New School Nurses

Published

Hi everyone:yes:

Hoping everyone starts off a good school year.

Just wondering how many new school nurses are on board for this new year, i am also new and hoping to get help and advice from other new school nurses.

i am in texas and hopefully we can come together and motivate each other.:headphone:

I could have wrote your post. I left work practically in tears yesterday. I am a fighter and persevere but I seriously am feeling so overwhelmed. I'm a new school nurse too!!! I have been in NICU since graduation over 3.5 years ago. The learning curve has been very steep so far and I find myself feeling like a complete fool here. This transition is rough! I'm Loving the interaction with the kids. it's the paperwork and documentation and all the other duties that I am having a hard time with. I thought I had decent time management and now I'm seriously questioning that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
I could have wrote your post. I left work practically in tears yesterday. I am a fighter and persevere but I seriously am feeling so overwhelmed. I'm a new school nurse too!!! I have been in NICU since graduation over 3.5 years ago. The learning curve has been very steep so far and I find myself feeling like a complete fool here. This transition is rough! I'm Loving the interaction with the kids. it's the paperwork and documentation and all the other duties that I am having a hard time with. I thought I had decent time management and now I'm seriously questioning that.

As I mentioned above, prioritize and stay on target...don't get dragged out into the weeds. All the administrative stuff will eventually work itself out and really isn't relevant compared to student health and safety.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi there! new school nurse here too and terrified. I have zero training in this setting (other than my practicum) they pretty much showed me my office and said 'here ya go!" Found out I even missed open house last night because nobody felt it was necessary to inform the new nurse that this even occurred. Feeling incredibly defeated today as I sit at my desk with piles of IHPs to go through and over 1200 kids I know nothing on. Was not fully informed of my job responsibilities prior to signing my contract either--found out I also cover another smaller elementary school and I am responsible for those kids as well. I have no health aid or assistant. I dont even know where to start, I've spent most of my morning shifting papers around on my desk. There is one other CSN for the school district and she is in another building 3 miles away (she was assigned as my mentor) It is becoming very obvious to me how under appreciated the CSN is as the management has no clue as to what my role is with these students. *sigh* I'm terrified that I made the worst career choice ever and I am hoping that it will get better as I learn the ropes. They signed me into my computer today, showed me the icon for the 'health charting' and the I/T guy said 'yeah I really dont understand how to navigate this program"...WHAT?! I have teachers coming to me asking me about updated health concerns for their classes....I want to cry...please someone tell me this gets better!!

When I started my job as a school nurse 6 years ago, it was basically the same for me. I was lucky that I had the prior school nurse spend two days with me though but even so, I walked into a foreign environment.

I ended up figuring it out.

I "retired" last October from school nurse but still love this forum. Lots of great nurses and lots of help through the years.

You have to make yourself known to everyone and get on that mailing list for events, etc.

I also became a member of NASN and even went to a conference here in my state my first year plus NASN has satellite/state organizations as well.

Welcome and keep posting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am new! I came from inpatient psych nursing last 16 years. Now I am at middle school over 760 kids. I am in Wichita Kansas. The district has been very helpfully with title 1 support nurse helping me. These immunizations are awful!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
I am new! I came from inpatient psych nursing last 16 years. Now I am at middle school over 760 kids. I am in Wichita Kansas. The district has been very helpfully with title 1 support nurse helping me. These immunizations are awful!!

Inpatient psyche to middle school? Very similar environment!!! Welcome!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

Hey there! I'm a fellow former NICU nurse too! Spent a year in pediatric home care after graduation and then nearly 3 years in NICU before deciding I'd had enough of the hospital and wanted to work with bigger kids out in the community instead. Just started my first job as a school nurse!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi! I am new to school nursing too! I can't wait to start!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was a sub for the past 1.5yrs and just got hired as the 2nd float for the district. Today was absolutely crazy trying to help the head nurse document the meds. School starts tomorrow (CT) and that's when a line of parents sit outside the office and drop off all their child's meds! woo hoo! The redundancy is mind boggling! Meds orders are photocopied in triplicate (1 in PRN folder, 1 with meds and 1 in permanent file (where you also have to write the meds ON the file) so technically 4 times! We have spent the last 2 days calling parents and telling them we need their childs 7th gr physical or they can't come to school, even though they got 3 letters since Oct and a call from the nurse in May. I also work in the ER, so tomorrow should be a walk in the park, NOT!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Welcome to all the noobs!

We are here for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I am a new medical aide (CMA) at a public charter school, finally doing my life dream. It's hard but I do love it. Going to keep going to school to be an actual nurse and be able to do more.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have an interview for a school nurse position on Monday and realize that the school year has already began. Send good wishes my way, I would love to get off working 14 hour days and every other Saturday. Oh, and I used to be a teacher! Good luck everyone!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hope you guys' year is going great! I'm starting on Monday. School started almost a month ago in my part of Texas but got hired late. I come from a outpatient surgery/GI/infusion/interventional radiology unit but we do get weekly peds getting surgery. Excited and nervous.

Wishing everyone a great year!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion