stephaniehowe

I have been asked to talk with students and we just have a general how are you, and many other questions that go around where I'm not asking straight out why do you stink?! I say it's important that you take time and take care of yourself. I am not going to be calling a parent unless the smell may indicate a medical issue. I work with PreK-6th and mu district is low income, mostly 1 parent that has to work 2 jobs and kids are taking care of kids. The 2nd time I was asked to talk with the same kid he felt very shameful about it and I felt horrible for it so I told the teacher to buy a Scentsy warmer and keep the outside door open!

Death is always a sad time no matter the circumstances. And you will also remember your first one. Mine was as a CNA, I worked wkend doubles and left my little lady who was too cute for words and always looked fwd to having me take care of her on wkends. When I came in the next day she had passed, she had a seizure then went into cardiac arrest. I had bad dreams afterwards for a few wks like I had been there watching the night nurse code her. I have a wall of crosses by the front door one for each patient that impacted me as a nurse and reminds me this is what I am meant to do even with the hard days.Those sad memories are now happy ones because they made me the nurse I am today. Hopefully it will become easier in time for you.

Daily occurance for me! But it the end you are doing your job and need to protect your license! Time for them to take off the scrubs and put on their mom jeans! Sometimes when making a difficult call I pep talk myself with what I need to say and my responses if whatever is said. Being nervous is something people always seem to pick up on and will cross lines to make them feel more superior. Always CYA!

Seems like a great website, maybe I should check out my state's school nursing website as well;)

That program sounds awesome, but they are on a fixed income and do not own a device/computer that accesses internet. "Mom" is really grandmother, despite being a diabetic herself does care very much for her and does the best she can. Very excited for her that she will be going to Diabetic Camp this summer, hopefully learn a few things and be more proactive. Had to give her a reality check a few times where she went on a field trip or I happen to be out sick and find out she didn't do her 10am/2pm checks. And when she brings in 120g worth of carbs for lunch and I already have to give her a bolus for elevated blood sugar!

Top of my to do list is to make a new log for my diabetic that her mom can use at home that is less confusing for the Dr to read. The form I found in the office at the beginning of the yr is not big enough and mom has to markout spaces so she can add the carbs to be eaten but then has to move the 10am and snack to another area, which has caused them to think her carbs eaten were actually her BS checks... I use word document to fill out the details during the school wk so that way there is no confusion over what is done while she is in school. If any of you would be so kinda and give me an idea of what y'alls logs look like or any tips on how to make mine would very much appreciate it!

56 days left for me=)

Just from my experience as a mother, my daughter occasionally had the foul smelling diarrhea and each time she would breakout with a horrible yeast rash. She had gotten the Rotavirus around 9m, and then each foul smelling episode after would only be a day or two of diarrhea but I always was checking her during the night changing her. She would usually start screaming if she did have a BM and I would immediately change her, still she was swollen, cracking and bleeding. I know I wasn't neglecting my child and was very attentive over her during these times, I believe that it is very possible for this child to have this reaction and may not even had been left that long in his diaper. My friends son had the same issue and she didn't know what to do and was afraid the Dr might think she was neglecting her son, at the time she was going through custody battle with her ex. I googled yeast diaper rashes and came across some very detailing pics. In nursing I have seen Geriatric patients to have the same issues and I knew they weren't being neglected because I usually popped in with my CNAs during those times to check on my patients and I am always the first to be told something just doesn't smell right!

I have a set time I take lunch which is not until 230. I emailed teachers beginning of year to not send anyone after 215 because that is when I'm finishing up charting and getting kids out of my office. They do know this and when I am interrupted and it is not an emergency I tell them go back to class office is closed! If it was a real emergency and I mean there better be blood squirting, something coming out of a hole or they better be turning blue! We get out of school at 315 and I don't have time to be bothered on how a child gets home because many of our students it changes daily. I tell them they can suck it up for 45 mins till it's dismissal! I also do not give meds unless I have my nice pants on after 130. It's a liability when a little kid goes home and still has that headache and gets another dose of Tylenol. This wk how ever I have been in at 7, either preparing or playing catch up from the day before. Usually I am there at 745. Did not take my lunch break any day this wk or I would have been there till who knows how long?! So because of the signatures that will be going on my time sheet because I get paid by hr I tried to leave at 2, but didn't get out till 3 after finally finishing charting and billing for IEP kids. Next wk I'm hoping will be better till then I've deleted my work email from my phone and will enjoy my wkend!!!! Feel much better now, sorry for the vent now time for retail therapy=)

I had someone come to my office at the beginning on the yr. She calls herself the "Nit Picky Mom", she charges $60/hr!!! My population of kids couldn't afford that, so I doubt she gets really any business at all here in downtown Phoenix. If ever I get it I'm calling her up to do my hair because I know my husband doesn't love me that much!!! We have recently been given a clinic to refer to but don't have the details about it just yet.

Have a feeling this might be me soon, I've had to send a student home 12 times this school year with lice. I don't even call anymore since mom never comes and picks her up when she says she is on her way. Past few times she doesn't even return my multiple calls! I have also asked her to bring in a new inhaler for brother since were down to 4 puffs, "oh I forgot" guess the 5 times I asked before wasn't enough notice! Thankful it's a 3 day wkend, Christmas break was just not long enough!!!

I hate when I get a student returning to my office with the pass asking if I could check the student again, doubt much has changed in 30mins! So ready for break!

I had a kid who hurt his wrist while washing his hands! Guess I should be proud he even washed them!

I have this one teacher who everyday it is like a marathon, one goes back to class and hands off the pass to another. I believe she is a new teacher and more afraid of liability, and all of my regulars are in that class. I do take them somewhat seriously like when the tummy aches come in. I make sure that they don't have a fever give them some crackers and send them back to class to eat them. Then of course the next kid comes in with a "tummy ache", it's a vicious cycle but it also justifies having a nurse on staff at my school. In the beginning I was so overwhelmed and so afraid of missing something they were fully assessed each time and after 10kids right after each other that took up a lot of my time. One day I was so frustrated after seeing the same kid for the 3rd time cause she wanted the "yummy chew things that makes her tummy feel better right away" I went down and had a talk to the class saying "I am here if you really do need me, but it is my job to make sure your healthy enough to learn. And seeing me everyday is not giving you enough time to learn, and if I have to see you everyday for the same thing and your doing it to just get out of class that one day your tummy really hurts I won't be able to take you serious" referenced the boy cried wolf. It slowed down for a few days but now I'm in my grove I just take it in stride. With my older kids if they have a headache I make sure they don't have a fever and just give them Tylenol so next time they come in "sorry, suck it up". It irks me when the teachers send in kids to nap, IDTS maybe tonight you won't stay up late watching movies. I do not run a B&B, if they have underlying issues then they may rest but not for a bad decision made by them. Some parents aren't involved as they should, so the child has to learn the hard way about the actions for their poor decisions.

I had baby boy come in again today because he had fallen while playing volleyball and some of the scab came off. No swelling noted! Slapped a bandaid on again, didn't have ice handy but he said he can live without it. Did not call mom not just out of spite but I was in the middle of deciding whether I should be sending a kid out because his asthma was getting worse and of course no inhaler this yr! Looking fwd to a lovely conversation on Tuesday with baby boys mom!

I had one of those yesterday because baby boy scrapped he knee and she is upset she did not receive a call. I'm sorry but a 10yr old can tell you what happened when he gets home! Even though it was just a MINOR abrasion I still made sure he didn't do any serious damage and even have him ice for it, never did he come back to complain it hurt. He was absent the yesterday bc his knee was so swollen poor thing couldn't walk. Luckily the 2 secretaries intercepted the calls, she says I don't want to complain but... I should have been called. My response would have been "I'm not going to call you for any little minor thing, because if I do end up having to call it means your baby boy is sick and needs to be picked up or there is a REAL emergency. Release the umbilical and you baby grow up and be a man!", think they understood my mood that day with all the other REAL emergencies I had that day with sending a kid out with chest pain and no contact numbers or even a updated address!

I say with that attitude she probably isn't proactive in her health since she shouldn't be so shocked by the NP making the comment. I would just try and brush it off, I know it's very hard to do. But guessing when she goes to make a Dr apt and get to fit the bill to hear the same information by a MD, she might then realize we do know quite a bit...

Thought yesterday would have been my first time too. My peanut girl comes in eating a Reese's! Same girl who was touched by a kid who had a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. It was only a mild topical reaction which was aggravated by her itching it like crazy(also a frequent flyer over the smallest things). It is listed on paperwork she is allergic to "peanuts" and regardless allergies are not something I take lightly. No Epi RX but we have emergency stock if I needed. Since this incident from lunch I have Benadryl PRN for her and apparently this child was given Benadryl yesterday morning before school because Reese's are her fav and with it being Halloween it was ok for her to have. I nearly had a heart attack when she came into my office and administered PRN Benadryl, tried to get ahold of mom to ask her what was going on. Mom returned call a hour later stating she is only allergic to Raw Peanuts and Reese's is ok, never heard of that one?! I had to leave work early because my youngest had to have an emergent ENT appointment so I retaught my staff on how to use the Epi, and told them if she came back in having problems give it to her and call 911 first then call Mom later!

Absolutely did the right thing, shame on her for being more concerned about a 3hr train ride then the well being of her child! Had a student a couple wks back who fell from 10ft swinging and hit his head, he was fine but due to the height I advised the mother to take him to the ER. She said he would be fine and she had just gotten off a 13hr shift and was getting ready to go to bed. My gut and boss told me to call EMS just incase because the mother wasn't really that concerned. EMS arrived he was still fine, even though they never did a neuro assessment on him. Anyways I CYA because it is my license that would be questioned if something had ever come of it, I really care less about the inconvenience it causes! There is no other person in school that you can go to for advice so you have to do what you believe is right and stand up for your decision!

It was a great wkend at home doing nothing! I will find out a little later how my possible Pertussis student is doing. We have mass vision and hearing screenings today at another school, and I'll be popping back in to mine later in the morning. I love my job but these darlings are breaking me in properly my first yr!

Had a routine busy day like everyday. At 2 o'clock I have 1 student in my office for the 3rd time with period cramps, could not do anything else for her. Apparently she didn't feel good and wouldn't do her work, so she was sent to "chill out". By 215 I had 4 others sent to my office to "chill"! Sorry but I do not have time to be keeping track of 5 5th graders basically goofing off in my office! Luckily the secretary was the one to speak to the teacher because at that moment I don't think I could have been nice about it, especially when we have a behavior specialist they are suppose to "chill" with! Other than taking my lunch break and routinely being interrupted, during this time I received a call from the Health Department that one of my Kinders has come in contact with someone with Pertussis! With 10 mins until dismissal I managed to throw letters to my Kinder teachers to send home. TGIF because now I need to "chill"!

Before school let out for summer, letters were sent home saying the shots that were needed. Many of students had them during break but I had to spend lots of time looking them up from the state data base. Last wk a letter went out stating that they have until this date to comply or they would be suspended. A reminder letter was sent home the day before the suspension date. Most of my kids were absent the day of getting their shots and brought in the record the following day. Two parents that I was able to get ahold of came and picked up their children and took them to get their shots. The other students who I wasn't able to track down parents, I called them to my office and handed them suspension letters stating do not return until shots are updated and they all came in completed the next day. I had one parent get nasty with me because her student was missing one shot and she had gotten it last Friday from the health clinic but it hasn't posted on the data base yet and it was such a "inconvenience" for her to drop off the new record.

All my kiddos are up to date as of now for immunizations and I didn't have to call and "harass" anyone today!

My bad it is not "Chapstick", we have Blistex samples and Qtips. But they are killing me over cracked lips! I'm working on making baggies but I've been so busy with kids in and out, and putting in immunizations I have not had the time to get them done. This wk hasn't been so bad as the first wk where mostly it was a lot of goofing off. And I also sent a "nice" email around to everyone stating the office is closed at such time so I can take my break 230, no kid needs to come to my office 45 mins before school lets out unless it is squirting red or turning blue....Not for chapped lips or a paper cut!

If only there was a Chapstick dispenser and bandaids outside the office it would be so much easier for me! In only the first wk I couldn't count how many Chapsticks I handed out or bandaids over paper cuts?! Guessing many of the teachers didn't want to say no during the first wk but I hate that they are missing instruction times for something so trivial! Don't want to have to be the mean nurse but it's my job to keep them healthy and in class to learn! Hoping next wk goes smoother for us all, or I might have a meltdown! Sorry had to vent to prepare for Monday!