shark_nurse14 BSN, RN

I know some school districts that are going back with face-to-face instruction are looking for health room aides or CNAs. Applying to some of those positions may help you work closely with the school nurse to gain experience, and also put a few dolla...

I haven't heard anything like this, and our district has been able to obtain N95s. I agree, we are certainly first responders! I see these kids before 911 is called, before the paramedics arrive, before they are considered inpatient in a hospital...d...

Our district is going to have two nursing offices when school opens: an isolation office and a "daily visit, injury, mental health" office. Those in the isolation office will wear full PPE; N95s, gowns, gloves, face shield OR goggles. Those in the "r...

We have had something similar to this in the past within our student/parent handbook that is signed (but definitely not read as evidence by years of parents "not knowing"). In a perfect world, this would work, and I think you are right that it will ...

I would have a very honest conversation with the family before the start of school regarding EVERYTHING they want the school to do in response to a seizure and have it included in an EAP with nurse/parent/doctor signature. I've had some students who ...

I typically wore street clothes, up until this year. Around Dec/Jan we had so many kids with flu, or flu-like illness, that I just felt like I needed something I could wash/wear without concern. I wasn't about to wash my $80 jeans after every wear an...

school nursing: just band-aids and ice packs all day

At this time, my school is not considering taking temperatures upon arrival. With the evidence that supports school aged children rarely have symptoms, including fever, we see it as a waste of time/resources. We also have concerns about the gathering...

What are some of the highlights of your job ? The kids. You will be with these kids more than most of their parents are. You see them good, bad, and ugly crying. You are able to build a relationship beyond that of a nurse. For a lot of these kids, I'...

I wish we had a list of staff who were out! We’ve asked, but some teachers think it’s nosy....they don’t know I can usually tell who is out before lunch because of my visits

Somehow I’ve become the go-to staff member for watching detention if an administrator has to address something....mainly because I’m contracted to be in the building until 3, when most other staff leave at 2:25. I don’t mind it, it tends to be kids t...

Yikes...go with your gut on this one.... Any parent I've had of a child with a true bleeding disorder has made sure I have proper documentation and emergency medication/orders from MD before the child steps foot into the school. Also, student's I've...

I just provided a "nursing office breakdown" to administration to share with staff, because I think there is a huge misunderstanding of how busy my office is! I have just under 500 students in my school of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. So far, there hav...

I'm currently in my last class of the SNHU online MSN program, and love it! I took the MSN- Generalist approach and I'm so glad that I did. I find that working in such an autonomous position, the classes at SNHU have provided me with an overall incre...

I tend to have a lot of dizzy kids after a staff member uses the big laminator...the smell gets to a lot of people (adults included). In most instances, if vitals and assessment findings are WNL, I give water and verbal reassurance. Most times after ...

I took it during this past summers testing period. I felt underprepared, but passed! There's no fool-proof way of studying for it, so that can be scary...there's truly only one book and some people find it to be unhelpful. I think a lot of the quest...

A month of school nursing is very little time, especially when trying to get used to middle school attitudes! I would highly suggest reading posts on the school nursing speciality page to get a better idea of school nursing as a whole. You might noti...

When I get frustrated with what seem like "pointless" visits, I ask myself why they might really be visiting the office...do they really think this problem requires a nurse and I can educate on how they can help themselves? Do they need a break from ...

I'm fortunate to have a large office, equipped with a waiting area, an exam room, a room for resting, and an inner office with a door I can close between myself and those waiting/malingering. Since each space serves a different purpose, they all look...

I'm not sure how close you are to your guidance counselors or librarian, but those are resources I use for these students. Because most of these kiddos have a length of time they are to sit out for, I'm usually able to work out a schedule for them th...

Yes! Just got a physical the other day that conveniently left out that the kiddo has type 1 diabetes.....big whoopsie

I agree with amoLucia and think an easier way to go about this would be to pick one topic and adapt it for each audience...this will save you time and effort when trying to get both things done. Some school-related topics I can think of that would be...

Sewed a blanket from home so a student wouldn't "lose circulation to [my] leg in the middle of the night"Poured chocolate milk into a plastic cup so they could make sure there was nothing else in the cafeteria cartonDriven the forgotten diabetic car...

Been in a similar situation.... Mom suggested placing the med inside the hole of a raspberry! Works every time. The student noticed it was in there after the initial administration, but enjoys raspberries so much he takes it just to be able to eat th...

Our policy states continuous coughing that prevents sleep or even a productive cough is reason for child to stay at home. We also have listed nasal discharge that is not clear and rashes with blisters or discharge. Still, there will always be the par...