NurseEllie13

Every now and then I start to miss it ... the acuity, being surrounded by incredible nurses all the time, the bonds coworkers form after mutually surviving the worst 12 hours of our lives, that look a patient has as they thank you for everything you'...

One of my favorite things about school nursing is rediscovering all those things I loved about school when I was a little kid. Like Field Day! Got my ice packs and Band-Aids ready, hopefully I'll still like Field Day after this. How about you? So mu...

I know, I know. It's inconvenient, they have to take off work, I've totally disrupted their day---I get it. But really??? Didn't you sign a form at the beginning of the year indicating you'd read the policies? Fever goes home. Vomit goes home. Red ey...

Fetch, I love book fairs, too! My school didn't ask me to be outside with them but I wanted to be so I stationed myself out there with gauze, bandaids, alcohol wipes, ice packs in a cooler, and emergency kit including supplies for the diabetics. I ha...

Mine goes to the kiddo who tore open a preservative packet that clearly says DO NOT EAT all over it and ate the contents because "I don't know I just wanted to try." They're going to put a medal of summer around our necks at the end of this marathon...

This is not about lice but first thing in the morning today, a teacher sent a kiddo who came in stating "I thought I saw a bug crawling on my leg and I couldn't get it off and now I think it's in my shoe." Using my incredible wealth of nursing knowle...

I also went into school nursing coming from adult med/surg, and to prepare for my interviews, I thought about how my hospital experience would translate well into school nursing. For example, I worked on a high acuity floor with RRTs and codes often ...

All day long on Pandora! It keeps me calm.

How do you reply to that? Say a student has been home sick with a stomach bug, and yes, you've sent home a few kids for vomiting this week, but nothing alarming. Or maybe the issue is lice.

LOL!!!

I haven't tried this myself and it only works if you can communicate with parents via e-mail. My colleague attaches the care plan to an e-mail to the parent but cc's the principal on it. Apparently that method works REALLY well for her! If your princ...

schooldistrictnurse, I guess both. I want to address their concern and be empathetic without breaching confidentiality. Thanks for the suggestions, I might use those statements! Thanks, kenderella89, I like how direct and straightforward that is!

Also, all the nits I've seen so far have that very tell-tale "tear drop" shape.

Thank you! I think I will do that. :)

I'm from Texas, moving to Maine for the next 3 years (and will probably move back to Texas after.) Since I'll be in Maine for 3 years, do I have to declare that as my primary residence and therefore apply for a Maine license? Is that different from g...

I'm moving to ME where the school districts are TINY and there are exactly zero openings for a school nurse within 30 miles of where I'll be living! Although it's still early and something could open up towards the end of this semester. I'm thinking...

I agree with 100kids. No drainage, no pain, no report of eye being extra "sticky" this morning when the student woke up---rinse it out, back to class, try not to touch it. Our policy to return for diagnosed pink eye is a doctor's note saying the stud...

elkpark, I will probably cut ties with TX for the time being... the only thing I "own" registered to TX is my car... sounds like I should just declare residency in ME?

GrnTea, thanks for that info! Sorry, I didn't see that people had replied until today! That's very helpful, I think I will call and ask like you suggested.

"My general rule of thumb is if its contagious enough to send kid home, they stick with me and get schoolwork until they can be picked up." THIS. Frankly, I'd be very surprised if the teacher doesn't throw a huge fit when you send suspected pink eye...

Thank you, all, very helpful!

Just curious what your school's policy is regarding food in the clinic? (as in, are you able to give crackers to students c/o stomach ache or just plain hungry?) We don't have an official district policy---some nurses don't give out any food at all f...

The only OTC I'm allowed is Vaseline, unless parents bring it in themselves, then they have to sign a form okaying it. If it's to be taken daily, then I need a doctor's order. Another staff member keeps OTC meds for staff, I have no part in that. Stu...

Hi, first time poster! Just started school nursing this year, coming from adult inpatient hospital, took me a long time but I've finally adjusted and I like it! Not working 12 hour shifts and having all weekends and holidays off is nice, too. :) That...