cav5

I know exactly what you mean. I am working but under an IOU status-meaning I have to work as I am not exempt but I may or may not get paid. My husband isn't getting paid or working at all. We have over 40 years combined government service work and now here we are. I wanted to call in sick today-fever, flu, you know the drill. However, the minute I do so I become put into a different category of furlough--not just for today but for the weekend with no housing benefits, COLA, etc until Monday. 1 day of probably getting paid vs 3 days of definitely not getting paid wasn't worth it. Add the 14 days that they furloughed us this summer (some were just coming back to work) and it makes for a lot of frustration. I still love what I do, still think it is the most fantastic job in the world but some days you wonder why the people who make the decisions got a pay raise and we may or may not get paid at all-how is this legal not to mention fair....

You have to follow the doctor's order and if they say CV or respiratory compromise then that is when you give it. Having said that... Mild Nausea and vomiting (in my opinion) is where it became tricky. Lots of times gastrointestinal effects indicate a much more serious reaction ,particularly in a known allergen student. We have had great allergests who have given great in-services and they changed my way of thinking ( A LOT). New protocols and recommendations state that antihistamines should not be given, rather epi should be the first line for any problems that are above mild. They have always said if in doubt then give the epi-pen as children with young, healthy hearts will only have a bruise if you are wrong and give it when not needed. However, if you are wrong and wait then you have a dead child. I have seen children literally break out within minutes as the benadryl they took that morning has started to wear off. I shudder to think if that would happen on the bus or when they aren't near medical service. Our standing orders always say monitor then epi. However, I have seen other doctors write specific orders for when to give anithistamines and when to give epi and I would follow those orders for that child (unless unsafe).

Parents will make or break a school nurse. That is just a fact. Having said that-if they have given that much power to their parents I would step back and make sure you really really want this job and it is worth it to you. If it is then I say good luck, if not then.... I believe they will want to hear what you would want to hear if you had a child (or other family member) in their care. good luck either way.

Mother must be RH- and father must be RH+. I do not know about the Coombs test as I was not a nurse for the first 3 and was only a nursing student for the last 2..sorry. On a side note-that shots HURTS A LOT!!!! It truly feels like concrete being injected into you. I would advise having the affected? leg (if given in the buttocks) "up" on toes as that seemd to help quite a bit. Also, make sure and stress that they need to keep moving for a while after it has been given. I rode home for about 35 minutes stationary after my first injection (I have had 5) and could hardly get out of the car. Granted, I was a lot younger and had less of a pain tolerance than I do now but I remember each of those 5 shots very vividly! Hope this helps

I had a few children with this at my school. I believe the advice is sound-referral to the school counselor or psychologist is good but[COLOR=#003366]mmc51264 is also right on the money-I had a great doctor a few years back that really discussed this issue with me and the children really do lose the urge or sensation to go to the bathroom-in that case you do have to retrain them to go even though they don't feel like it-that is why the waiting on the toilet works. The doctor said it takes at least 6 months to a year to do this. the retraining and the miralax were the treatments he suggested along with the counseling. It is more common than one might think-holding a child's education back for something like this isn't in the best interest of the child as it can take some time to get this sorted.

Ixchel-I am married to an man with classic ADHD-got diagnosed late in life and can tell you that what you are saying is the absolute truth, I agree. I would be interested in your article and research when it is published. elpark-I would also agree with you on your research. However, (I can't know first hand about France so won't make assumptions) but in Germany, the UK, and other EU countries many of children who are found to have "behavioral issues", "mental issues that cause disruptions", "learning disabilities" etc can be streamlined out of the general education system early on and put into other schools. I guess I am saying we need to look into the whole culture, beliefs, education system, medical system, etc before we start comparing one country to another and making an assumption that one is better than another-not to say that is what you were doing but I definitely got that feel from the original article itself.

I'm going to weigh in here as while I am not actived duty I have been overseas serving my country (as a military spouse and then as the sponsor in another capacity) for 25 years. I am very proud of it all and wouldn't change it for the world. I am currently a school nurse and am royally... mad... that we have been labelled so broadly and rudely as bandages and stomachaches. Medics could not do my job anymore than I could do theirs. You put me on the front lines with bomb victims and those medics would be the much better choice hands down- I have no experience dealing with that situation and I will be the first to tell you that. You put those two medics in a school and the same would also be true.

Child- "I'm blind" (as he walks in just fine) Me "Why" Child "Because my substitute is the devil and I want my teacher back" -OR- Child- "My nose hurts" Me "Why" Child "I stuck an acorn up there" Me- "Yep-that'll do it!!"

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

I have been overseas for almost 25 years. I have not lived in France but have lived close by a number of times. There is such a difference in medical care, family life, culture, etc that apples to oranges is the only nice thing that I can say right now. I think it is very easy to see "others" as better because we only see what they want us to see. Say what you will but Americans aren't afraid to let everything show-the good, the bad, the ugly. I haven't seen that in other cultures and they love to flaunt and taunt our bad behavior (TV, research articles, etc) while covering up their own. Life is not greener on the other side-just saying. OK, so I said more than I was going to:)

My advice (don't know how much it is worth but here it goes) is that you are going to be talking with non-medical people for the most part. They think like educators and not nurses. They want to hear key words like community involvment, parent contact, health programs (can say a few specific to the age level like dental, health prevention and promotion). They want to know that you are going to cover them from liability (don't use those words exactly but they do want that) and that you are going to make them look good. If you are interviewing with a nurse then look up the policies and procedures for your state and have an outline of a plan for what the year would be like-or at least have a few questions about those things so that they know you have already taken the time to look that up

This seriously made me laugh out loud-too funny and made my day!!

I use the IPOD/music system for children, teens, and adults. It is amazing to me that once they start listening to music or are "plugged in" how much can be accomplished without them even realizing it. On a humerous note-I am the biggest baby known to man. I HATE lidocaine because it burns A LOT. I once had a cyst removed from my lower back and refused the lidocaine as he wasn't going very deep. After it was over he said I really needed a stitch and wished he had talked me into the lidocaine because it was a little too late now. I told him a little scar is not going to be a big deal (am older and overweight-seriously going to worry about a tiny scar on my back! Did I mention that I hate lidocaine shots! And pain! I would take the tiny seconds of cutting to the shot any day. People (including myself) are a mixed bag of....interesting:)

Yep, Yep, Yep!!! I use to think this was just elementary and now I work at a MHS-NOPE!

I print out a class roster or have the teacher bring one and then they hand it to me with the absent crossed out. I put the screening results on that chart and put it in the computer system later. You can do your own short hand in nothing means 20/20 and writing something down means another number. I also had volunteers and they wrote all the numbers down. I rescreened any with concerns (either with symptoms or with fails on the test). I also screened all the very little ones myself but that was a judgement call and what you are familiar with. Hope this helps, I am sure that you will get into your own groove-it takes about a year.

I have to ask-if you cover for the high and the number two hours later is normal then it is not machine nor the technique-it is a true high. I work with kids-the patterns always tell the tale. One number may be out of wack but the pattern never lies. If you work regular shifts (Tuesdays and Thursdays etc) then sometimes it is something they forgot they did on Tuesdays and Thursdays or didn't do for that matter. the AIC is also a good indicator-quick check on a pattern of highs and lows. I don't think anything is wrong with the technique or the other nurses-I believe in innocent before guilty. For me, it was a kid who walked to art and music class only on Tuesdays and Thursdays-drove me crazy until I figured out the pattern and what was causing it and corrected for it. Who knew! :) Look for the patterns-they always tell the truth. Sometimes I miss the days of ICU when you got to control everything in and out-OCD and I know each other well:)

This is a lot to work through. Right now there is a lot of "blame game" going on, while expected it is not helpful to anybody. You did the best that you could-teenagers especially don't open up. I say that as a school nurse and a mother of 3 teenagers. My thoughts and prayers go out to you because there for the grace of God go I and every one of us. I won't say don't let her get to you because it already happened as she knew it would. I will say this...don't believe it to be true.

First off, all of us make mistakes. ALL OF US. The fact that you felt bad about it, learned from it, and the patient was OK in the end are all good news. Second, find a mentor who you can talk to. Preferrably a few. This isn't always the easiest thing to do as people are really stressed and busy but it is possible. Find nice people. Be nice to them and they will be nice to you. You are busy so it won't be easy but when possible help with their new admits, bedbaths, etc and they will have more time to walk you through the things that you may need help with. Because being this new you are going to need help. If all else fails go to the charge nurse and ask, ask, ask. I know that it is hard but do it anyway. The confidence will come only with experience and that is an awful truth but truth regardless. It really does get better-about a year-I know that is long time right now but it really really does get better.

yep, did the same thing and still not quite sure how I did it but am paranoid now about getting the right student with the right phone number I called a five year old's father to pick up their sick child. The father came in to the health office, looked around, and asked where their chid was-yep, wrong name!! What is worse, when I called the right parent the child told them to not to worry-the nurse was sending him home with a different man. Luckily, the father who had to leave work was wonderful and took it very well and considered it a short break. Also, lucky for me I got to explain (very sheepishly) before the "real" mother truly believed I was sending her little one off with a complete stranger. Every day since then it is "what is your mom's name"?, "what is your dad's name?"" what are your brother's and sister's names?" If I could do social security number that would be on the list too!! From here on out I do everything to verify that that won't ever happen again!! My guess is that they will take your statement, maybe give you a slap on the wrist, and the person who is going to be beating you up the most is YOU. Welcome to the ranks of PTSD, paranoid, "after mistake" nurse club!

I am not understaning this-if you have a BSN why would you only be an E5? With that much college you should be an officer...something doesn't sound right. I would definitely go back to the recruiter because I don't think that you are getting a fair deal. Again, something isn't right for a BSN to be an E5...

I would apply for every position that you are interested in-if you get the OR and that is what you love then you have gotten the golden ticket. If not, then you at least tried. Every first year in a new position is hard. You will have to understand that if you move (which you may or may not do down the road) that you start over again from ground zero and you will have to learn at that level again. Nobody likes it but that is the way it is. You may love OR and stay there for the next 50 years-why would you want Med Surg experience if that was the case? However, if you change your mind, you know that starting over again is the price that you pay for the move. I never understood not going for a dream job. I know life never turns out the way that you want it to (from experience) but sometimes it turns out better than what you had planned. Apply for everything and take the job that you WANT if it is offered to you.

"Option 1, work with ex-pats: Imagine you were an ex-pat with out great language skills, where would you look for healthcare? Where ever that is, they probably have English speaking staff. Look for English speaking doctors and resources for ex-pats. There might even be potential for something like starting an English "call an RN hotline." Look for opportunities through/at your embassy or if there is any foreign military base nearby. Look for international schools and see if they need a school nurse who could try her hand at teaching health/bio/?? " Definitely this option is a good one. You will be surprised at the number of expats you meet all over the world and how many "American, International Schools" there are. Too bad it can't be Japan-lots of bases over there. As an expat, I love love love the life! It isn't for everybody but for those of us who love it we can imagine no other way to live. Good luck!

I would say take the job that makes you happy. I have never worked med surg and am fine with that. I did do ICU and so I know cardiac, respiratory and those type of things very well. I learned a lot about those specific patients and skill sets. I would have a hard first year on a med sure floor but I don't plan on working on a med surg floor so that is OK. I had a hard first year as a school nurse as that is a different skill set but now I know those things really well. I think you need to look at where you want to go and learn that skill set. If you choose to change jobs then know that you will beging anew and have to learn that skill set as well. Med surg is a nice all around start-I am not saying that at all. However, I don't think that you have to start out as a med surg nurse to be a better nurse at other jobs. I do think a few people brought up the good point that if you want hospital nursing then you might want to start out at the hospital. However, if you love corrections nursing and think that is your path then I say go for it. I know that paths aren't always straight and we rarely end up where we thought were were going but it sounds like you might have found your niche and that is a good thing. The other good point somebody else brought up were your pay and hours-sometimes those things get forgotten and become really important really fast. Good luck on whatever you choose!

Everyone makes med errors, good nurses recognize they have done so, make it as right as possilbe, and learn from it. You have done all of those things. I know it is hard but really learn and let it go-you both will be OK. Ever wonder why someone is a stickler for something-well, now you know. Years from now you are going to be known as the nurse who has asked every patient coming in from a procedure if there is a med change...and that is good. Personally, I was the nurse who checked the refill bags from pharmacy ten times to make sure they didn't change the dilution ratio on the med-almost quit nursing that night! I cried for two days, thought nursing wasn't for me and got the same advice you are getting now. I am glad I did because 12 years after that night I love being a nurse.

I love being a school nurse. You take care of sick children with acute and chronic illnesses, work on prevention and health teaching for staff, families, and students. You give meds, do screenings (vision, hearing, scoliosis), and monitor immunizations. You will also participate in special education and student support teams. I think the hospital job and school nursing job are apples and oranges and can't really be compared side by side. You are dealing with the sick but in a very different environment. You are also dealing with the healthy. The goal is trying to keep them both as healthy as possbile. There are two overlaps though-there isn't a "normal" day, each day takes on a life of its own (even with the best of intentions and planning) and the charting never stops, same as in the hospital. You will be just as busy as in a hospital and will use and update a whole bunch of skills. I have children whom I take care of with different needs and disease processes every year and that keeps me new and fresh so to speak. I like the kids, I like the hours, and I like the pay. There are things I don't like but I think that is anywhere you work, within any specialty. There is a whole forum on school nursing and I think if you look through it, it will give you some insight into the day to day goods and bad of it all. As it is June and the school year wraps up you will definitely see both:) I hope this helps.