Hi, I'm a new school nurse who recently got hired for the second semester of the school year. I am just wondering what you do on a daily basis? So far, since I started, I've only gotten 3 students total who have paid me a visit. Nothing too serious. My job is pretty much basic first aid and CPR. I'd just like to know what I should get done right away, how to decorate my office, what things I should look at, you know? I'd like to be a great school nurse and I just feel lost right now. Also, when I came into my office, there was NOTHING in here.. maybe a few bandaids, Tylenol, eye wash, and tums so I already put in my order for things I may need. Give me some good ideas to add some color to my dull office :) plus I'd like to meet some new friends who are also school nurses!
Yo, bring some of that mojo to your interview and you will rock it. :)
Haha! Let's hope so!
So as not to derail and scare away our new friend... Every day I start with taking attendance calls, listening to all the call ins. Then I put it all in the computer system. The rest of the day is whatever walks through my door. Lots of cold and stomach aches today.
At the beginning of the year, I am very busy compiling all the information from yearly health forms and dental exams into separate spread sheets for easy access. I also have a spread sheet for my vision/hearing screenings. I really like spread sheets. It takes a bit of time to get all the info entered, but after that it is so easy to just pull up a spreadsheet instead of going through files to see information for multiple students.
I also make sure to keep lists updated for a sub if I need one. I have lists of who gets daily meds and what time. What PRN meds are kept in the office with a separate list about allergies and who has an epi pen in the office, who carries epi, ect. I forgot to do one this year, but I sometimes have done a "frequent flier" list as well for my subs.
Aweeeesome advice guys! Thanks a lot! We got some great ideas coming around. I really appreciate it. Also, any other advice are always welcome. In my language, Thank you means Ahe'hee'. I'm Navajo!
Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.
I just started this job this year too, and the outgoing nurse had been here 17 years and took just about everything that wasn't nailed down, so my office was pretty plain. So for decorating I got some decorative contact paper and stuck it to cabinet doors, got some posters at the first bookfair (got a minion saying "keep calm and eat a banana"), I brought in some books from home for kids to look at while waiting (even the older ones like a good trivia or joke book), and added some pics of my kids. I really go all out for the holidays too. Good Luck and look around the forum - lots of great info!
This is my second year as an elementary school nurse. My office has a big bulletin board that I change every few months, currently it's a minion cold vs flu board. I have a few anatomy posters, as well as food pyramid, healthy habits, and bush your teeth posters. Of course, I have lots of superhero gear around as well! Check with your local health dept., mine always had fun posters.
The daily stuff here tends to be: stomach aches-have you eaten? did you drink 9 things of milk on a dare during lunch?
Sore throat- Do you have a runny nose? salt water works wonders
Stuffy nose- sorry, here are some tissues
headache- rest, ice pack on the back of neck(depending on policy, you could give a PRN)
Most of the time it's pretty basic, but there are those ones that leave you scratching your head (not because of lice)
When in doubt, call the parent.
I make copies of the class pictures and have a color code for different issues- yellow for epi-pen, blue for inhaler, red for faking it, orange for daily med, and so on. It helps the sub out a lot! Hopefully the previous nurse gave you some insight.
For now, read through these threads-they are awesome- play with your charting system, grab a yearbook and enjoy.
Oh and make sure you stock up on chap stick and tampons/pads-I hear those HS girls all sync their cycles;)
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
Do we, kidzcare? DO WE??!