GetBackToClassRN

Our district does not allow us to do pulse ox checks without a doctor's order and the parent has to provide the oximeter. The rule is the same about blood pressure also. The reason they gave us is because we do not have a baseline for individuals or orders for what to do if the readings are out of "normal" range.

What do you use to take student emergency medications (Epi/allergy, Inhaler, Sz meds, diabetic supplies, etc) out of the school building during an evacuation of the school building such as during a fire drill or actual fire? I have approximately 17 students with emergency medications that are kept in the clinic, so they will not fit into a backpack.

Had an older elementary student who was tired of the class being too loud for the substitute teacher so she/he pulled the plastic adjuster piece off their face mask and stuck it in their ear. <UGH!> By the time they came to see me the entire ear was hot, red, and swollen exteriorly. <Double UGH!>

If the student does not have proof of a positive COVID test within the last 90 days, then my district would expect for them to quarantine. I don't believe my district would even allow having an antibody test to get out of doing quarantine.

I had big hopes of staying on PRN at our Children's Hospital where I had worked for 11 years before starting school nursing, but I just didn't have the energy. After working M-F from 8am-3:30pm, I was beat. The hospital would only allow me to sign up for 12 hour shifts. I worked one PRN shift and decided the exhaustion just wasn't worth it. I would love to find a PRN office job or a legit work-from-home job!

I had a kid bring me her birthday crown yesterday because it had ripped. Taped it right back up. This school is so lucky to have a full-time nurse to handle such emergencies!

My oldest daughter (5th grader at the same school as me) even said the other day, "That's so dumb. Why is nurses week the same as teacher appreciation week???" I explained that it's a national thing, not just our school choosing the weeks. She is a little bummed that I don't get as much love and recognition as the teachers, but I told her it was fine. Appreciation is GREAT, but that's not necessarily why most of us became nurses so we just push on and really appreciate whenever we are recognized. ?

Yesss! So much validation in this thread! I love it!

I'm in a K-5 school and too afraid to put anything other than plain ice in the baggies. I swear some of these little lovelies come to get ice just so they can eat it. <huge eye roll>

46 days left here! Whoop whoop!

-A couple girls at lunch decided to wad up the wax covering from a Babybel cheese into a sticky ball, then one girl thought it would be funny to stick it in the other girl's hair. Uh, no! That was a joy to try to remove and we ended up just calling the parent, because the waxy mess caused a huge ugly clumpy red knot in her hair.

My own 2 kids were students at the school before I started working here as a nurse. I was very active in PTA at that point. Most of the students knew me as Ms. "firstname" from PTA and from my daughters dance studio. After 3 years here as the nurse, some students call me Nurse "firstname" and some call me Ms. "firstname" still. I don't mind either. There are a couple teachers that call me Mrs. "lastname" and that's fine too. I don't really mind as long as people are respectful. I just don't appreciate when students walk in and start with "Hey, I need ice (or whatever it is they WANT)" And then there is one super sweet kiddo that calls me Nurse Koala, because he tried to read my name and that's what he came up with. That's my favorite! ?

LUCKY!!!!

One more full day for us tomorrow! I hope everyone has a wonderful winter break!!!

What is your school district policy on students having bug spray or other insect repellent at school? Elementary (K-5 school).

We have a designated "allergy table" where students are not allowed to have anything with the top food allergens. However, we leave it up to parent discretion if they expect their child with allergies to sit there. Most parents choose to allow the student to sit with their own class and just take extra care about who they sit next to and what they touch.

In my school district, ALL medications are required to be in a locked cabinet. The front office assistants have a set of keys to the medication cabinets since they are trained to given medications in my absence. The only exception is if a student has permission to self-carry their medications and then they are responsible to keep it secured in their backpack/purse/lunchbox (only Epi, Inhalers, Diabetic supplies, or oral enzymes can be self-carried with a physician and parent signature to do so).

In our school district, students are only permitted (with physician, parent, and student signature) to self-carry Asthma Inhalers, Diabetic Supplies and medications, Ephinephrine, and Pancreatic Enzymes). My question is regarding the fact that some students have allergy plans from their physicians that indicate, if it appears to be a minor reaction like just a few hives, to give Benadryl or another antihistamine before giving Epinephrine. I understand the controversy over this issue as a lot of people have strong feelings that Epinephrine should always be given right away no matter how the reaction starts and others are more conservative about using the Epinephrine. For those of you that have self-carry available as an option...do your students also carry Benadryl / other antihistamine or only the Epinephrine?

If you feel yourself getting burned out, seek out other nursing opportunities. Even if it means less pay, find somewhere that you can work and be happy.

I hope I don't find, a ripped out central line!

"Dr. So-and-so, I told you that you needed a mask to take care of that patient on Droplet Precautions! Now look at you, coughing all over the nurses and other staff!!! Someone get masks, STAT!"

Just thought I'd share a giggle... As I opened my can of Lysol to disinfect after having a puker in the clinic first thing this A.M., yep, I sprayed my neck. Oops! Thankfully it was my neck and not my face! Ha. Now I just keep laughing at my new "perfume". You know that Lysol scent will linger all day. Wonder if my spouse will like it? Ha!

I've jumped on your bandwagon and changed my user name and pic My past user name and pic would be very identifiable if someone from my school/district were to read on this site. Smart to be more incognito.

I am in a K-5 Elementary school. Our county school board policy is very clear. If a student vomits, they go home and are instructed to wait 24 hrs from their last episode of vomiting before they return to school. It's not my personal choice. Even if a student has a documented medical history which explains why they may vomit, it's still possible that they have picked up a virus/illness that would cause them to vomit and be contagious. I have had experience with a student repeatedly reporting vomiting throughout the school year and going home and seeming to be fine. It has undoubtedly caused a lot of frustration for all of us involved (teacher, parent, and myself). I feel that this is an issue that falls to the parents though and lucky for me, the parents in my situation agree. They are seeking medical and psychological care to get to the root of the problem and solve it. There have been MAJOR improvements since the doctor appointments started. The student was coming to see me at least 4/5 times per week and is now down to maybe once a month if that. Turns out the student was so worried about vomiting in class for some reason that he/she actually started going to the bathroom and making themself throw up to be able to go home. Good luck figuring it out! Thank you for trying to be understanding of your school nurse' situation.

From my experience, nurses appreciate any gift you give. Nurses just like to feel appreciated for the work and care they provide. One of our favorite gifts that I remember (other than chocolate & full dinner meals) was very simple: a cute basket full of small (kid type) scissors and pens and post its! Things that we are always in need of and always seem to lose. :)