cynmrn

cynmrn has 2 years experience and specializes in School Nursing, Telemetry.

cynmrn's Latest Activity

1. 

   Calling in for no sleep

   cynmrn replied to Nurse131382's topic in Nursing

   I worked Saturday night 7pm-7am on Sunday morning and today (Monday) came to my M-F job and was here at 7:30am...I don't think working until 3:30am on Saturday is really an impediment to working at 0700 on a Monday...
2. 

   The struggle from a student who's mom is the school nurse :)

   cynmrn replied to loveschoolnursing's topic in School

   This year, my kiddo is a fifth grader and will be in on the puberty talk. She wants to watch the video beforehand, but hasn't made any requests other than that. I feel like it could be more awkward for me than for her!
3. 

   This is not why I became a nurse

   cynmrn replied to DEgalRN's topic in School

   Haha! I've totally been the zipper hero, too! Kid had his jacket zipped all the way up to his neck and was getting claustrophobic because he couldn't get it down or slip the coat off. Got some pliers and used graphite and the zipper came down nicely. Hero status! This weekend when I was working my shift at the hospital, the tele tech got his foot stuck in the bottom of his chair. He and the house supervisor were cracking up struggling to get his foot out and I look over and dead pan say, "Take your shoe off" and I was the hero there, too. Who says our skills don't transfer to acute care?
4. 

   Nurse vs Para

   cynmrn replied to 117800's topic in School

   My fave is what I refer to as the "hand thermometer." So many kids saying, "My teacher felt me with her hand and said I have a fever and I should come see you." I guess it's a special gift that transcends different job sectors, because when I was a barista, we'd have people asking for a 141 degree latte and feel the cup to ensure our accuracy...perhaps those customers too, were teachers.
5. 

   Not Enough Backup-CPS?

   cynmrn replied to SnowyJ's topic in School

   I would call that in. Just telling the principal and the counselor and letting them deal with it just doesn't cut it for me. We're mandatory reporters, and if something is truly happening to this kiddo and and it's brought forth later that you suspected and didn't act, it wouldn't be good. Aside from that, I'd want the kid to get help, whether it's in the form of formal counseling if this is really fantastical thinking or history of past trauma coming forth or if he's truly being abused. Just my two cents.
6. 

   Brain sheets or charting sheets help for new nurse

   cynmrn replied to Followingfootsteps's topic in Med-Surg

   Ok, that looked completely bizarre after copy and pasting it. But, if you go to the website that I mentioned, it's the "Bob" worksheet.
7. 

   supplemental income

   cynmrn replied to crazynursebsn's topic in School

   I work every other Saturday on the floor at the hospital (I worked there full time prior to getting the school nurse job). I started out last year doing every other Friday and Saturday, which worked out for the first four months. But, I started getting burnt out, especially because I worked days at the school on Friday, then I'd go to the hospital and work the night shift, so I dropped down to the two shifts a month. There is ALWAYS the opportunity to pick up extra shifts, so if I felt the urge or needed some extra cash, the hospital gig could provide that.
8. 

   How long is your commute?

   cynmrn replied to the nurse who lived's topic in Nursing

   Right now, the hospital where I work is about 7 minutes and the schools where I work are less than 5 minutes from home. I'm very fortunate! I live in a small community (moved here for my first nursing job). I know when I move back to Portland, it will most likely be at least 30 minutes.
9. 

   I have 3 months to prepare for nursing school. What is the best way to prepare?

   cynmrn replied to Bibliophage's topic in General Students

   Enjoy the time off with your friends and your family. Sleep in. Do things you enjoy. Plan out anything that might be stressing you out (e.g. child care, transportation, etc.) so you are covered in that respect. Don't spend your time immersing yourself in books. You'll just feel overwhelmed. Same goes for breaks during school!
10. 

    Vent about teachers (as much as I love them)

    cynmrn replied to JerseyTomatoMDCrab's topic in School

    I feel your pain. I get many teachers who are not satisfied with my assessment and we don't have any stock medication like Tylenol, so we are even more limited. The fear of vomit gets people going the most, but unfortunately, vague nausea is the hardest one to call. With anything, it's a win some/lose some kind of game and teachers need to understand that just because someone is not one hundred percent, it doesn't mean they don't belong in school. With that being said, I'm also dying laughing at your description of the teacher bursting into your office like the "Kool-Aid Man." Seriously laughing out loud in my office.
11. 

    Eraser Games FYI

    cynmrn replied to Spidey's mom's topic in School

    This has been a somewhat popular thing at our middle school in the 5th/6th grade age group. I also did the lecturing thing alongside the counselor--my side was mostly about risk of infection, etc. I showed a gnarly picture of cellulitis of the arm. Her side was about the dangers of peer pressure. I really don't understand what the fascination is with bodily harm. I don't remember ever participating in something like this when I was a kid. I do recall some people doing the whole "bloody knuckles" thing, which never really resulted in blood from what I remember either. And I do remember hearing about and being warned against doing the "choking game."
12. 

    What is your schedule like as a nurse?

    cynmrn replied to Yerani27's topic in Nursing

    When I worked full time at the local hospital (am currently on call), I worked 3 12 hour shifts. Overtime is pretty much always available, but never mandatory. There are times when I've worked through my breaks/lunch when it's been especially busy, but technically, we are able to claim this time and be paid for it if we fill out an edit sheet.
13. 

    "Will You Call This Parent?"

    cynmrn replied to SnowyJ's topic in School

    Yes, the hygiene one gets to me, too. I had a teacher asking me to talk to fourth grade student about teeth brushing and show him how because apparently he has poor dental hygiene. How am I supposed to broach that subject? Maybe with a kid I have a relationship with already, but just a random new student? I think either the teacher should talk to the student or call home about those issues. I'm happy to instruct if the student says he does need some extra help, supplies, etc. But, not just out of nowhere.
14. 

    "Will You Call This Parent?"

    cynmrn replied to SnowyJ's topic in School

    This happens to me ALL THE TIME. I've recently had a lot of issues with kids sleeping in class. Now, I don't mind calling when the kiddo is on meds and it might be a side effect or there might have been a change, but I don't understand why they don't make the first contact and let them know what time of day, what it's impacting, etc. I had one parent tell me, "Well, he knows how to read! If it's during reading time, it should be fine!" Wow.... I am of the same mind that if you are observing the behavior, you should at least make the first contact, and I can try to follow up if it continues (and is a health related issue).
15. 

    New Grad Jobs

    cynmrn replied to 07courtney1993's topic in Oregon

    If you're willing to go rural, I know that Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay (south coast) welcomes new grads. We also have a new Bridge program that lasts 12 weeks that provides preceptors, learning opportunities in units throughout the hospital, and extra classroom instruction. I went through it and it was really helpful. Hard to move so far away though--it's four hours from Portland.
16. 

    Dilemma-need advice

    cynmrn replied to ruralnurse84's topic in Nursing

    I don't think it would hurt to interview. You can get a feel for what the job is like (asking questions about patient:nurse ratios, etc.) and find out how the interview process is at the facility. Find out how PTO accumulates and how soon your benefits will kick in. In the end, I'd probably try to stick it out through having baby, just because it'd be a lot to uproot yourself at this time. But, it doesn't hurt to put feelers out there!