finding anyone still doing the classes, so much so, that one will have to come to me for a one on one in screening certifications but not for another month! I can't meet the deadlines, I have no idea what I am doing with documenting, screenings, ect. I do know who gets what meds and when but that is about it. I feel so discouraged and I am used to excelling at my job. The staff barely talks to me and I am definitely not included in all the activities that go on within the building. Please just make me feel better. I want to keep this job as it is where my kids go and it's of course the perfect hours. I just need guidance!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, school nursing.

Welcome! It is scary at first, but you will soon get the hang of it. Are you in a public or private school? Are there other schools in your area that have nurses you can network with? I found that helped me a lot when I was first starting out. I am in a large district in Texas, and the other nurses and I call each other all the time for help. We also have an online discussion forum to post questions.

You may want to check out NASN, the National Association of School Nurses. I believe there are resources on their website where you can get information, and see if your school will buy you the book School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text. Otherwise, just jump on here and ask questions, and we'll help you the best we can.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Pour over these posts. I developed this position with only the guidance of these very wise nurses and info from NASN. No one there can guide you, they are education oriented. Are you in a public or private environment? Makes a huge difference. Please don't hesitate to reach out, why we are here; each other.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am in a very small public school. I have just begun to reach out and will be meeting with a local nurse within the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your quick reply and I look forward to reading through this board and getting to know my role here in the school. You are definitely right about my co-workers being education oriented. I only have 3 students in the whole school who take meds and the rest of my day is filled with trying to dig through old files and figure out what my duties are ha. I look forward to talking with you all here on this board and thanks again for the advice and encouragement!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nurse.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]25143[/ATTACH]

I think this is the norm in school nursing. This too shall pass.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NCSN.
I am in a very small public school. I have just begun to reach out and will be meeting with a local nurse within the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your quick reply and I look forward to reading through this board and getting to know my role here in the school. You are definitely right about my co-workers being education oriented. I only have 3 students in the whole school who take meds and the rest of my day is filled with trying to dig through old files and figure out what my duties are ha. I look forward to talking with you all here on this board and thanks again for the advice and encouragement!

Once you feel comfortable, clean out that office. I nearly filled a shred bin that is my height the day I finally felt comfortable enough to toss the things I wasn't using or that wasn't needed anymore (AHA flyers from the 90s about CPR, Flu shot sign in sheets from around the same time that could barely be read, resources that are no longer available, etc). I felt a lot better once I made my space my own.

Talking with local nurses will help a ton. And like people said, we are always here :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

You probably got more orientation than most. Keep your priorities straight...student safety and health is number one...everything else comes after that in a manner as is possible. Since you are worried about wanting to accomplish years of school nursing experience in a month I can see you have what it takes! So, take one day at a time, kids first, and let the chips fall as they may afterward. Welcome!!! When you look back on it this summer it won't seem so daunting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

One of the most important things to do is network with other school nurses in your area. Their help will be invaluable to you. We are all here also to help! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Welcome! I completely feel ya, and unfortunately that is the standard of training for school nurses. For your screenings, you might try to google search private companies to help if you don't think you'll get your certifications in time. Or maybe even another nurse from your district or an agency nurse could help? I know in some of our old files, I see my school had no other choice but to hire someone to do their hearing screens presumably because the old nurse didn't have time to do it.

Just like everyone else said, get the fundamentals down, make your office your own, and know it's ok to be on a learning curve.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kids.

Join your state organization and NASN. There is a wealth of information to be had, and of course, chill with us!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you all so much! It is comforting to know that I am not alone in my lack of training lol, one question, is there anything I need to know or have readily available if state were to come in or whoever does the auditing for such situations? Do you document every kid that comes through the office and what you did for them? I hope you all have a blessed day and I'm excited to be here :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What everyone said.

Welcome.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment