School Nurse Expertise

[gspinn]

I am to speak to school nurses about abdominal pain in the school age child. I would love any perspective you might have!

Thank you

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

Not sure what you want to know. Did this group ask you to come and speak? When I worked elementary, I saw tons of kids c/o abd. pain daily. Usually was "cured" with a snack or going to the bathroom! Let me know more specifically what your asking, maybe I can help. As a school nurse, I always love to hear from people who work in acute care specialties, since I'm on my own basically.

[Needsmorechocolate, ASN]

I agree with Luvschoolnursing.

I work with in an elementary school with grades Pre-K through 6th. In addition to seeing stomach aches related to bm's and lack of breakfast or snack I also see ones that are related to test anxiety, home/family changes or anxiety related to peer disputes.

I find that snacks, bathroom trips, emotional support or a warm pack to the abdomen usually does the trick!

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Keeping in mind that I have limited experience in schools, only as a sub, here's what I'd say.

The school clinic is a little bit unique in that there is generally no doctor and no availability of labs or X-rays. So instead of a talk that covered a lot of detailed information on diagnostics, I'd focus on observable red flags that can clue the nurse in to a true emergency, as opposed to the 95% of kids who seem to just need a pack of crackers.

[gspinn]

They did ask for a speaker to talk about assessing abd pain in the school aged child. The audience is elementary school nurses who mainly work in the inner city.

[gspinn]

That's what I was thinking...but working in an inpatient setting I have all those resourses at hand...so out in the field is a lot harder! Assessement is the way I was thinking.

[gspinn]

What percentage of time do you think that these kids need to be seen by the doctor that day ie for an appy? What fun tricks do you use....one school nurse told me of her "special glasses" that she puts on for the primary grade children. They are special glasses that can see through tummies to diagnosis what's going on...too cute!