RN4STUDENTS

At my camp we are in charge of our own schedule. Two years we tried doing a schedule but it didn't really work. We work together and if one of us feels like leaving for lunch we do. I do write on the calendar the days I know I can not work so everyone knows that they can't take off at that time. We had a nurse who would go out every night we didn't mind because we certainly weren't going out.

I love when teachers stand at the door and help me assess the student..... NOT!!!

Such a touchy conversation. But sometimes it has to be done and I am the one doing it. Usually 4th & 5th graders. I remind students they are responsible for themselves. I always ask if they have the supplies needed to clean and fresh if they didn't I would find a way to make sure the student could get them. Washing the clothes is an issue in which I don't have an answer. Most of the students don't have access to a washing machine and their clothes only get washed once a week. usually if thats the case I try to get a used uniform so at least they have a spare set.

I try to speak to the teacher and that usually works but they at recess and lunch its the same kids at which point if the visit in unwarranted as the kids who got a scratch friday night at the park I'll look it at and turn it away. I mean you had the scratch since Friday night really?!! I sometimes call the parent or send a letter and that usually helps. If I know the family I usually call them or wait outside to tell them.

So it's that time of year again... So I am interested in what everyone else does with field trips. I do not get a sub when I am out sick so there's no way a nurse is going on a field trip. It's my choice I can either go on the trip or stay behind either way half the school is unattended with a nurse. I know to send epi pens with their delegates but heard mixed things about sending inhalers. What do other nurse's do with kids who have asthma who go on field trips and their parents don't go and they do have an order for an inhaler but not to self medicate??

I have to say in my school it is the teachers who send these kids down. "I got hurt at the playground Saturday" no visible signs of anything?!?

Teach the basic's - good hand hygiene!!

This has to be the greatest, I never gave up trying to get the epi pen for this child. Parent brought it in 5 days before school was over. That same day was the day I sent letters home for parents to come set up a time to pick up medications at the end of the year.

I didnt think that it would be. l mean they aren't jumping from head to head.

SO lice our favorite topic! I don't understand why everyone is so scared of them! They don't jump or fly even though the teacher swears she saw them jumping!!! really?! My school still has a "no nit policy" I don't agree with it, but I am very lucky I don't see too many cases of lice so I don't really have a nit problem. I did have a nit problem in the past and had to exclude a student who was already doing poorly because she had nits. It took over a week to get her back into school and eventually they cut her hair so short she was devastated. I never saw any lice walking around and the was combing the hair out to show the guardians how it needed to be done. I am thinking about making a change and doing away with the policy but I can tell it may not go well as the teachers would freak out...

Not sure what state you live in but some of the colleges offer classes or CEU's that are wonderful and a wealth of information. I too was lucky enough to get a school nurse position right out of nursing school. I have since started working at a LTC facility every other weekend to gain some knowledge, to be honest I love working there also but not sure it has made me a better school nurse. What has made me a better school nurse is staying current in the field of school nursing such as joining your local school nurse association as well as your state association. I am always going to workshops. I must have went to 4 diabetic seminars last year even though I don't have any I want to be prepared. I have made contacts with other school nurses because face it we are alone in our office and I don't know everything so if I need to bounce something off another nurse they are there.

In NJ you don't need to be certified to be a school nurse. I thought you had to be but was hired when I was sub nursing. I have a 3 year contract as a school nurse in a public school. WithIn those. 3 years I will get my certification.

The kids in my school couldn't afford to go to a place like that. I did refer a parent who had her son out over a week she ended up shaving his head which she should have done day one. At camp we used them for 3 separate cases of lice we had parents were freaking out. It was 3 kids out of 900 campers. Two girls were sisters and the 1 was just an itchy head. They came in and screened the whole entire camp in one afternoon. They found no further cases of lice except for the 3 we already knew about. I heard it was expensive but camp director thought it was worth the money.

So at my camp we do day & night trips. Who administers the meds on trips? The nurse wasn't asked to go on any trips! I work in NJ. Thanks for the input.

I'm in the same boat. School nursing was my first job. Weird but places I put applications in last year are calling now. The problem is that as school nurse's I'm finding that we can't do the orientation. The nurse educator on the hospital only work monday - friday 8-5. And the few places I talked to said fill out a new application in the summer. Only one LTC said they would see what they could do If I was to get the job, I don't think I got that job.

I was lucky enough to get a school nurse position right out of school. I love it I have so much time to spend with the kids and most of my other nurse friends complain about one thing or another, I have nothing to complain about.. I think you'll love it much different from where you are now.

I have a good relationship with our on call so I would call. I would also call the parents it wouldn't hurt to call them most parents would be greatful to receive a phone call

You would probably benefit from this: Twenty-Fifth Annual School Nurse Orientation August 19–23, 2013 The Lodge Welch-Allyn Conference Center Skaneateles, New York. I've never been but Im a school nurse in NJ and I did register, it looks informative.