AussiePupOwner

Congratulations on your new job! I've been a nurse for five years years and just started with a home hospice company and like it so far. As far as training goes: I spent several days learning Medicare policies, infection control, and what seemed like a gazillion other computer-based educational materials. I was in the office learning how to keep track of my mileage, time, how to use McKesson for patient documentation, and getting my business cards. This last week, I was out in the field with another nurse observing and learning what paperwork I need for which circumstances. For instance, our patients that are in facilities require different paperwork & documentation than our patients that are at home. I practiced contacting the pharmacy, the DME company, and the doctors. I hope this gives you an idea of what to expect and I wish you the best of luck!

I am so sorry you are going through so much right now. As a former poster mentioned, it may be a good time to get hospice involved so that more support may be provided for your family. Please take care of yourself also. Even if one has not been "close" with a parent, their death may still be painful. Don't hesitate to seek guidance for your own feelings and needs throughout this ordeal as well. Take care.

Not so much with the doctor; however, I am that way with the emergency room.

I love when I have students because I love teaching.

Thanks for the input toomuchbaloney!

Days like that can feel so demoralizing. Add to that a nasty doctor or two, meetings about patient satisfaction (warmed up food or getting trays for family members), and staffing cuts and its enough to make anyone want to quit! I was somehow able to tolerate days like you described until they cut our unit secretaries and CNAs and I put in my notice. How was I supposed to do all that and put in my own orders, answer the unit's phone, and do the CNA/PCA work also? I felt like they wanted better care with less resources and I could not SAFELY provide it under those conditions. I did school nursing for a few years and am now starting a hospice position.

Hi PinkNails! Congratulations on getting called back for another interview. My first suggestion is to concentrate on questions you may be asked during your interview and practice your responses. Some examples: What are your strengths? What do you have to offer our company and our residents? Do you have any weaknesses? What are your goals for the future? These are a few of the frequently asked questions during the interview process. Best of luck to you!

Good afternoon everyone. I've been reading your posts for quite some time and they've assisted in my decision to accept a job offer as a hospice case manager. My background is oncology and school nursing. I dealt with several end-of-life scenarios while working oncology and they always fueled my desire to work hospice. While in nursing school, I considered hospice and have utilized hospice services for my family. I had heard that case management is a salaried position and that one may not always get home when expected. I'm now an "empty-nester" and thought this would be a great time to reinvent myself and finally see if this is what I've really wanted to be when I grew up! Any advise or tips would be greatly appreciated!

The spec ed teacher or aides take care of them. I already have to deal with the the kids who are NOT spec ed that wet/soil themselves.

Our school pretty much sticks with bottled water, pretzels, and mints. My diabetics are told to stay away from the testing snacks and stick with their scheduled snacks. The first day of testing, one of my diabetics was given several mints and tested through recess, so her BG was 327! She learned her lesson and listened to me the next day!

When I do an IHP for a student with, let's say, a peanut allergy; my care plan includes informing and educating all the staff members John Q. Student will come in contact with on a regular basis. The parent signs off on this care plan; therefore, confirms having knowledge of and approves the fact that I will be sharing that information.

Sounds to me like this mother was bullying you to get her way. Stick to your guns and get the forms you legally need to have on file. Unfortunately, I have also been verbally abused and I've been given a nasty letter by a parent before. I'm trying to not let negativity get my down, and I'm getting better at it, but I've certainly had more of it since switching from oncology to school nursing.

Last time we had a problem, I emailed all the teachers and had them keep in our insect sting allergy kiddos. The principal then called in a work order to have our playground treated. Honestly, I don't know how they treat though. Sorry.

Personally, I stay inside and have the injured come into the clinic because I have pretty severe environmental allergies (pollen, etc.). Sometimes, my assistant will go out with some bandages and send the more severe injuries inside to me.

My only vent about field day: It seems all my kids whose parents have come up with all kinds of physician notes and excuses and/or raised a ruckus with the superintendent's office to have little Johnny or Jane excused from recess or PE (outdoor activity) for the entire year, suddenly recover and must be allowed to play outside in the sweltering heat on field day. Hmf! I found this out the hard way my first year of school nursing. I found indoor activities for those students to do and held them inside because they were on activity restrictions. The next day, I had a line of angry parents in the front office!

I HATE that because then I have to battle them the next day. Our district policy is the student has to be fever free w/o the use of NSAIDS for 24 hours before they can return to school. Basically, they can't come to school the day after being sent home with a fever. Even though I tell the parent that, I'll get the occasional "sneak in". I've heard it all, "Well, I know he went home with a 103 fever, but today's his birthday and he has cupcakes to share with the class." After bickering about 10 minutes, I put the AP on the phone and she backed me up. He was gone in 30 minutes. Then, I'll have parents calling blaming the school, or me, for their kid being sick. One parent told the principal her kid keeps getting sick because I'm not teaching the children enough about hygiene and hand washing. No, ma'm, it's the kids coming to school sick.

I've had my students teach the kids about hand washing. I have them assess the children that come into the clinic (I double-check of course). I give them oral case studies, for example: If a child were brought in here right now with what may be a broken arm, what would you do? They are always grateful for my feedback and it keeps them off those darn cell phones! How disrespectful is that?

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/schools.ht Because of the latest news from the CDC, starting next year, we may not even be able to send them home. Usually, the child is pretty uncomfortable and I'm hoping this will encourage the parent to come get their child; however, I know it won't always work.

I've had to ask administration about this. I also work at an elementary school. We cannot insist that a student wear a bra, so I would have to discuss it with my principal if it was creating a distraction or something. Then, I would hope to slot that under dress code so they'd handle it!

When a student is sent to me for odor, I try to address it with the student first. I discuss washing, deodorant, etc. I have them go into the clinic restroom and wash their underarms and apply deodorant. I also do an assessment. I once had a fourth grader with a severe fungal rash under both her underarms. No wonder she has such a foul smell! I couldn't believe she wasn't scratching herself silly or uncomfortable. If they still end up being sent to the clinic, then I speak with mom/dad about clinical strength deodorants, etc. Out of the ten or so calls I've made, I've only had one parent get irate. I tend to talk to the parent like a friend, "My son is older now, but I remember when he was younger he didn't like to bathe either......", "My daughter had issues with odor, so I purchased clinical strength deodorants and that did the trick." I don't want them to feel I'm being judgmental and that seems to help. Unfortunately, there are some parents that just don't care and we do our best to help the student stay as clean as possible.

Our school has the "Backpack Buddy" program.

Since it's not really a "medical" issue, I would tell the teacher since she is so bothered by it, she should call the parent. Kids will be kids. This would not be on my list of priorities at all. I have to make enough call about body odor. Just my two cents.

I am at the elementary level and, so far, the touching and exposing issues go right to the principal and counselor. It would be good information to have on hand though. Good luck to you.

So sorry you are feeling so burnt out lately. I think we all go through it from time to time. There are times when the clinic is full and overflowing and I'm frustrated. There are charts to be delivered, documentation to be done, new kiddos registering and the front office is paging me for immunization checks. #1 My frequent fliers get their temps checked and sent back to class if there is no fever. #2 I get the meds done #3 Once I can get the clinic cleared, I put my sign up. I have a sign that goes on my door when I have to run to a classroom, a meeting, etc. It says "Nurse will be back it (blank) minutes. Please wait here. All emergencies go to the front office." I fill in five or ten minutes, I take a potty break and get something to drink or a cup of coffee and breeeeeath. A few times, I've walked a few laps around the inside of the school to burn of my anxiety. I have a walkie-talkie that I carry with me, so if one of my epileptics, asthmatics, or diabetics needs me, they can reach me. We are required to wear many hats (nurse, psychologist, paramedic, social worker, teacher, police officer, etc) and this can be stressful. Sometimes, you have to take a few moments for yourself. I hope you are feeling better. Hugs!

Sometimes, one cannot be tactful. After several friendly reminders that did not work, I ended up posing the following question just this last Thursday, "Now, listen, Ms. Teacher, do I walk through and hang out in your classroom while you're teaching?" I did not see her at all the rest of Thursday, nor Friday. Score one for the nurse!