School nurse / school Cna question

Gr8Dane · May 2, 2009

Never heard of a school CNA before.

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 2, 2009

Our hospital has an off site adolescent clinic in a school. They obtain vital signs, order supplies, they may draw blood, make appointments, follow up calls for no shows. It seems to be similar to working as a medical assistant.

Cobweb · May 2, 2009

Our grade school has CNAs for some of the special ed kids that require nursing assistance, such as going to the bathroom, or dressing changes, and special aides for the kids who use sign language.

rn2bnwi, BSN, RN · May 2, 2009

that is what i was wondering i got a note home from my kids school after my child fell and the cna had "assessed" him (just for bumps, abrasions, range of motion ect..gave him the all clear and signed it. it was fine , but i another time i stopped by to drop off medication and a child was in the bathroom and had an accident and was asking me for help. i told the cna "i think a child in your restroom had an accident and he is asking for help' and she said "i know but we don't do that." i was thinking that is the thing i do MOST as a cna.

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 2, 2009

Yes, the CNA and even the nurse should have responded when a child has an accident in the restroom. I mean, to go in and ask "What is wrong?" would be a common sense first step to me... (and, of course, if he needed help to be cleaned or changed would come closely afterwards).

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · May 2, 2009

that is what i was wondering i got a note home from my kids school after my child fell and the cna had "assessed" him (just for bumps, abrasions, range of motion ect..gave him the all clear and signed it. it was fine , but i another time i stopped by to drop off medication and a child was in the bathroom and had an accident and was asking me for help. i told the cna "i think a child in your restroom had an accident and he is asking for help' and she said "i know but we don't do that." i was thinking that is the thing i do MOST as a cna.

I'm a "school CNA" however my job title is " School Health Assistant". As a school health asst. I don't assess. I do call parents or send home notes as to what is wrong as you stated in the above post. If a child has an accident I or the nurse do not go in there and change them or go in the BR with them. This is not our job and we can be held liable if we are in the BR with a child alone or even with another adult. In nursing homes/ hospitals CNA's and nurses are responsible for cleaning patients and etc. however in the school health setting its a completly different story. Usually I give the kids a change of colthes and they are able to go in the BR and do it themselves. If the teacher or teacher assistant want to help them than thats on them. As for me I won't do it. Not because I'm above it just because its a child and with there being so much about child sexual abuse and everything we are not allowed to do this.

So yes, your CNA was doing the right thing. Now if a child is asking for help, I will peep my head in and see whats wrong and try to talk them through it, but I won't go in there.