KeeperOfTheIceRN ADN

I've requested a fresh bottle of insulin for my T1D multiple times. It has yet to be brought in. I've instructed my UDCA to continue using the bottle we still have as I feel that is better than no insulin at all but we're now well past the 28 day window. The current bottle we have is not expired by any means (but it has been left out of the fridge over night which is when I first requested a new bottle) and the insulin is not cloudy or anything like that. It appears to look just fine. I'm just frustrated that we've requested a fresh bottle and it has yet to be brought in. I've had issues getting inhalers and epi pens but this is the first time I've had an issue with a med like insulin. Anyone else gone through this?

Great! Thank you so much!

How does one go about getting a Google number? This sounds like a great option as I'm over 3 different campuses so a lot of times the only interaction I have with parents on other campuses is via phone!

Until today, I had not heard any response from the parent as to why they hadn't brought one in. I just continued doing what we were doing and periodically sent another email or letter home. @ARN, thank you very much for your post!! I am truly sensitive to the financial burden that those who live with diabetes have to face. I don't have personal experience with it, but I know its an arm and a leg for all of the supplies I genuinely want to help this family as much as I can. They are a newly diagnosed T1D, only about 4 months in. I did finally hear back from mom today (the first time since we've started contacting her about the new bottle) and explained the WHY part of it (manufacturer's recommendation, bacteria, breakdown etc. etc.) BUT! I also explained that she could take the bottle we currently have and keep it at home for use there. I hadn't actually spoken to her about any of this as she never returned phone calls and never responded to emails or letters home. I had no idea on where they fell on all of this. But I did explain that I wasn't trying to inconvenience them or anything, I just needed to keep things "by the book" for legal reasons, especially since I'm not on this campus all of the time. Once we actually talked and I was able to explain things, she said she'd get a fresh bottle to the school and take the other one home. Again, thanks for your input on this! I'll definitely keep it in mind with any other diabetic families that come to my school!

But....what have they done for the other male students that have already gone through their program? Surely you're not the first male student to come through that needs an OB rotation....this is so odd! Best of luck to you! I hope it all works out in the best possible way.

I personally use the Yi cameras for our house. They have a great resolution (and night vision!), can be remotely (via an app on our phones) moved to see all nooks and crannies of the room, and have 2 way communication. https://www.amazon.com/YI-Wireless-Security-Surveillance-Tracking/dp/B01CW4BLG8/ref=sr_1_4?crid=14JLAMAEPF5ZP&keywords=yi+camera&qid=1578511757&sprefix=yi+cam%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-4

So my superintendent just approached me and said "I'd like us to start looking into hiring some help for you on 2 of our campuses. Since we're all located so far a part, it makes no sense you driving to each campus so much. I was thinking we could look to hire a nursing student to be an aide for you on the other two campuses. We'll need to see how much to budget for them and everything. Let me know what you find out." 1) yay for help! 2) any suggestions on where to start on this?! 3) anyone know if that's a thing? hiring nursing students to be aides? how does that work with their nursing student status and working in the capacity of an aide? is it the same as if they were a PCA at the hospital? 4) where do I even begin to look for a pay scale for this? 5) any and all help is greatly appreciated!

High schooler with narcolepsy accidentally took his nighttime med at 0500 (apparently thought the wake up alarm was the med alarm) instead of 2330 like he's supposed to. Mom sent him to school with a quick text to some of his teachers and myself saying he can't miss any more school but that he'll be "in and out of it all day and is having difficulty coordinating his body to walk please don't make him use his fine motor skills" . By the time I got to campus, he was nothing but a snoring blob in the middle of his classroom floor. 3 classmates had to physically pick him up and move him so he wouldn't be stepped on. Dad was super mad he had to come pick him up (I think more so at mom for obvious reasons). But I mean... C'mon now...

Good morning all! Do any of you have experience writing policies? I'm beginning to feel more and more overwhelmed with the fact that I have to help develop some new policies for our district and I have no idea on where to start! I have no experience with writing policies and I haven't been able to find any guidance online or elsewhere. With the implementation of HB 496 (the Stop the Bleed training) and then Sam's Law, we have some new policies we need to develop to encompass these new laws and I feel like I don't know what to do with my hands! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

If they're unable to attend our after-school program (due to unpaid dues), it becomes an abandonment issue and the police are called after a certain time frame. We release at 2:15, so I think by 4/4:30.

About a month ago, 1st grader was in my office WRITHING in pain. He was in the panic phase where he looked like he was just going to bolt out the door because he didn't know how to process the pain he was in. Rebound tenderness. Rigidity. Guarding. No temp or vomiting though. Kiddo had been in just an hour earlier complaining of severe shoulder blade pain. When he returned, I thought "yep. It has to be his appendix and his shoulder pain he felt earlier must have been some referred pain." Told mom I was about 2 mins out from calling EMS when he ended up calming down and mom showed up and took him to the er. Ended up being impacted with stool. I knew he had a history of gut issues but the way he was presenting didn't say this was severe constipation. I was POSITIVE he was on the verge of a ruptured appendix. So, I say all that to say, I think you did a great job with the info and the s/s you witnessed. I wouldn't have done anything different than you!

I'm telling ya

Teachers seem to be getting "ballsy" lately. I had one all but refuse a student back to her room last week after I said I WASN'T calling home as the kiddo wasn't showing any s/s of illness. Kiddo said they vomited in the bathroom. Teacher never saw it as they conveniently made it to the bathroom but she had too many plans over the weekend to have vomiting involved. Kid sat in my office for 45 minutes and showed no s/s of illness. Was about to send them back to class (with admin approval) when dad walked in. Teacher had texted him that student was sick and needed to go home. I've never been so mad at a teacher in my life. Thanksgiving break needs to come. STAT.

This is super interesting and I've never heard it! Thanks for sharing!

What is your policy on return to school after flu? We've got our first case for this year and MD is anticipating return by possibly Friday. Teacher is worried that is too soon. I usually just play it by ear and follow up with parents when kiddos return post flu to make sure they've been fever free for 24 hours, are feeling better, MD has released etc. etc.

Texas

I like both of y'all's responses. I'll be drafting a policy within the next few days for sure because last year we had a big issue with parents sending kids back too soon. Thanks guys!!

Well I'll be! What a fun surprise to see today! Thanks for the words of encouragement OD! We sure miss you around here!

Was informed that 2 different people (1 teacher, 1 office personnel) were looking in a student's ear with my otoscope last week while I was on another campus. Which explains why said student was 100% positive they had holes "all over their ear drum". Spoiler alert....their ear was perfectly normal (shocker, I know). C'mon now.

We have a new admin assistant on one of my campuses. She's nice, but she's a "laugher". She laughs with EVERYTHING she says. Even if it's not a funny thing (like simply asking a question about the printer, for example). It's really kind of annoying. BUT. If I have to hear "oh yay! You're here! We've had a lot of visitors looking for you lately! I don't know how you get anything done!" every time I walk onto this campus, I'm might start throwing peppermints at her. Welcome to my world, Carole.

I feel like I'm becoming some sort of icepack Nazi! I have literally gotten so low on icepacks that I'm now hoarding the few I still have for those instances where ice is NECESSARY and not just wanted as a comfort. A few of the complaints I haven't given icepacks for include: *Getting hit in the forehead with a plastic Frisbee (no marks, no swelling, no bruising...looked like a normal forehead) *Ankle that hurts when I step on it like this: *contorts foot to unnatural position* *I got hit in the head with a rock (rock was flat and about the size of a quarter. Again, no mark, no swelling, skin intact, no bruising, student not in distress AT ALL) *My finger hurts (once again...no swelling, bruising, etc.) *I'm hot *My pencil eraser "BUMPED" (exact words, mind you) my face These are just a few of the things I've had in my office just today. I feel bad for telling them no, but they are HORRIBLE at returning my icepacks. They're not even busting them or anything! They're just setting them down and then they get lost in translation throughout the school. Plus, I mean really...some of the reasons they want icepacks are just plain ridiculous. I've already had one instance where a student NEEDED ice for an ankle injury after falling and I had none to give her. I ended up breaking into my "go bag" for an instant icepack so they could have some relief until their ride got here. Anyone else hoarding their icepacks??

Got super excited about my pink shirt today....then I remembered its Thursday

Hello all. I received word today that one of my 1st graders is currently in the hospital for ketoacidosis. As you can expect, a brand new diagnosis of Type 1 has been given as well. My district is relatively small so this will be our first little with T1D to come through. We had a self sufficient jr high kiddo a few years ago, but they have since graduated! We do not have a return date for this kiddo just yet. I do travel between our 3 campuses, so I will not be on this campus all of the time. My current plan is to do as much training as I can for them and to be on their campus until I feel comfortable with returning to my normal travel schedule. With that said, what are some of your favorite resources for your teachers/staff? I want them to have access to as much as they can as they are 1 hour from my main campus (and me) and I will be essentially ineffective in an emergency situation if I'm not already there for the day. Any help/advice you can share will be greatly appreciated! We're located in Texas, btw

AWESOME!!! Thanks so much @JenTheSchoolRN and @SaltineQueen!!

Welcome back everyone!! I'm not sure if it is required for all schools in other states, but here in the Grand 'ol State of Texas, we (and all of our school staff) have to have training on what to do with Blood-borne Pathogens. We've used the same video for many years. Unfortunately, this year that video is no longer available and now I'm trying to find a replacement. Does anyone have a good video with certificate option (must be approved by the State of Texas) that they can share? The video/certificate combo I have found will only allow me to use it 6 times before I'm "locked out". We obviously have more than 6 employees for our district! Thanks in advance!