Each1Teach1

There are about 230 students in my K-2. I see about 20-30 students per day. I get so backed up with the documentation. For every student, I have to write a quick summary in a log book, then in their permanent health record (written not electronic), I have to write: time in, time out, full vitals (for everything except cuts and bruises....so yes, full vitals for headaches, stomachaches, earaches, vomiting, sore throat), child's complaint, my assessment, treatment, response, which parent I contacted, what their response was if any, where the child went afterwards. Our supervisor gives write-ups if she scans over files and something is missing. I hardly have enough time! I get the frequent flyers, so much so that I know some parents' phone numbers by heart. I get frustrated with the smiling, laughing or skipping children who come in with complaints. I have to call home for EVERY visit....including PAPER CUTS!!! I suspect that the teachers are not screening the kids. Child: Can I go to the nurse? Teacher: Yep.

For public schools here in NYC, the nurse's task is to assess the student, clean off any bites and apply an ice pack for comfort (swelling, itching). We have bed bug info sheets that we could send to the child's parent that includes what they are, where they hide, etc. If a bed bug is found, it must be placed in a sandwich bag and sent to Pest Control so they could determine if it is indeed a bed bug. (The custodial staff is usually in charge of that.) If it is, they'll schedule a date where exterminators can come in. There was a bug found on a child in my school recently. The staff wanted me to send the child home but the policy states that a child cannot be sent home as bed begs don't transfer disease. If the teacher or principal wants to send the child home, THEY can. Not me. We're here to assess and care for the child. Not do strip searches and inspect possessions. A teacher bagged all of the child's possessions and everything in her cubby and dropped it off in my office when I turned my back. She came by at dismissal asking me if I searched everything...including the teddy bear! No...have several seats. Follow your guidelines and don't let unlicensed personnel try to bully you. Everyone thinks they're experts and will push on you the tasks that they don't want to do. Cheers!

Hi! Any progress? Did you take the examination? I'm a school nurse and I've purchased a review DVD from Nurse Builders. I'm planning on purchasing a review book with practice questions as well.

Hi All! I'm currently a school nurse and I feel a bit trapped. (I also have Lupus and chronic pain.) I'd like to further my education/career and I'm thinking of studying for and taking the Pediatric Nurse Certification Exam rather than the School Nurse Certification Exam. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of non-MSN degree programs like Lactation Consultant or other medical certifications or careers with pretty good transition from nursing. I've been looking into MSN degrees but no track really interests me (Education, Informatics, Management). I hope this makes sense! In conclusion, how can I further my education/career without an MSN program that interests me? My fellow nurses in my district say that the MSN is pointless for a school nurse. The pay will only increase by .10. Nurses in this district are mostly retired and miserable. Those of us in our twenties never stay more than a year. It's disappointing. Please help...

Hi! Did you get a start date?

You know....A teacher stopped by the other day with a kindergartener who peed his pants. He left a trail of urine from his class to my office. I asked the child where is spare pants were....turned out...he had it on. He was wearing two pairs of jeans....both sopping wet. You can't make this stuff up. Oh. And I feel bad when students run to me, asking for me to unbuttoned their pants so they could use the restroom!

How is it going, Amber? I'm starting next week. School nurse switching to dispensing methadone at a clinic.

Wonderful article. I work in a private, special needs elementary school and as much as I love working with these children, I'm frustrated because of the lack of resources. I begged for bandaids and alcohol swabs and bandages....nothing. (I've been buying my own supplies but those self adhesive bandages and ice packs add up!) I've requested a bean bag for students to rest......nothing. I have no budget and wait for it.....no office. I'm in a corner near the staff restroom with my desk, mini cabinet, mini fridge and a straight back chair for a sick student. Sometimes, I feel that the school just has a nurse to keep parents of their back. Still, I go above and beyond because I'm doing this for the kids but come September......going...going..gone! Keep up the good work, school nurses!

Interesting article. Upon reading the question in the title, my answer was 'it depends'. When I graduated nursing school, many of us volunteered simply to make our resumes look better. We were volunteering to get a job. If you're volunteering to help your community, boost your skills and for personal fulfillment, then yes, it's definitely worth it! If you're volunteering simply to get a job, it may be a miserable experience where you're 'showing off' your skills to look good and it becomes a competition. However, I have a friend who's been volunteering at hospitals since 2011.....and still hasn't received a job offer. Is volunteering worth it........it depends. Back to the drawing board :)

Hi everyone! I thought I'd post this for our BSN students entering their senior year with a 3.0 GPA or higher. I was searching for jobs when I ran across this on indeed.com. They're taking 13 students and the application ends March 15th. Good luck!!! http://careers.nyp.org/new-york-jobs/Summer-Nurse-Externship-Program-Weill-Cornell-Medical-Center/707844

Thank you so much, estrellaCR! You're the best!! You've given me a fresh outlook. I'll definitely look into those places. Let me know how the KCH thing goes!! All the best!!!

With the exception of socialservice.com, I've been checking those other sites multiple times per day. I'll give this one a try. That's awesome that you have those certificates. I only have BLS. I've been searching for the best IV program. Any suggestions? I've been looking at CPR123 in Manhattan. It's $225. I live in Brooklyn. I hope you get the KCH job. You deserve it! And thanks for all this info! I appreciate it!!

Oh, thanks. I had to chase down the person who interviewed me. It was such a run around. I kept getting disconnected or voice mail. Finally, the interviewer calls me back saying, 'Um, no. You didn't pass'. I asked her my grade and she wouldn't tell me. I asked her if I could re-take the exam (because she offered 2 chances in the first place), she says 'Um well, I'm looking for someone with more experience'. ARE YOU SERIOUS? EstrellaCR, I was so heartbroken because she had led me to believe that I was going to get a job and I had foolishly stopped applying elsewhere because of this. I saw that KCH posted like 10 jobs but most of them require experience. I'm still going to give them a try. I have so many loans and I need something stable. I don't know what to do.

O come on. It's just like 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey'. It's fun.

Come back! I need to do this in order to pass clinicals this semester!!! I've got the right needle this time!