lyrern

I actually thought of the cool kids group while standing in my closet this morning when I put on my pink nurse shirt. I told myself "I'm so fetch, and I'm sittin' with the cool kids today." Let us celebrate the little things - it is what keeps us going.

No matter what your previous nursing experience is, there is a steep learning curve the first year in school nursing. But if you switch to a different specialty within a hospital, you would still have a learning curve. That is just the nature of the beast of nursing. In school nursing you must be a self motivator, and you need to know what you don't know and ask questions. I remember my first year I did not know squat about immunizations. I must have learned it for a pedi exam in school, but did not use it since so forgot it all. So, yep, I was confused that first year on shots, among many other things. I would self talk "OK I don't know the spacing of Hep B's, but I know how to take care of a post op liver transplant" reminding myself I am capable, persevere, and learn. Now-a-days a post op liver would not be fun; it is just that first year of any change in nursing specialty can be daunting and challenging. A lot depends on your district on how well you adjust. In my district, we have one day (we wish we could do more) of new nurse orientation, plus several days of district wide inservices (including CPR, screening certifications.) We also assign a mentor to the new nurse. That way she has a designated person who willingly helps her anytime, checks in with her to make sure she is on target with what must be done, can be a sympathetic ear when the new nurse hears "well, the old nurse used to do it this way", etc.; however, most of all our nurses are willing to help each other. But that is my district. We have an RN in every school, and we have an RN as our director. I understand not all districts are like this. In school nursing there are things you must do - immunization compliance, screenings, physical care of the students. There are also things you may do, depending on your interests - introducing different health programs, teaching, "Project Adam", etc. You get to make the position your own. Seek out school nurses in your district and ask them the questions you have. Check out NASN's website - National Association of School Nurses. There are a lot of resources for us. Check out your state's school nurse organization website. It is a great specialty. I hope you make the switch and enjoy it.

I remembered and wore pink today. One of the teachers even commented on how pink I am. Sittin' with the cool kids. I'm so fetch. ?

This saddens me, but I'm happy for you!!! I will miss your wisdom and humor. This site has been better because of your contributions; thank you. I hope you will check in on us every now and then..... but on to bigger problems, who am I going to sit with on Wednesdays?

Welcome back! There is nothing quite like school nursing - it is unique. And only those who remember wear pink on Wednesday (I'm completely in blue today.)

The PE teacher and I gathered the research and presented it to the principal, and we had all the grades second and under banned from the monkey bars. This happened after an open fracture of a second grader while playing on the monkey bars. The majority of children under eight do not have the grip strength or the arm span to adequately play on the bars; the research we found supports this. That principal retired, and the next one reinstated allowing all ages on it. Yes, we have had a couple of accidents since then. Also along these lines, I was once told by a non-nursing person in the education hierarchy to not chart "monkey bars" but "overhead ladders" due to legal reasons.

I place folded paper towels in snack sized baggies, then fill it with a bit of water - just enough to wet the paper towel, then freeze. When pulled from the freezer one can bend it into whatever shape needed, and it stays cold "just long enough." Also, it takes away the temptation of drinking the water - yuck, by then it is a wet paper towel stuck in a baggie.

Totally unfetch.... in black. ? It was sort of my mood this morning. I need spring break now.

You have accomplished an amazing amount of goals since 2015 - congratulations!

Our district requires a clinic pass for each student's visit. I like them for multiple reasons. One - my first year as a school nurse, I had a 4th grade child enter the clinic without a pass, but looking horrible and had been vomiting; he had a fever; I sent him to pick up his back pack while I called his mom - who sent his grandma to pick him up. He never returned to the clinic where the students wait to be picked up. After a while I called the teacher. She hadn't seen him since she sent him to the bathroom. She didn't know he went to the nurse - much less that he was febrile and going home. He wasn't in the office. It turns out he picked up his back pack in the hallway where he had a locker, never went to the classroom, was walking back to me when he saw his grandma pull up in front of the school, and he walked out the front door, and no one saw him. Grandmother did not know she needed to enter the building to pick him up. I tell the teachers this - clinic slips protect them, because it lets me know they know where their student is supposed to be.... Second reason - on the clinic slips I have a spot for teacher's observations, which is valuable. Example - child crying, and teacher states he never cries. I have 850+ students, so I don't know all of them as well as I wish, so I value the teacher's opinion. Third reason - I think of it if it is worthy of a clinic visit, my time, charting, etc., then it is worthy of a few seconds of a teacher writing out a clinic pass. Plus, I supply them with clinic passes. I make hundreds of copies, and I keep them in the mail room for the teachers to pick up. I think if I require passes, then I will make copies for the teachers. It is give and take, and it works.

A while ago, I told my young adult daughter about allnurses forum, the school nurse group, and the "we wear pink on Wednesday." So last night she and I were discussing laundry (she has relocated due to her profession, and she is staying with us for a month), and I said something about wearing my pink scrubs. She said "this is for that nursing forum of yours, right?" I told her it is, and she just looked at me sadly and shook her head. She then said "I hope you don't tell other people that you wear pink because someone on-line tells you to. Your co-workers will think you are nuts." I never thought of it from that perspective. I am wearing lots of pink today, dear friends on-line.

Spring break starts in five minutes. We added Friday, the 9th, and Monday, the 19th, to our spring break, which is the 12 through 17. Yep - eleven days!!! I have no real plans, just relaxing.

I have taken this several times, and I am always an ENFJ "The Mentor." Years ago, the staff of the PICU, where I was working at the time, took it, including all RN's and RRT's. It was one of the most interesting work experiences - seeing how co-workers interpret and give information. I think all married couples should take it, and I think all work groups should take it. We spend so much time and energy on these relationships, this will only enhance our communication. As an ENFJ I enjoyed PICU/NICU for fifteen years; then, I had a career change. I became a school nurse in 2001, and have never regretted the change. I'm really going to love it next week when I'm on spring break.

Wearing pink today makes me happy! It means it is Hump Day; therefore, I'm halfway through the week!! AND I'm sitting at the cool table. Life is fetch!

I like the idea of a poncho. I may have one at home which may work.