midschoolRN12

Yes...it does derail my already crazy train! I have trained 2 office staff members to assist in the event of an emergency (which has happened multiple times as I have several students with seizures). Sometimes, I just have to put a sign on the door that says "Temporarily CLOSED unless emergency or daily meds/diabetics" just so that I can get through the necessities. Forget eating lunch...who needs that any way, right? I try to grab a bite here or there in the copy room next door, but for the most part, that doesn't even happen. No medication errors to date. I stop and give the students with medication my undivided attention to make sure the Rights of Medication Administration are being followed. Several students take AM and lunch meds. I'd hate to confuse the two of them! I have asked for assistance in the clinic, even an aide, but per our assistant superintendent, our school is already over staffed with 4 secretaries, 3 counselors, and 3 APs along with our main principal (I report to him). She suggested the secretaries help...great idea...except they aren't medical personnel. The secretaries do have bandages and feminine products and that has greatly reduced the number of visits. Unfortunately, we use Infinite Campus for our documentation. It is not user friendly. I can run very few reports and those that I can are not what I need. Basically, I can run a report for how many students are seen a day but not the reasons or anything further. It is so complicated.

The medications vary. I give the majority of the meds at lunch time. AM meds are primarily ADHD. We are in a very rural area and some of the kids are on the bus for 1.5 to 2 hours before arriving at school. If mom/dad gives their ADHD med to them before leaving home, it does not last all, or at least the majority of the, day. Some of the students need boosters of their ADHD meds to make it the rest of the day. I do have some with anxiety and my special needs students with meds specifically for their disorder. I don't give allergy meds or other OTC meds on a daily basis...they can take those at home. I do have 6 diabetics. Starting with the new school year, students will HAVE to have a pass in their agenda to come to the clinic. The administration is in the process of adding a page in their agenda solely for the use of the clinic. I believe this will greatly help in communication between teachers so they can see that little Johnny or Susie has already been to the clinic 2 times today from previous teachers and they were sent back to class as it was not deemed they needed to go home. I like the "Red, White, or Blue" to present without a pass. I will definitely have to add that to my list when I speak to the faculty/staff. I am burning out with these numbers and have stressed to the principal that I am not giving the appropriate attention to those that truly need it. It's very overwhelming at times but with a few changes, I think we all will be successful in our individual jobs here. Thanks for the support and the ideas/direction.

I work in a middle school with almost 1200 students---6th, 7th and 8th grade. I see 40-45 students a day for daily meds or diabetics with insulin. Then I see an additional 60-70 students for other things. Feeling a bit overwhelmed with 100+ visits a day. How do non-emergent students come to the clinic? Do they have a signed pass? Do teachers send them directly without a pass? How do you handle those teachers that continually send the same students over and over without a true issue? Just looking for some advice/direction! Thanks!