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Ouch! Kids say the darndest things, don't they? I have a student that keeps telling me his mom used to be a nurse, I'm pretty sure she was housekeeping at a SNF.

It seems to me that allowing unlicensed personnel to administer insulin would create a big risk of liability on the school's part. Ok, so blood sugar checks and sliding scales and insulin administration might be simple enough, but will non-nursing school staff know how to handle other aspects of diabetes medical management? Will they recognize signs of highs and lows? Know how to handle a dosage error? Know how to intervene in an emergency? There's a lot more to managing a pediatric diabetic than insulin administration. Even my students who self-administer their insulin require RN supervision to so - per MD orders! And in a hospital setting insulin administration requires a second RN to witness proper dosing! They may try to make it look like they are putting our children first, but to me it seems like they would rather not pay an RN to do the job. Okay, there's my rant, please don't judge me too harshly for it. I am all for advocating autonomy for my patients, and my ultimate goal is to smoothly and slowly transition my pediatric patients into managing their own care. I provide them with increasing responsibility that is appropriate for their developmental level. I have a sixth grader that is (finally) pretty much completely independent in self-care. The little one's require more help, of course. Will unlicensed staff be patient educators? And lastly, I often feel as though this law is (sadly) my job security. I, like many other school personnel, fear lay-offs or having my hours cut. But as long as there are students with diabetes at my school then I have a job and all my students have regualr access to a healthcare professional and patient advocate.

This article is over a year old, but it is interesting and informative none-the-less. As I dole out meds to healthy children on a daily basis I can't help but long for an approach more like that of the French. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/suffer-the-children/201203/why-french-kids-dont-have-adhd

My thoughts exactly. Most of us sacrafice a great deal of income to work as a school nurse. I could double my hourly rate and my hours if I worked in a hospital. I could also have better benefits and increased job security.

Yes, I will definately be using my doula! Also, I am blessed to have Kaiser insurance, and our local woman and children's center is a brand spankin' new facility. They have an OB and CNM on at all times, and I have made it clear that I want to deliver with a midwife if possible. I will be preparing a simple and flexible birth plan. Both my sisters had their children at this same hospital, and I my OB rotation in nursing school was at this facility as well. I was fortunate enough to witness a beautifully smooth natural delivery with a midwife while in school. All of these experiences make me feel very comfortable and confident with having my baby there!

I had a student sent to me last week with a note saying "I believe ****** smells awful, but I am congested and can't tell." WHAT? If you are congested and can't tell then what is the problem?? The student (a 2nd grader) had the typical mom or dad is a smoker smell, something that is pretty common in this backwoods community I serve. It didn't strike me as overwhelming, and I'm pregnant so my sense of smell equals that of a bloodhound. I discussed with the principal, then had her wash up her hands and face and sent her on her way. Just yesterday the same student came to me with a note reading "I believe ****** needs to wash." Oh brother. No odor this time. None at all. She appeared to have some dried milk from breakfast around her mouth. I guess the RN after my name makes me more qualified to wipe a child's face with a wet paper towel, right??

I will tell you the mistake I made in my first year so that you can hopefully avoid doing the same. My pre-reqs were fairly easy for me, and I never really formed excellent study habits. I got really good at passing (A's and B's) while putting forth minimal effort. When nursing school started my approach was the same, and it worked in my first year. I had B's my first two semesters and I really didn't spend all that much time reading and studying. Well, come year 2 this bit me in the butt! While skating through the first year I managed to miss quite a bit of foundational learning that was absolutely necessary in the last 2 semesters. I found myself frantically playing catch up in what was already the hardest part of nursing school. I almost failed and spent much of that time on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Congratulations and good luck!

First, CONGRATULATIONS on your acceptance to nursing school! If I were you I would be thankful that your summer is going by so slowly. Enjoy it!!! It could be a very long time before you can enjoy a summer as care free as this one. If you really are anxious to get started then I recommend downloading your syllabus as soon as it's available and ordering your textbooks ASAP. It can never hurt to get a jump on the assigned reading and study material.

I have watched "The Business of Being Born" quite some time ago and would love to watch it again (although I no longer have Netflix). Also, one of my close friends is a doula and has offered her services. She delivered both her girls entirely naturally and has been a great resource and inspiration to me. I will check out the book "Labor of Love". Thank you for your input!

I am looking to my fellow RNs for a little guidance. I am a first time expectant mother who is very excited and naturally a little nervous as well! I have already dug up my maternal-newborn textbook from nursing school and begun refreshing. I am very very interested in natural childbirth and would love it if anyone could recommend some books on the subject.

As an RN and an expectant mother I would take one if it were offered to me upon admission for two reasons. First, anything to progress labor! Second, anything to avoid pooping while pushing! Sounds like a swell idea to me. As I recall from my OB rotation, which is at the same hospital I will be delivering at, they did not routinely do enemas on laboring mothers.

I'm in Northern California, working as an RN for the elementary school in our district. My direct supervisor is the district school nurse. I make a little over $20/hr, which is about half the wage a new grad would earn in our local hospital. I have free vision and dental (I pay 30% copay on dental, and copay goes down over time) for me and my family, but have to pay to for medical coverage. I have an 11 month contract. I LOVE this job. I never knew how much I enjoy working with kids! The schedule is wonderful. I'm part-time, school hours and days only. However, I can list two pitfalls to school nursing. 1) I received no on the job training or orientation or preparation of any sort. Thrown to the wolves! I was a terrified new grad with no guidance. 2) No job security. The district is cutting positions left and right and I am constantly wondering "will I be next?" Most schools use health aides and not RNs, so when will my district decide to replace me with someone cheaper??

Thanks for your reply! School nursing is both challenging and rewarding, but it sounds like a gig you would enjoy! I thought for sure I hated it and was horrible at it at first. Nursing school did little to prepare me to work in the school setting. Couple that with a huge lack of on-the-job orientation and I was absolutely terrified! I have learned so much in just one school year. More than anything I have learned that I love working with kids (who knew!) and that I am truly an educator at heart. I would be thrilled to return for another year (or more), but if I don't this job has done multitudes to help me understand my passions and to point me in the right direction for future education and career goals.

I think you absolutely did the right thing! I think it would be wise to tell your CN directly that while you appreciate her trying to protect you from the consequences of accepting this patient (which is what she wants you to think, even though it's abundantly clear she's trying to cover her own butt), you are not comfortable with lying. You should tell her you felt it necessary to give your NM the honest story, and that you ommitted the part where she tried to coach you to lie.

My first year in school nursing has been full of ups and downs. We all have days when our confidence is low, or we feel underappreciated or misunderstood. I've also had days when I know I am making a difference in my community and feel like a rockstar. Yesterday I received recognition in various forms for the hard work I do, and it felt fantastic! I arrived to school to find a potted plant and two thank you cards on my desk (one from a student, one from a teacher). I received a call from a parent expressing her appreciation for all I do, and telling me how at peace she feels knowing her daughter is in my care. Later in the day, the district school nurse told me that the principal of my school has written me a glowing review, and that many of my coworkers are rallying to have me back next school year. Hallelujah! I reflected on my day as I drove home, and got a little teary eyed as I felt my heart bursting with gratitude! I would love for my fellow school nurses to share their own stories of GOOD days! Let's hear it- when have you felt the love???