School Nurses Getting Sick

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Specializes in CNA instructor, School Nurse.

I’ve been a school nurse for about a month now. I have had numerous kids with fevers and/or covid in my clinic since day 1 but I wash my hands a lot and mask up when I have (real or fake) sick ones in there. 

 I woke up this morning feeling absolutely terrible. It hurts to breathe. It hurts to talk. My head and chest feel like they’re going to implode from pressure. I even have a borderline fever and due to an autoimmune condition I never, ever, have fevers (yay body for trying to fight this!) 
 

Soo I had to call in, but we have no subs so the Secretary covers for me. 
I’m worried I have covid but I’m worried to test bc I will feel so bad if I have to be out the rest of the week (I will rest though of course) ?

 did you all catch covid at work when you were dealing with it 24/7? How do you get over the guilt of staying home? How did your school handle it?

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..

I am so sorry you are feeling so bad. Not very fun way to start the school year for sure.

Somehow, I didn't get Covid - but I felt like I went home "bathed" in it many many days.

No reason to feel guilty- you have to take care of you first when you are sick.

Hang in there- I hope you are better very soon.

Happy Wednesday Friends-

a.

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

Covid started here in March of 2020 when our school closed down.  I spent that Spring/Summer doing temp/health checks on school staff cooking/delivering meals to students.  SY 20/21 we were fully masked all year and I was testing and sending home sick kids all day long.   SY 21/22 was less masking, but more testing.  Tons of exposure to covid positive kids.   It finally caught me in May of this year - with 2 days left in the school year!!  I was more pissed off than guilty because I love end of the year, plus I had a lot of stuff to do to close out the year!  

But as a general rule, I do feel guilty being sick, as we have trouble finding subs also, but I'm rarely sick.   I'd for sure test yourself so you aren't spreading it around - and hope you feel better soon!!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Get yourself tested for Covid and take care of yourself. 

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, School Nursing, OB.

Just because we are school nurses doesn’t make us somehow invincible to illnesses. We should technically be expected to get more sick seeing as how we are exposed to all the sick kids in the building every day!! I never got Covid or at least never tested positive somehow. But when I’m sick I stay home and try not to feel bad for putting people out because it’s not like I chose to be sick or am playing hooky. Plus they will appreciate you much more when you do come back! LOL! Get tested. Do what you expect others to.  Take care of yourself. There are no awards for anyone who came to work before they felt better! Hope you feel better soon!

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Specializes in kids.

Test and isolate. I hope it passes quickly for you!

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Specializes in School nursing.

I got COVID - twice!

The first time was January 2022. I was shocked it too this long, honestly, given how prevalent it was when I am (MA; we were still fully masked at the time). It happened at the literal worst time ever that it could happen. I am the school nurse leader who also works the ground as a nurse. I had another part-time RN and two full time LPNs. One of my LPNs quit in November and I hadn't filled the role yet (I was also campaigning for another RN with my boss to hire). The part-time RN and I got COVID on the SAME DAY.

From home, I directed the lone LPN through all the had to handled by RN care (diabetic care was one example) and my non nursing boss and I zoomed and I delegated like I had never delegated before all the tasks I could to non healthcare personnel.  We were doing weekly COVID testing, test to stay, symptomatic testing. We had 50+ students and staff test positive in the nurse's office the 3 work days I was out. I had a weekend and two snow days hit when I got sick - they were a blessing for me to let my brain actually rest for hot minute because I worked remotely while out nearly non-stop.

But you know what? I didn't pick back up the weekly COVID testing train when I got back - Oh, I did all the back end stuff and talked to families, but my boss and the team of admin I trained all did the actually process of testing for me for the REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR (including the next April/May surge we got - I didn't get COVID during that). It was the biggest piece of appreciation I have ever received. 

This July, I got COVID again. I work year round, so I do work summers. But it was two weeks before Summer school and I took my needed days to recover this time and it was huge. I filled that empty LPN slot with a full time RN (but did lose my part time RN this Summer).

Take the sick time. Also, please test! It is what it is and it is better knowing so you don't come back too early and risk infecting others. We are human. We get sick. We are allowed to do so :).

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Specializes in kids.
On 9/13/2022 at 6:44 AM, JenTheSchoolRN said:

 

Take the sick time. Also, please test! It is what it is and it is better knowing so you don't come back too early and risk infecting others. We are human. We get sick. We are allowed to do so :).

But we are NOT very good about it are we???

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