hsnurse1

I am certified by the AHA as a CPR/First Aid Instructgor

I have no idea! My principal just emailed me and asked if I would do it because they have scheduled a health and wellness day (I knew nothing about this).

Does anyone have a powerpoint they use for staff first aid training? I've been asked to do an in-service next week for Jr High and Senior High staff. Don't want to reinvent the wheel if someone already has something that works well. Thanks!

I do the same thing you do. I alert every teacher (via email so there is a paper trail) as to which students they have who have life threatening conditions. I also send out general first aid procedures for events like seizures, anaphylactic reactions, diabetic emergencies, etc. to all teachers so that everyone has the information needed to respond to an emergency until I can get there. I feel it is the teacher's responsibility to act on the information I give them. On the other hand, I am typically the last one to learn about updates in students conditions or students who have had surgery, etc. No one ever thinks to alert the school nurse:-)

Yes, it is Novolog. I have orders from the physician with correction bolus and meal/carb bolus. Based on those orders, numbers don't match what pump is giving. This may be due to basal rate, etc. I'd just to fully understand. Waiting on call back from physician's office.

Thanks Nurse ABC. I am waiting on a call back from the clinic. I received new orders this week so that's what I was basing my calculations on.

Question for you endocrine nurses- I am a school nurse and have a student on an insulin pump. Reading from glucometer goes directly to pump, which adminsters necessary bolus. My problem is the amount of insulin the pump gives after BS check and carbs entered does not match what I would give if doing it manually. The calculations never add up to me. Even if I subtract the basal rate from my calculation, it doesn't match. Is there something I'm not understanding about the pump?

I, too, am a HS nurse and I deal with this frequently. I let the office know anytime I send a student home via email and that is placed in their file so if attendance comes into question they know which days are unexcused/excused. I am also amazed at how I can call a parent and get no answer and the student can call from their cell phone immediately after and they will pick up:-)

I have a student on an insulin pump. I have some questions about the dosing. The student's accuchecks go directly to the pump, which administers bolus. My thing is..I can't get the amount of insulin to match what is prescribed on doctor's orders. According to my calculations based on orders student should get more insulin than he is. Does anyone have experience with pumps? Maybe there is something I am not understanding? I understand the basal rate factors in, but even with that numbers don't add up.

I am in Arkansas and in our state we can give OTC meds with written parental consent. A doctor's order is not required. We include the consent form on the health history we send out at the beginning of the year for parents to sign. It is of course given at the discretion of the nurse. I would not give meds without written parental consent or at least consent via phone. You need to check your state nurse practice acts and see if you need a physician's order to administer. Some states require this. Others do not.

What is your email address? I can send you what I have on Monday.

What do you do with student who refuses to test for ketones with high blood sugars? Don't think it is ever done at home.

I have a HS student who has been diabetic for most of his life. Non compliant, always has been from what I understand. Won't do simple things like eat appropriate amount or check ketones when necessary. Obviously can't force him to do either. How would you handle? Parental help/involvement will be slim to none.

I forgot....I would definitely go in early since this is your first year and review all policies and emergency plans. I scoured the internet to find great emergency plans and printed them out and put them in a binder. You will find flow charts that will help you a lot (at least they help me:-)

This will be my 3rd year as a school nurse so I'm still learning, but here's my input. As far as websites go, this one is very helpful and also School Nurse Perspectives is good, although it has been under maintenance recently. I also find the New York State school nurse website helpful as far as getting ideas for forms and policies. I am contracted to work 5 days before school start. We typically go to the State School Nurse Conference, which will count for 3 and the other 2 I work in my office the week before school starts getting everything put back in place. Supplies: all the essentials: peroxide, bandaids, Neosporin, any OTC meds you're authorized to give, bandages, gauze, tape, tongue depressors, thermometer with probes, stethoscope, otoscope, bp cuffs, etc, etc. I have a wheelchair and set of crutches, also. Depending on your school you may be asked to provide clothes for kids from time to time. At some schools, the counselor will take care of that. I do it at my school and I take donations or pick up a few items from the Salvation Army from time to time. I am a high school nurse and really only have contact with my principal when a situation arises with a student or they need info for a report. Elementary may be a little different in that aspect. You are pretty much in control of how you run your office. You are responsible administratively to answer to the principal, but you make all medical decisions. It is your license on the line. Difficult parents are the hardest part of the job. I am courteous and always err on the side of caution when recommending follow-up with physician, etc. My advice: DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT. I document everything that comes through my door, even if it is trivial. You never know when the visit may come up, even if it is just the office asking if so and so was in your office at a certain time b/c they were not in class. I also always contact parent if I have any question at all. It may be something I might not consider that big of a deal, but remember you are dealing with other people's children and they may feel differently. Obviously, you can't call every parent for every visit. I'm just saying if it crosses your mind at all, let the parents know. I have only called 911 three times, but again...if I have any doubt, I call. Better safe than sorry. I could go on and I'm sure you'll get lots more advice from more seasoned school nurses. The first year is a learning curve as with any job. You will be great. I am in my early 30s working with high school kids so I understand your concern about the respect issue. It will be fine. Do your job and be professional. Not everyone will get what you do and some will think you do absolutely nothing, but you'll soon find out that's not true at all. School nursing is different every day and you have to be ready for anything. It is a lot of fun and very rewarding. Best decision I ever made! Good luck and message me if you have any more questions. I love keeping in touch with other school nurses just to bounce ideas off of them:-)