RNTadaaaa

They want the student to go.....however, it isn't that simple.

I am in a private school. I am assessing whether a 6th grade student could be allowed to go on a 3 day outdoor class trip. No Nurse is present at the trip site. Parent does not want to chaperone. I would prefer and have requested a chaperone as the student should not be restricted from attending and I feel it would be safer. Student takes no insulin but is prescribed non- insulin diabetic medications to control blood sugar levels. One of the medications is a pre filled once a day injectable. No in school carb counts (brings lunch from home), student's medical order includes FSBS checks only when student feels symptomatic. FSBS have been within the therapeutic range with one low (60's) for the school year. Seems like the student is well controlled, however I am not sure as to how that will play out when the student is independent on the field trip. Parent proposes the student will self monitor FSBS, administer medication to self at breakfast and check FSBS when symptomatic as usual. I have prepared an Emergency care plan which I will review again with teachers attending the trip, I have prepared log sheets for medication and FSBS results, I have requested a glucagon emergency pack for the trip, I have asked the cafeteria at the trip site for their menu for the three days, I have researched the hospital closest to the trip site which is a 10-15 min drive and a level 3 trauma center......aaaaaannnnd I still don't feel like it is a good idea to send the student without a chaperone. Am I overreacting?

Awesome Idea!! Thank you!! I am going to look into this right away. (sorry it took so long to respond! Campus has a DOH immunization visit today ?)

Helloooo! Happy New Year!! Last year I arranged for the local dental hygienist to come to talk about dental hygine for K-3. K-3 thought it was great. This year I'd like to expand and do a bit more. Does anyone have a dental day at school as well? Any ideas you'd be willing to share please?

You are just stating the facts. I see no grinching! ? The MD offices 'round these parts seem to send replies by horse and carriage. I can't seem to get timely responses else I'd jump on that!! Great idea Rubyjane! I didn't know anything about the toilet rolls as spacers and so I will incorporate that for the students who don't have them. This is why Nursing is great. Always learning something new!!

That is such a great suggestion! Voila indeed!!

That is my kind of pricing!! Than you JenTheSchoolRN!

LOL! Yes! I haven't had to do that just yet but thank you for mentioning it! Also thank you for school nurse supply recommendation.

I'm finding some of my Kinders with asthma have inhalers with no spacers. Unfortunately some parents do not seem to be able to afford them. Or Health care Providers don't order them....which....is a story for another day. I was surprised at the cost the pharmacy gave me for my kid's spacer. 50.00! In my past school, the Office of school health sent extra spacers at the beginning of the semester for students who might need it. Do you have this problem at your school and if so, do you buy spacers? If so, please recommend your site for ordering. I am also looking it up and so far I see 23.00 a spacer. Thank you!

Jeeezz! Thats terrible. Where's the filter on these middle schoolers? God forbid we dont have our sweet voice on one day and suddenly we have an administrative meeting with parents. ?

My fellow Nurses, Thank you so much. I don't know why I let that statement get under my skin when I heard it. I have tweens living in my house, surely I know how irrational they can be!. ? Thank you for the experiences shared and encouragement. It really helps to see that we experience a lot of the same things.

@ruby_jane YES! I haven't been able to secure a time during the prep week staff meeting (that's a whole other story) but I am definitely going to do it this upcoming semester. I love that you have charts and metrics!! What do you use for charting? I do chart but I have been thinking about how to improve my charting to show trends and percentages etc.

@MrNurse(x2) Thank you! I am sorry your staff is so unappreciative of your hard work. They're going to be shocked by the amount of things they will need to cover when you've moved on. @Cas1in72 Ilaughed out loud at "consider the source" !! So so true. Thank you very much. I definitely will not cave. Might do a short educational 5 min talk on what they can expect when visiting the school nurse.

Oh wait! I just saw this article right after I posted. ? https://allnurses.com/what-school-nurses-really-do-t554939/#.Xc6r4KQOEI0.link

My son is in middle school at the K-8 where I work and he told me a couple of his classmates discussed that I don't do very much when they come to the medical room. I told him to ask if they could give specifics on things they would like to have done when they come to the medical room. Maybe I can educate them more on what a School Nurse does? Of course I know that I do everything that I can for the students but it still stung a bit to hear that. I have come across this type of feeling mostly with middle and high school. K-4 think we're angels on earth and 5th grade hasn't made up their minds just yet. Have you experienced this in your school nurse career? If so, how do you fix that perception if at all?