shammy

I interviewed and was hired last year. The district gave me 6 scenarios and I was to choose 3 and then give my answer. I don't really remember any of then other then 1 of them and that was .... a known and usually medicated ADHD/ADD child is sent to the health room for unruly behavior in the classroom. You call the mom and she says she can't remember if she gave the student their medication that AM and she says - just go ahead and give him another 1/2 tab from their lunch supply as the MD is thinking about increasing the student's dose. What do you do? To which my answer was I don't have an order to medicate student in the AM at that time and that we (the school) would need to find a way for student to work on school work and not disrupt the entire class - maybe a quiet room without distractions and then at the prescribed time medicate student with his prescribed medication. AND to teach mom that medicating student is really important and needs to get done EVERY day and problem solve with her some different ways to help her remember to medicate student. But really I thought all the situations were easy to answer sitting in a room with a panel but it is a lot harder in reality when mom is PTA president or volunteers at the school a lot and/or is friends with the principal. Not impossible but difficult. Just my 2 cents. Good luck wtih the interview.

HHMM? I'm wondering at both the elementary school and the High school I've been at we do keep some OTC (mainly motrin and triple ABX ointment)... but I don't administer it to anyone - more if a teacher/staff member come in and ask for it they are shown the drawer and medicate themselves. Much like at the last hospital I was at we could stop at the in house pharmacy for OTC for ourselves. Now I'm wondering if I should continue this practice. Food for thought!

My comment is to first speak with your nurse manager and the nurse educator and your preceptor. If nothing changes I then look for a new job - but you do need to speak up for yourself and say what you need.

Yes meshing with the principal then skills second may seem backwards but welcome to school nursing. I'm still a pretty new school nurse (only starting my 2nd year) but you work for the principal in their school. You need to believe in their philosophy. And as much as most educators/principals recognize that you bring something valuable to the school they don't totally get what we do. We do so much more then putting bandaids on scraped knees!:wink2: Best of luck at your interview. School nursing is great!

Thanks for the input. I did call the BON and got the word from them. No nurses can NOT administer meds without MD order unless waivers are signed by parents but BON said even then it is questionable. So that is the position I'm staying with..... It seems that the day camp is going to try to get a first aider to come and do it or find a nurse who isn't savy and unknowingly puts her license at risk.

Have a question that came up. I volunteer as a Day Camp nurse for Girl Scout Day camp. I'm in a new geographical location and they are wanting me (an RN) to administer OTC with only parent permission - I've said No I don't think so but I will check with BON to be sure. This is in WA state. I volunteered as Camp Nurse for Girl Scout Daycamp in Fort Worth and did administer prescribed meds but NO OTC, as RN's don't prescribe! And they don't have a doc that can sign standing orders. Have any of you more experienced Camp nurses come up with this and how did you rectify it. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Ask your manager about a leave of absence, it that doesn't work ask about changing to per diem (you would have some good experience to make per diem work for you)... and if all else fails, there is agency nursing. And have fun traveling around!

I used to just apply to a few at a time and see what came... Now my approach is much more aggressive. I send a resume to EVERYWHERE I WANT TO WORK. Even If there is a hiring freeze, sometimes if the right candiate comes along they will find a way (I was told this by a manager a long time ago). Then when interviewing I usually make it known that I am looking for a career position and am exploring all my options = looking at other companies. And a sugar coat it with I want to find a place that I can stay and grow with, not waste their orientation dollars with me leaving in a few months. Good luck with the job search!

I always give ventro gluteal. I learned it in school and have found in practice that most nurses use dorso gluteal so I continue using ventro d/t site rotation. My pts always comment that it doesn't hurt when I give IM vs my collegues. I think if you learn how to do it in school you will continue and just because it isn't the common practice on the floor doesnt't mean it shouldn't be taught. Think back not so long ago gloves were encouraged not mandatory. Teach them right! The other perk for pts is that when I worked on a ortho floor with lots of hips and knees I could admin IM much easier with less positioning to aleviate pain.

When I lived in TX we had a HUGE ice storm (six inches of ice over night). My employer didn't expect anyone to risk their life for work but to make it in if they could. I drove home the 1st night of the storm then was scheduled off for 3 days. But many nurses that were working would get in and then work a double or stay in a empty room and work the next shift (if doubles weren't their thing). But my last job in Home Health in WA was you come in irregardless and be prepared to see pts even in rural areas.

Well I don't know what in nursing is Glam! But I do love being a nurse! As for ortho... I love it give it a try. When ever I manage to get back to hospital nursing I will be back in ortho. :chuckle Ortho does give you lots of "nursing" experience for a new grad. (Not that skills= nursing but it gives you confidence). IV's, dressing changes, transfers, post op assesments, pain control, foleys, drains and you get to work with OTs and PTs who can teach you a whole lot. Good luck!

It depends on why you are unsure? I've taken jobs for the hours and was tenative about the job then loved it! But have taken jobs that I was sure I wanted then HATED the job and regretted it. I think it really depends on what you are unsure of!

Just had to respond... Sorry about your day! And yes take it as learning experience. Now you know how you want to be in the real world of nursing. Sounds like you did a GREAT job of communicating with the family and trying to advocate for the patient.

Well we had a nurse retire last year at the place I used to work. They took a collection and bought her a gold watch WITHOUT a second hand (no more counting resp and pulse). When my Grandmother retired from working at the hospital. They had a VERY nice dinner catered in a hotel banquet room. BUT the meal was served on Hospital Dinner trays. Those are my only ideas. Good luck on the planning.

Well thanks for your reply. Your answers are pretty much what my answers were.... And I DID get the position... I start on Tues! It is a split position.... 2 full days at an elementary school, 1/2 day at the high school And if the funding is found it may increase. I'm VERY excited!