Resources and Training - What do you use and what do you need?

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Specializes in ED, Critical care, & Education.

A recent conversation with a school nurse who clearly felt unprepared to deal with many types of emergent conditions within the school system got me wondering a few things.

Do you have any quick reference resources that you use to determine if a child has a potentially emergent condition? There are always the obvious case presentations, but what about the child with a few unusual symptoms. How do you decide when to call 911? Would training by ED triage nurses as to red flag findings be beneficial to school nurses or just seen as "another class"? What would make you feel more prepared to do your job well?

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I have an excellent resource that is about 120 pages from the Illinois Emergency Services for Children in conjunction with Loyola University Medical Center. Sadly, I can not find a link to it. Excellent resource, especially my first year. Do a quick search for policy and procedure, most states have their info online and accessible. I am private and my local public school districts have been very accommodating, including allowing me to use their protocols, and our local health department M.D. signed off on it.

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

I would love a class from perhaps a pediatric ER provider, or even a family pediatric provider. Any extra knowledge can come in handy. As far as resources, nothing specific. I feel comfortable that If I was in a very unsure situation, I could call our ER and get advice.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I wonder sometimes if the feeling of being unprepared is more prevalent in nurses who started their careers in school nursing. I think top notch assessment skills are very important in the school setting when you do not have another nurse to rely on and you can't really get those on your own without someone to guide you. It's why I am glad I spent a year in pediatric home care and three years in the hospital before I became a school nurse. I know what respiratory distress, an anaphylactic reaction, a seizure, etc looks like.

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Specializes in School nursing.

I went straight into school nursing, but I had some great training. I was a sub in a large district and placed for over a month into a large school in nurse's office that had two nurses. The very seasoned and awesome school nurse I worked with taught me so many things and it is something I will forever be grateful for. When I took my own full-time school nursing job after I felt so ahead of the game. It is why I really recommend starting as a sub to transition in.

That being said, my state provides some great training. Our school health manual is here and I find a great reference tool.

Also, check out Northeastern University School Health Academy - some great resources there: Northeastern University School Health Academy

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

I work as an ER nurse for 5 years before I took this job, so I feel pretty comfortable with my triaging/assessment skills. That being said, I just went to a seminar offered by an educational research company about best emergency practices for the school nurse because it hase been 3+ years since I worked in an ER. It was OK. I got more out of the massive trauma/disaster preparedness part of it than anything else.

Our state's school health manual is not the greatest. I would revamp the whole thing if I were in charge. Some other posters on this site have referred to Missouri's (I think?) School Health Manual which is excellent, in my opinion.

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I have an excellent resource that is about 120 pages from the Illinois Emergency Services for Children in conjunction with Loyola University Medical Center. Sadly, I can not find a link to it. Excellent resource, especially my first year…

Are the Guidelines for the Nurse in the School Setting what you are referring to?

The Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children and Loyola University Medical Center also published School Nurse Emergency Care Course: School Nurse Manual (4th ed.), which is much more inclusive.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
Are the Guidelines for the Nurse in the School Setting what you are referring to?

.

This is the one, thanks. Not sure why Google missed it. I had to balance substance to number of pages, as I didn't want to waste toner cartridges.

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Specializes in ED, Critical care, & Education.

Thank you for the excellent resource. I'll check it out!!

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Specializes in ED, Critical care, & Education.
I would love a class from perhaps a pediatric ER provider, or even a family pediatric provider. Any extra knowledge can come in handy. As far as resources, nothing specific. I feel comfortable that If I was in a very unsure situation, I could call our ER and get advice.

Super glad that you would be good with calling the ER. We will always help if we can! Great thoughts on the type of educational content that would be beneficial. I found the conversation I had with the school nurse enlightening....and I can see how challenging a school nurse position would be if you didn't have a background in identifying the sick/not sick! I commend you all! I have that "I could never do what you do" kind of feeling!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.
I have an excellent resource that is about 120 pages from the Illinois Emergency Services for Children in conjunction with Loyola University Medical Center. Sadly, I can not find a link to it. Excellent resource, especially my first year. Do a quick search for policy and procedure, most states have their info online and accessible. I am private and my local public school districts have been very accommodating, including allowing me to use their protocols, and our local health department M.D. signed off on it.

Is it one of these?

http://ssom.luc.edu/media/stritchschoolofmedicine/emergencymedicine/emsforchildren/documents/resources/practiceguidelinestools/Emergency-Guidelines-for-Schools_SECURE.pdf

http://ssom.luc.edu/media/stritchschoolofmedicine/emergencymedicine/emsforchildren/documents/resources/practiceguidelinestools/SchoolNurse_Guidelines.pdf

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