Txschoolrn

Ugh! I have been trying to order mine and can't get it to go to through, just keep getting the "we are facing women issues on this page".

I cannot love this post enough! I thought I was being a meanie. I treat my students like I do my own kids and if you aren't throwing up in my trash can or running a fever, off you go. Sometimes we just don't feel good and that is OK. We ALL have to push through sometimes and missing valuable class time is not an option unless it's a true necessity.

Yes!!! It's definitely an early Christmas present!!

So jealous! We rarely get snow days here in Texas. They usually just close down the schools if there is a smidge chance there might be ice on the road because none of us Texans know how to drive on ice. Just watch the news! It's horrible!

So sad I had a kid come in with a shaved head and wearing jeans and a white shirt. When asked what happened, he said said that he lied about something to his dad, so dad made his shave his head and dad would be the only one who could pick out his clothes. Just sad. I understand punishment is warranted, but not smashing a kids spirit and esteem to nothing. I reported it as well.

Let the two weeks before Christmas break shenanigans begin! Had a parent call me to let me know that LD forgot to take anti-seizure med this morning, but "she should be fine just wanted you to be on alert" not to mention that I have asked multiple times for meds to be kept at my office just in case she does miss them. Or the kiddo who comes in saying she just need was change of clothes which mom brings. Then she breaks down and starts crying when mom arrives about her menstrual cramps which mom already gave her ibuprofen for. This kid has missed so much school and I try to encourage the student to go back to class, mid-terms are coming up, yada yada yada. I leave my office to go tend to another kid and mom has signed her out. Ugh! Or the little one who was c/o of a sore throats since Saturday. When I asked what mom said, she said "mom said I need a peppermint". That one made me giggle!

Hello! How up-to-date are your IPH's? I have been a school nurse going on 2 years and I have only done a handful. I know they probably need to be done, but (1) where to find the time, and (2) just seems like added busy work as I am the only nurse and we aren't in a district. I know I am just lagging behind, and will probably spend a staff development day soon working on getting ours up to date.

Eye glasses repair and blown out flip flops repair.

I would apologize as well and *if* you have the time, follow up with the students pediatricians office. However, when parents put up a struggle, I just say it's not my rules, rather the state's, so I have no wiggle room. It is what it is. You either provide the record or kid is excluded, and the law will back you up no matter how many copies the parent *said* they provided. She is also probably displacing on you because she is unorganized and can't find it herself.

Our be there for when they have a bad day or when they need lunch money

Welcome! I completely feel ya, and unfortunately that is the standard of training for school nurses. For your screenings, you might try to google search private companies to help if you don't think you'll get your certifications in time. Or maybe even another nurse from your district or an agency nurse could help? I know in some of our old files, I see my school had no other choice but to hire someone to do their hearing screens presumably because the old nurse didn't have time to do it. Just like everyone else said, get the fundamentals down, make your office your own, and know it's ok to be on a learning curve.

Our k-12 school not only does costumes, they also do trick or treating for the elementary. Always makes me a nervous mess because even though we say no nut candies, parents always buy whatever.

VeraTemp for me too. I also check in 2 places, especially if the student is warm to touch and it's telling me 98.2.

I have one staff member that takes handfuls of the cough drops. Drives me bonkers! Like dude, they are here for an as-needed basis, not to stock your pockets every time you have a tickle in your throat!

I had the same problem last year and basically put it all on paper for them including the industry recommendations of nurse to students ratio. I told them everything you said, number of patients, meds, diabetics, chronic care kids, etc. I think its a huge liability issue if you present this to them and something happens. If they don't start listening, I would start looking too. You are right in that all districts have their issues, but yours is a serious one that is putting students health at risk as well as your sanity!

I only count the controlled substances when the parents drop them off. That's it. I would be forever in paperwork if I had to count my OTCs.

I have an aide that comes in for 4 hours a day for the lunchtime rush. Thank God! I had to beg and plead for the help and finally got my wish this year!

Thanks Olddude! I've always enjoyed reading your feedback! It's very helpful !

Hello! I need reassurance from all of you seasoned school nurses out there. This is my 2nd year as a school nurse for a k-12 campus of about 1200 students and counting. I feel like this year has been especially taxing and there have already been a lot of "wth" moments and we haven't even made it to thanksgiving break. I feel like it should already been pretty steady and into a flow, but most days I feel like I walk into a tornado and hit the ground running. My questions are: Are some years better than others? Are there years that it is just a constant chaotic state and some are more calm? Do I just need to be patient and wait for the calm? How long did it I take you for you to know this area of nursing is where you are meant to be? For the most part, I do like it and I like being on the same campus as my kids. I think what I wasn't expecting was the isolation of school nursing. Everyone gets a lunch break. Everyone else on campus can take off when they or their kids are sick, but I don't have any subs and we have to use an agency which makes me nervous because of some of my chronic kids. So I just don't. What do you do to make your work life better? Do you play music in your office? Any little gems that just make your office or your day better? Just seeking some postivity and trying to better my outcome :) Thank you so much for the advice in advance! Admin: please do not post on Facebook or social media. Thanks!

I have a k-12 school with over 1200 students. I guess I am a mean nurse because if they aren't running a fever, vomiting or having diarrhea, I let them rest and send them back to class. I use my nursing judgement of course and will call the parents if the student truly looks miserable. I treat them as would my own kiddos and I know it is important for them not to miss school unnecessarily. If a parent calls me that a student has texted them saying they are feeling bad, I tell them to text the student back and say (1) go to the nurse's office for her to treat you and (2) you aren't supposed to be using your phone during school hours. I have had parents come into my office looking for their child because their little darling texted them saying they aren't feeling well and of course I have no clue because they didn't come to me. . I tell the parents the front office can help call the kid out of class and they can sign them out up front as unexcused. I am lucky that my administrators do support me though.

Hello fellow school nurses! I have been a lurker since I became a school nurse about a year ago! Thank you for all the forums as it helps me to know that I am not alone! Do most school nurses carry their own professional liability policy? I didn't know what the norm is and get conflicting answers from friends who are RNs but not school nurses. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Hello! I started as a new school nurse in the middle of last year. This will be my first time talking with the staff at orientation about my expectations and agenda. My brain is still in summer mode. Does anyone have an outline or agenda they use that they wouldn't mind sharing with me? Thanks in advance!

Hello! I started as as a new school nurse in the middle of last year. This will be my first time talking with the staff at orientation about my expectations and agenda. My brain is still in summer mode. Does anyone have an outline or agenda they use that they wouldn't mind sharing with me? Thanks in advance!