PerfectlyPlump

It surprises me that your agency is so loose about all this. As a licensed nurse, you need orders just to be in the home, according to my understanding! This is what protects the public and the nurses. Call it Plan of Care, or 485. You surely need MD orders for all the vent settings, to give tube feedings, when to report vitals out-of-range, etc. And BTW, you can't take orders from the parents. I am so glad my agency stresses this fundamental.

How did you find out that it is illegal to transport patients? Does your agency give the nurses that information?

Actually, I do watch my patient. It is not hard with the rear view mirror in the small care I drive. If need be I can quickly pull over and get back there in this small town setting. She is quite stable, with no history of respiratory issues, no secretions to deal with, etc. The trip is brief, and I can care for her much better than on a 90 minute bus ride, that will not stop unless we need 911. Without a nurse she cannot have the many benefits of school. Thanks for all your comments, but the risks of driving are much outweighed by the benefits. I just need ideas for transferring, I guess. Got a lot of that from the rwcent thread on transferring the 17 year old.

Being at school I end up doing 3 times as much lifting as I do't at home. They don't act like they want to handle her. And for various reasons I am driving her to school. So I load corificeat, stroller and bucking preschooler in and out twice. PDN and nursing are getting too hard. And yes, that is pain talking.

Being at school I end up doing 3 times as much lifting as I do't at home. They don't act like they want to handle her. And for various reasons I am driving her to school. So I load corificeat, stroller and bucking preschooler in and out twice. PDN and nursing are getting too hard. And yes, that is pain talking.

Wow, I am impressed. I stayed home yesterday due to icy conditions. You are dedicated!

Some patents pity their child and/or don't wasnt to anger them. (touch aversion) Some just think their child " never gets sick". Some want to be in charge, and therefore tend to give the nurse commands. Of course, it makes no sense.

Thanks, Sue, you hit it......I just need to construct ways to set boundaries that won't negatively affect their view of my patient.

I keep running into situations where the kid or parent or both don't want to be bothered by taking temps. So, I use the small, quick temporal as fast as possible. Maybe that's why some nurses make up temps - stubborn parents. I never have.

OK, I need to be more specific. My question is not about the healthcare needs, which I, of course, will handle. It is about lifting and transfer from one activity to another, and all-over use of time, for a child who, left to himself, just plays on the floor. This is pre-school, but it is school! If you have experience in this role, tell me: Is the child "mine" or "theirs", during school time??

This is not a dumb question! I ALWAYS ask about a lift with an adult-sized person. When you orient is a great time to find out if this case is within your ability. I had a pt. that age and my size who could and would help himself, and was a delightful person to work with. A belt is for someone who can stand, bear her own wt., but may be unsteady. With the belt, you can help that person with her balance. If that person starts to go down, it could help you ease her to the floor.

When you go to school with a child as his PDN, what do you do there? I am asking in terms of early elementary level, and I already can see that every district is different. That said...... What do the teachers and aids do for/with the child? Do you find that the boundaries blur, and does that cause problems? if so, do you speak to the teacher? Principal? Parent?

Never mind. I read some earlier posts....Liability, of course! Teaching can be risky. It is all about risk and reimbursement. Too bad what healthcare has become.

In my current position I have no contact with diabetes. But a friend has it, and is welcoming occasional counseling. She is overwhelmed, and desparate for information. This has me thinking... What about volunteering? Why couldn't a nurse set up cooking classes, and teach in that setting? I notice that people have terrible eating HABITS. That seems to me to be to be a possible starting point.

It helps me to use two hands to feel for the dorsal pedal pulses. I lay my second and third fingers from both hands on 'the spot', and I can often feel it quite quickly.

Those are creative thoughts. Dad would LOVE it if I got that order!! An interesting thing happened at her school...she is 4. The school nurse got a MUCH higher reading them I did...really pretty nervous, I thought... I use a ReliOn temple thermometer. Takes six seconds. Actually I use it behind the ear. Kids can't wiggle away. I liked it, til the school nurse 'proved' me wrong. Does anyone else use that style? Or just whatever is in the home?

They need to buy a crate for that dog to stay in at night.

Some nurses love to put down or dominate any other nurse they meet. But I like to remember the response of my friend, the critical care nurse, who said to me, "The skills you use in your job are different from mine. But they are skills!" When I tell the average inquiring person that I work shifts in the homes of kids with disabilities, they seem to be, well, satisfied. Obviously it is good work, helps someone, makes an difference, and might not always be all that easy! Are they impressed? Who cares. I know what I do!

What thermometer do you prefer to use, considering that it needs to be accurate?

I have mainly encountered logs required by moms.

Nice pants and top, if it is a meet and greet only. Ventmommy, nobody at the office ever lets me know in advance about a no shoes rule. Don't I wish!

I do think my job is real when I have a case. Some weeks without one, the agency calls me for fill ins. But I get discouraged when they don't use me for a week or so....when I expect ed to be working and savings up for my kid.s tuition, etc. We can live, cuz my spouse has a steady job, but not every nurse has one.

FeathersRN Do you mean to say that your previous courses were not all accepted? Was it due to grades, or...? My grades were not so good during my diploma program, so I could also have to take some over, I guess.

My favorite case is a night shift. The boy is so pleasant and fun to be with when he awakens. Mom trusts me and doesn't micro-manage. I feel like a watchdog. That admittedly sounds strange, but I find it very satisfying.

If the family were to put their complaint in writing, that would do the trick. The nurse that 'suspects' sleeping can bring the complaint form to the parents' attention. They have to want to do that.