Nurse's office as common area?

[SchoolNurseBSN]

Why is the nurse's office perceived as a common area? I float all around my district and staff act as if they can use anything they see and / or walk through as an entrance / exit to the front office. I try to explain that students deserve privacy and they look at me like I have 3 heads. I actually had a teacher escort her entire class through one clinic as a shortcut the other day (while I was trying to do vision screening). Another teacher asked (in a very loud voice) whether a student was in the clinic for "them lice" again while another parent was checking out her child.

How do you guys handle this?

[safarirn]

YIKES!

Send out a mass email, expressing your concern. When they know better, they'll do better... usually!

Yes, we know we are working in a PUBLIC (school) setting, but health care is a very PRIVATE issue.

Express the need to maintain confidentiality & privacy in your clinic & ask that staff not use your clinic as a short cut passage for 'thru traffic.'

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

i agree -a mass email or bringing up at a staff meeting is in order.

[LACA, BSN, LPN, RN]

I'm lucky in that my clinic is in the 3rd grade hallway, I'm two hallways away from the front office! There is one door into my office, so if you're in my office it's because you were coming in here to see me. No shortcuts possible!!

I agree with the PPs...definitely send out the mass email and be firm but nice about it. Explain that you are concerned about the violations of privacy and you feel that it would be best if people only came to the clinic when they needed something. Also, explain that you are there if they ever need anything, but it's important to respect the privacy of healthcare issues at school.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

locks

[SchoolNurseBSN]

locks

They would just kick down the door then!

[bergren]

Lock the door and put up a sign that the entrance is on X hall. Do NOT open the door.