SchoolNurseK

Does anyone have an Emergency Action Plan for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura? I need to get one together before my student returns, but thought I would check here before reinventing the wheel! Thanks!?

I am back for year three. I actually quit with thoughts of leaving nursing all together, but they lured me back with the promise of a Clinic Assistant who started on her own last week. I now have Wednesdays and Fridays off and this is already a game changer! This reduced schedule is allowing me to turn off my COVID brain and take care of myself, which was a huge challenge for me last year. When it comes down to it, I love my kids and so I largely love my job. COVID is maybe starting to settle here and some days feel almost normal. Three years of doing this THROUGH A PANDEMIC has also given me more confidence so my days here seem to largely flow pretty smoothly. Let's stay the course friends. We are here for such a time as this. Hugs to everyone!

This is what I always do as well. I explain that they are getting enough oxygen, they are safe, etc...

Thankfully in FL we are largely through the pollen season. It was a beast! I did send a lot of kids to get tested even though their parents promised me "it's just allergies" and I am glad I did. I caught several cases before they returned to school. Stay the course! You are so close to the end of the year!

I am in my second year at my high school and I really like working here. My 9th grader joined the school this year and it seemed like it would be ideal. School pick-up/drop-off rolled into my work commute, same schedule, etc... However, the 9th grader is not loving it. In fact, my kiddo politely asked me to move schools next year or he would like to change schools. I am a little heart-broken. I love it here and he is thriving, but there is no separation from Mom and that has been difficult for him. I keep a low profile when he is around, but we have a unique name and there is no getting away from the fact that he is "the nurse's kid." I just submitted my proposal to negotiate my contract for next year (long story that involved me turning in my resignation and them asking me to stay) and now this honest conversation with him has opened my eyes. I had no idea how much he disliked having me pop up in random places all day. I keep it professional between us, but I guess I am still his mom and that makes a 15yo feel awkward. Anyone navigated this before?

I turned in my Intent to Return form yesterday...I am not returning. ? It was a very difficult decision, but I think this is what is best for me and my family. It almost feels selfish, but I think this is something we as nurses put on ourselves too often. I love my school and my kids. This has been my favorite nursing role of my almost 20 year career, but at this point I want to be more present for my family than I feel this job allows. I may look at doing PRN vaccine clinics or something like that for a while. I truly believe I will return to school nursing, I just need a break. Looking forward to new opportunities, but doing so with a heavy heart. Goodbyes are tough.

This was exactly my thought in mixing the vaccinated and un-vaccinated students. I appreciate your input and I will try to find that article.

For real. This is exactly why I feel fried. I want to throw my hands up and say, "I have no idea and I cannot make any more decisions about anything!" but alas, I must remain professional and try to keep my brain going in the right direction. Counting down the days....27 more.

We have a team going to a competition several hours from our school, so they will be staying overnight. Some parents have opted to attend and their student will stay with them in a hotel room. We will have four additional students that are fully vaccinated and three that are not that will need to be placed into two hotel rooms. I have been asked to advise admin on the sleeping arrangements. Do I split up the vaccinated and un-vaccinated to reduce risk or do I keep all vaccinated kids together? I have no idea how best to approach this! HELP!

I submitted it to admin and they are taking it to the board and school lawyer for review. Thanks for all the input, everyone!

I just had a parent request for a space for their child to do a mental health visit during school hours. We as a school had nothing to do with the appointment, but I facilitated the visit by providing a private space. I foresee more of these types of things coming since telehealth is becoming so prevalent, so I want to make sure we are prepared with a process and a consent form so that the school isn't held responsible.

Does anyone have an existing consent form for telehealth appointments? I am in a high school so I am anticipating students doing telehealth during school hours is going to become more common. I've been working on creating one and this is what I have so far. Any input is appreciated! Parental Authorization: Student Telehealth Appointment During School Hours Student Name: ____________________­­­­­­­­­ Student Number: __________________ Date and Time of Appointment: __________________ Name of Provider: ______________________________ My student has a scheduled telehealth appointment and I am requesting that XXXX provide a private and confidential space for this appointment. I will provide all equipment necessary for my student to attend the appointment including laptop with camera, phone, and headphones. I understand that XXXX staff cannot enforce student participation in a telehealth appointment, nor are they responsible for connectivity issues that may arise during the session. I will hold XXXX and its staff harmless for an incomplete or interrupted session, or in a breech in confidentiality during the session. I understand that that some therapies may not be as effective in this setting/context and that I need to be available during the appointment to communicate with the provider as needed. XXXX staff will not participate in the appointment, nor provide consent. I hereby release all claims, demands, damages, actions, causes of action or suits of law or inequity, of whatsoever or nature against XXXX the School Board or any employees following this request. I understand that I am signing on behalf of a minor or otherwise legally dependent person, and I certify that I am a person with legal authority to act on behalf of the patient, including the authority to consent to medical services, and I accept financial responsibility for services rendered. Signature of Parent(s) or Guardian(s): ___________________ *Date of Request: ________________ *Request must be 72 hours prior to appointment Approval: __________ Date: ______________ Staff member to supervise appointment: _________________ Location of appointment: _______________________________

Yes, depending on where you work this can be an issue. I worked in a pretty rough area when I was in home health before I had kids. Looking back, I wasn't always the safest, though I wore scrubs and that seems to afford me a certain level of protection and respect. Once I was a Mom, I switch to a rural area. Things still got dodgy a few times, but nothing I couldn't handle. You quickly learn to enter a home and take charge. That usually diffuses most things. Being a school nurse will have prepared you for that! ? Best of luck!

If you are looking for a flexible schedule, I was PRN in home health for YEARS before coming to school nursing. I did Medicare visits (the paperwork looks daunting but you can learn it pretty quickly), so I was able to schedule my 30-45 min visits around my kids' schedules. I could load up on visits if I wanted to make extra money, or let my agency know that my kids were off for the Summer so I wasn't going to be as available. It worked really well for us, I just needed a change so I came to school nursing. I miss my flexible schedule but having the Summer totally off is nice too!

47 on-campus days, plus one week after school ends! Plus I took a little vaca in the middle, so it's 44 on-campus days for me. :-) I think we are going to make it, friends! Whew!

I think that is one of the main things that is tripping me up. I am working really hard and doing a TON of extra stuff that hasn't even been asked of me and getting so little financial return. I feel a little guilty saying it, but it definitely plays into my decision making. Well that and the fact that I feel like I have aged 72 years in the last 12 months! I am just TIRED! Hoping Spring Break will revive me to make it through to the end of the year. ? It tears me up a little to think of leaving my school where I have built so many relationships with the kids (some have taken a LONG time to build) and been able to make positive change for our school community, but I am struggling to keep up with all the other areas of my life. Like when I get home to my own teenagers, I am spent! I feel like they aren't getting the best out of me anymore. Hello guilt...again!

I make all the quarantine calls for our school. I HATE making those calls. Now whenever I call parents about other things, they get so worried when they hear my voice. I HATE quarantining my seniors during their final sports season. I HATE quarantining kids on their birthday (yes, that happened). I hate the whole thing but, overall our parents have been understanding. One good thing that has come from this is that I am really getting to know our families. They are utilizing me more for questions or concerns. I make sure they know I am here for them as a resource every time I call. This isn't something I would get to do if DOH was making those calls.

I am in a high school and we have had a similar experience. No school based transmission, no shut downs. We have a little more than 50% of our students on campus and we've been here since August. Even when our numbers have surged, it haven't seen it within the school. Lots of parents have gotten it, putting their kids into quarantine, but little to no increase in our student cases.

I am torn and my decision changes by the day. My family is so tired of hearing me waffle back and forth! If I stay, I am going to ask for a raise because my pay is abysmal for what I am doing now. I would ideally like to job share with someone and do 2-3 days a week. This is highly unlikely, but a pay raise with a 2 day a week schedule is something a girl can dream about, right? ?

What in the world?! I mean seriously. ? I am now concerned that Florida will follow suit...just as we are starting to see slight improvement. I am really praying we will at least wait until after Spring Break. Hugs and prayers for all you Texas nurses!

I am going on my 20th year as an RN (how is that even possible?!) and I left bedside nursing after my first year. (I went back PRN for one year and confirmed it isn't a good fit for me.) Explore your other options. You don't have to do bedside nursing to be a great nurse! I realized it was important for me to have time to get to know my patients and see them through their illness. I went into geriatric home health where I could take my time, build relationships with the patient and family, do a lot of teaching and see improvement or gently usher them into end of life care. Now I am in school nursing and it is very similar in respect to building relationships and doing a ton of patient teaching. There are so many great options, so don't put yourself in a position where you feel unsafe or dread going to work. Identify what you love about being a nurse and find a position that fits your personality and provides you a healthy work-life balance. Hugs from this old nurse that's been there and understands how you are feeling. ❤️

oh the business office.... That's a whole thing.

Has anyone put together a relaxation room for their high anxiety kiddos? The guidance counselor and I have been throwing this idea around for a while and we are looking for some direction. Specifically looking for ideas on how to present this to admin, what items you've found to be super helpful if you have one of these spaces, and how you funded it. Thanks! :-)

I think a recliner or geri chair would be perfect! I have a cot but my high school boys usually end up with either their feet hanging off the end or with their head and neck all curled up against the wall. It's not ideal. Thinking I would have need for more sick space, I purchased two waterproof fold-up camping cots over the Summer. I haven't used them yet because even with 50% of our kids on campus, it's been blessedly quiet in here this year. {Huge sigh of relief} I need to see how much is left in my budget because I haven't spent much this year thanks to all the grants we received! I am thinking I would like to purchase an official stop the bleed kit.

First of all, I am so sorry. That is incredibly disheartening after a school year like this. We have been full time in person since August too and it is A LOT to manage. I can imagine this feels like a slap in the face. ? Do you have any ability to negotiate the contract offer? Maybe put together a one pager with how your roll has expanded in complexity, including all the new rolls you've taken on within the school (covid commander, resident covid expert, etc...). I am hoping maybe the don't realize all you've been doing this year and that is why they offered such a disappointing deal.