Hi everyone! I am new to the board and relatively new to SN. Last year my supervisor (an RN) told me I should keep "office hours" and close the office to regular visits daily. This would allow me to catch up on paperwork, phone calls needing privacy and especially CPS reports. I see an average of 50 kids a day in a busy urban school district.
I didn't do this last year thinking I was making myself more accessible. That I was-to students and staff. I ended up staying late in the day to get the pwork and private phone calls done and it was becoming a bit stressful by June. My lunches were a stab in the dark, unchanged from my hospital days, I might add.
What do you seasoned school nurses do? Thanks for any advice!
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I wanted to post an update on how I'm doing. I really took some of your advice to heart and so far, so good.
my lunch is scheduled around meds and conveniently enough is from 12-12:30. I posted a sign on my door that says "Feeding Time To Prevent Nurse From Getting Grumpy" and the time closed. The kids actually read it and I hear them laughing...seems to soften them up a bit. I closed for the last hour of the day and for the most part, it is honored. When kids come down (you know they are still trying) I ask who sent them and return them right to class unless it is an emergency. there are a few teachers who are still sending kids down and when/if it becomes a pattern I will send them a friendly reminder to keep kids in the classroom Certainly they can let them put their heads down for a few minutes if they dont feel well.
I also turn my lights out and put a sign on the door then too. I am in a fishbowl so everyone can see in-lights out don't seem as inviting. All in all it is working and I thank you for your help!
:yeah:My district pays for a lunch relief nurse who floats to each building to cover the lunches of 4 nurses. No interruption in availabilty of nursing care and happy school nurses who eat lunch at a reasonable time. She is also available to cover for various meetings or extremely busy times.
I am supposed to get an hour for lunch. Clearly, that doesn't happen unless school is out. I work for public health, not the LEA though. Our work day is supposed to be 8-5 with one hr. lunch. I try to get there between 7:30 and 8. I like to get there earlier, but with a potty training almost 3 year old, things happen and I can run late a lot. LOL
But since I have until 5, I can see kids throughout the day. I try to chart as soon as it happens, but if it is busy, I write refreshers on the chart and can catch up at the end of the day. If I only got 15 minutes for lunch, I can leave 45 minutes early. Most teachers are out at 3:30 unless they have meetings or sports.
I like the sign idea. That's cute!
ETA- I guess I am still used to trying to inhale as much lunch as I can quickly. Still in ER mode. LOL Unless we go out to eat for lunch and talk, I never take an hour!
Just as schoolnursebsn I also put a note on my door and lock it. I email the teachers occasionally to remind them when my lunch is and not to send students to the nurse at this time unless it is an emergency that I need to be called for. I tell the secretary that if a student comes in anyway during this time with a nonemergency situation send them back to class until I return. If the secretary starts treating this minor stuff then teachers will get in the habit of sending them during this time. The best way to handle this is to be firm..don't be wishy-washy. We deserve a lunch break just like everyone else!
luvtobote
4 Posts
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I wanted to post an update on how I'm doing. I really took some of your advice to heart and so far, so good.
my lunch is scheduled around meds and conveniently enough is from 12-12:30. I posted a sign on my door that says "Feeding Time To Prevent Nurse From Getting Grumpy" and the time closed. The kids actually read it and I hear them laughing...seems to soften them up a bit. I closed for the last hour of the day and for the most part, it is honored. When kids come down (you know they are still trying) I ask who sent them and return them right to class unless it is an emergency. there are a few teachers who are still sending kids down and when/if it becomes a pattern I will send them a friendly reminder to keep kids in the classroom Certainly they can let them put their heads down for a few minutes if they dont feel well.
I also turn my lights out and put a sign on the door then too. I am in a fishbowl so everyone can see in-lights out don't seem as inviting. All in all it is working and I thank you for your help!