School Nurses cover more than one school?

Jolie, BSN · Dec 2, 2007

The nurse responsible for a particular school will check immunization records, do health screenings, prepare care plans, and provide teaching for that school. But s/he will not be physically present in the building all the time. In our district, each nurse covers 2-3 schools, meaning that s/he spends approximately 2 or 3 1/2 days in each building. Emergencies and medication administration are handled (not very well) by the secretary and teaching assistants at other times.

MommyandRN · Dec 2, 2007

Thanks for the info. That is sort of scary. When I send my kids to school I would like to think there would be a school nurse there, someone who is trained in CPR in the building at least.

I guess where there is more than one RN listed that means that those nurses are present in the school at least, when the main RN isn't there. Interesting!

platinum_garb · Dec 4, 2007

at my school, the RN is only present 3 days a week-mostly to do administrative duties. i, and LPN, am present 5 days a week for the medically fragile students. we have two campuses and i only work on one, so when the RN isnt on site, generally the contact parent or guardian is called if the problem isnt an emergency to see what they would like done. if it is an emergency, obviously, the paramedics would be called.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Dec 5, 2007

Depending on what state you are in, it varies how many nurses you will have. In Pennsylvania, where I work, the ratio is 1 nurse for 1,500 students. If a district had 15 schools with 100 kids each (not likely, I know) there would still only have to be one nurse. Actually PA is a good state, many have no ratios at all with nurses responsible for thousands of students. Needless to say, this is not ideal. In my school I have about 1,000 students, but it is the only school I am responsible, so I'm really fortunate.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Mar 16, 2009

Thats exactly how it is where I work.. The RN is here part time ( if that) and I'm a CNA here full time in the health room.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 16, 2009

Most schools in IL have NO school nurse.

schoolnurse09 · Apr 5, 2009

This is my first year as a school nurse. I cover 3 schools, the total # of students is about 900. I spend 3 half days in each school, with one 1/2 day extra to spend where I need to. Each school has a trained, full-time Health Aide. At least 3 people in each school are CPR/AED/Asthma and other emergency trained. I do spend a lot of time running back and forth, as I have a diabetic student, and only an RN can give the insulin. My Health Aides are great. They have been at the schools for years, know the staff and the kids.... I couldn't do it without them.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Apr 8, 2009

This is my first year as a school nurse. I cover 3 schools, the total # of students is about 900. I spend 3 half days in each school, with one 1/2 day extra to spend where I need to. Each school has a trained, full-time Health Aide. At least 3 people in each school are CPR/AED/Asthma and other emergency trained. I do spend a lot of time running back and forth, as I have a diabetic student, and only an RN can give the insulin. My Health Aides are great. They have been at the schools for years, know the staff and the kids.... I couldn't do it without them.

Interesting. I'm a health aide and I give insulin to the diabetics. As guess its different everywhere !

pugmomrn · Apr 9, 2009

I'm in a K-8 district of 1500, 3 schools. I split my time between the 3 schools, scheduled days at each one. When I'm not there, the secretaries primarily cover the health room. Health room aides were gone years ago with budget cuts. One of my schools has 4 great, dedicated volunteers to help cover the days when I'm not there. If there's something going on that the secretaries are uncomfortable with, I get called on my cell and run around town.

We do, per state law, have provisions for Emergency Nursing Services-- those secretaries have been trained per ARC standards and have been trained on med admin. Spec ed teachers handle delegated procedures. And, we have CPR trained staff in each of the schools.

SchoolNurseBSN · Apr 14, 2009

Next year - I will be helping the nurse at the high school 1-2 days a week because our enrollment (at the middle school) is down to 550. At least I will not have 2 schools I am completely responsible for. However, I can barely eat lunch or use the restroom now. What are they going to do without me 1-2 days every week???? I am the only health proffesional most of my kids ever see!