mandm97

I could not agree more with Hobe!

CT is the same as Mass. It will be very interesting as I'm sure travel will increase around the holidays

65..............................long......................days!! ?

Good Question.........for the same reason Kidzcare stated--it can be very awkward if the parents does not see this as problem. I've had parents complained (got burned a few times in 20+ years of school nursing-pre-k thru 8th grade) that I spoke to their child about this without checking with them. Most parents appreciate the heads up but want to have that discussion themselves. Some parents are frustrated with the student as well and is happy for me to have a chat with child. ?

Working in a middle school, this topic comes up quite often. I agree that the person that has the concern (usually teaching staff) should call the parents as they are the ones who sees that student daily. Oh boy.........teaching staff does NOT like that! I've been burnt one to many times in the past. So this is what I usually do........advised the teacher that they should call and get permission for me to speak with the child about their hygiene since they are the ones with the concerns and has a relationship with the student . I will not speak with a child until I or someone else clears with a parent. If the teacher gives me push back...I will then tell them that I will call the parent but make it very clear who has the the concerns. Conversation will go something like this...."Mrs Teacher is concerned about some strong orders your child is having while in Mrs Teacher's class. If you would like, I can have a chat with your child about day to day hygiene as a reminder". Sometimes when I let staff know that is what I'm gonna do....suddenly the smell is not so bad. Of course as everyone already said...If you suspect neglect/money issues it is whole other ballgame! Michele

I send this very poem out to all my staff! ?Merry Christmas,Happy hanukkah and Happy New Year!?

Excellent article and sadly VERY true! Despite all the frustrations I really like school nursing (on most days?). Over 20 years as a school nurse...and still surviving!

Nurse Colleen McMurphy (Dana Delany) in the show China Beach! A great salute to Vietnam era nurses!

This a great site...lots of good insight! I also subscribed to his newsletter this past fall. Also posts on FB. ?

I also find blowing out the clot works like a charm as well. I will use a ice pack to back of the neck if blowing does not work. Not sure where I picked up that trick (never heard of the keys trick). I always assumed that it had to do with circulation to nostrils and the cold helping to constrict vessels in the nostrils!

Breath deeply and be kind to yourself so your heart and mind will be there for all the people you provide care for!

"I feel that we can't educate children who are not healthy, and we can't keep them healthy if they're not educated..." Joycelyn Elders

Like many I've been overweight for most of my adult life. I have lost over 80 lbs in past few years and most recently 54 of those pounds in the past 10 months. I've decided it is time that I take control of my weight for myself first and then hopefully be a good role model for my staff and students (I'm a School Nurse). How have I been able to do this? I joined Weight Watchers 10 months ago and it has been a life changer. I truly believe in the program and all the support it offers. As most people I have been on many different diets including WW. This time it just seemed to click. Not that it is always easy but if you are ready to invest in yourself to improve yourself...it will work. Weight Watchers really strive to remind you that once you join its a "lifestyle" and not a "diet". In whatever way you choose to lose weight (and there are many good programs out there), it is important to remember you need to do this for YOURSELF first! Good Luck with how ever you choose to be "more healthy".

I'm knocking on wood as I read this! 8 more days left of school..............

This is always a tricky subject! It been many years of advocating for myself and my nurses. Although we get paid for our lunch, I try take a lunch at a set time and keep reminding students/staff of the time. I try to schedule lunch before/after noon med times and recess. This might mean you may be eating early or later in the day but at least you get sometime. What makes or breaks this is your support staff. The secretaries at my current school is very supportive and will only get me if it is an "emergency". It took me a long time to get comfortable with saying "please come back in 20 mins" if someone comes in for stomach,sore throat, headache (unless they are really green ). It is also helpful that if you can actually leave your office, go to the staff room etc. Good Luck and although all of us have no problem advocating for our students, we need Advocate for ourselves which can be very difficult! Michele

This very subject came up yesterday for me as well. What has worked well for me....is I will call the parents 1st before I speak with the student. Some teacher don't like this tact as they want the problem fixed asap. I let the parent know that their child's teachers are reporting poor hygiene/body odors. I will let the parent know if I been seeing the same thing or not. I asked the parent if they would like for me to talk to their child about hygiene or do they want to talk with them first. The parents seemed to be appreciative of the phone call first. While talking with the parents...I try to get a sense of financial problems at home. I do make it very clear that it is staff that has concerns and not necessarily me (unless I have noticed it as well). Most parents would like to speak with their child before I do. Some will ask for me to have the conversation here school as they already had that conversation. If that does not improve the situation I may bring in a school counselor and we will have a chat with the student together. I now work in the Middle school setting but did the same thing when I worked in the lower grades. Michele

I agree with all of the above! One question...are you staying after your assigned hours and since you are there, they will seek you out? If so....I would make sure to leave at the end of your working day ( I know easier said then done). If you are still there because those are your hours...I would definitely get your own insurance and keep a copy of all communication to/from your Principal and Union in your own "private" file. That way if something happened.....you can prove that you where given no support.

www.identify.us.com is an excellent website for Bugs of all concerns!

I too went from an Elementary level to Middle School (jr) and LOVE IT...LOVE IT:yes:................for all of the above reasons!

It has to be PHS:greyalien:..............Pre-Holiday Syndrome.........everybody it is nuttty this week! Only 6 days left for me or 45 work hours or 2700 minutes (not that I'm counting ).....................before BREAK!!!

Definately a Full Moon week!!!!

Like all School Nurses we face this issue everyday! I tend to be a "tough love" school nurse. My main goal is to keep students in school as much as possible! I do enjoy working with the Middle School age much better then the younger set. After almost 13 years as a school nurse, I still get upset at times when I hear ..."that nurse is mean", "she doesn't let anybody go home". I will call parents of my FFC's (Frequent Flyer Club) and most of them tend to appreciate the heads up. It is helpful when you have the support of the staff and adminstration. All my staff have a supply of bandaids and gloves and that does tend to help with some of the "little isssues". I'm hoping by dispensing some "tough love", I'm contributing to the students overall health.

Same for me as well....

Great resource/websites Flare...thanks for sharing!

I usually do Soap and Water. I only use h2o2 for hard to reach places....