IsItFridayYetRN

Same!! So stressed ?

I think that the anxiety isn't just bad for the teachers- it's bad for the teachers, parents, paraprofessionals, physical therapists, cafeteria workers, speech therapists, etc., as well as nurses like myself (who are responsible for over 1,000 students and staff on a daily basis and working more than one school campus). Please don't think that us school nurses voicing our concerns means that we just don't want to go back to work-because that's not the case at all. No disrespect meant at all, but if you see nurses speak about our concerns about the beginning of the school year and think we are being overdramatic or anxious, then that tells me that you truly have never been in our shoes. School nursing is a completely different dynamic and scenario than any other kind of nursing that I have ever done, and I would have never understood this unless I was a school nurse myself. And frankly, you saying "I need you all to look at the bigger picture..." is a little condescending to me. Please don't think that we have not been trying to look at the bigger picture- as nurses and parents. That being said, I am so thankful to nurses like you who have been working throughout the whole pandemic. Your sacrifices are very much appreciated.

Thanks for this, @Flare! Some great info to consider.

Nope sure doesn’t. Pretty disgusting, right??

The girls restroom is next door to my office which was the theory into moving me where I currently am. But I’ve tried to explain to administration that it’s not really always feasible (or sanitary) for me to go with soiled hands to the restroom next door- especially if there is a class in there using the restroom at that time. And not to mention that often times the students need to wash hands before going to class. Going to see if I can either be moved back to my old office which has a sink and area that could be used for isolation room (that would be my pick) or have a sink installed in my office (which I’m sure will not happen!!).

Mine does not have running water which worries me on a normal year, even more so this year. I totally feel you. Going through many of the same feelings myself.

WOW!, that's awesome. No word about the district purchasing anything for the nurses. I guess I'll have to start shopping around! Yes, I agree with you. Hot spot here also. I will check out Ebay! Thanks for the input!

Yes, I’m dreading it as well. My school is already out of control with teachers sending kids mainly to get them out of their own hair. The majority of what I see are classroom management issues and not really sick kids. Addressed with my administration numerous times to no avail. Now I’m afraid it will be even worse this year.

I love how the district states all of these rooms that we need while knowing how the clinic is set up. I love when I hear school nurses use the term "clinic", because I think in my head those must be nice. My office is a little bigger than a closet and I don't even have a sink! I'm trying to get administration to move me back into my office which had a sink and an adjoining room, but I'm not sure if that's gonna happen!!

Thanks for the input. No guidance here, either. The not knowing is driving me crazy! Thanks for the info- researching now! What about goggles or face shields? Should we be wearing these when doing simple tasks such as looking at sore throats?

Yes, it does, thanks! Our district has not announced yet who will man the isolation room (which I do not even know where this will be yet at my school) but we were told that it will not be the nurse. So, I am presuming from what little info I've gotten from my district that any suspected COVID will first come to my office, then into isolation room while waiting for parent pick up. Which when you think about it is really silly because then my office would be contaminated, need to be cleaned after. I still haven't quite figured out how I am going to do all of this with the regular visits that I have every day? And I have more than one school!!

My Fellow School Nurses, What kind of mask/face covering/ PPE are you planning to wear for yourself daily in the coming school year? I'm not sure if I should purchase surgical masks, fabric masks, etc. Should we double mask? And what about face shields? Overkill or no? Thanks ?

Yes, Yes, Yes! To all of this above! We are supposed to begin first week of August, but so many details still up in the air. Will be a year for the record books, for sure!!

I'm nervous as well. I would be in what's considered a "high risk" category, which makes me even more scared about getting coughed all over all day long. My office is tiny and I do not know how possible it is to distance in there! Not to mention the normal multitude of nonsense that comes through my door every day. Hopefully administration will help to curb the "non necessary" visits. Which honestly, is well over half of the students that I see each day (and I'm very much underestimating). The school nurses in my district have received little to no information about the plan going forward. I feel like it will be a nightmare school year. I wish they would postpone the school opening until Labor Day. Although I did read something recently from a local doctor in my area who felt that one of the quickest ways to get control of this virus is for schools to open and kids to be back around each other. His theory was that since kids fare relatively well with the virus they no longer need to be at home. I am not too sure how I feel about this- it's not just kids who are at school though. What about the staff?

I'm also very nervous. Our district just released guidelines, but our nursing department has given us ZERO word on how the nurses fit into this whole process. I know that there is still a month before school is going to begin, but the not knowing all of these factors is driving me crazy.