School Nurses - What are you going to wear?

[SchoolNurseK, BSN, RN]

I am a scrub wearing school nurse so that won't change this year, but are you adding a surgical bonnet or lab coat? I plan to change out of my scrubs before leaving school. We requested a washer/dryer and unfortunately did not get it, so my plan to keep scrubs at work fell through.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

A fetching scrub bonnet that makes me look like Laura Ingalls.

A lightweight long jacket (I hate the way lab coats look on me but they have these collarless things I like).

N95 mask and face shield when I am less than 6 feet from students. Add gloves as appropriate.

Surgical mask and face shield when I am able to be six feet but still with students.

No mask when at my desk.

As far as cleaning things - consider your car a dirty area. Take off the jacket and place it in a plastic bag (same for head covering). Kick your shoes off outside your door, walk to laundry room with bag, dump that in the wash and strip. If you can't have Nakie house, stash a robe and sanitizer in the laundry room.

Good luck!!

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Imma hop, skip and go nekkid!??

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

2 hours ago, NutmeggeRN said:

Imma hop, skip and go nekkid!??

Remote high five there, Nutmegge! Or chicken wing. Or jazz hands.

[BrisketRN, BSN, RN]

@ruby_jane Have you been fit tested for your N95? Our state dept of health stated nurses should wear fit tested N95 if assessing a student with COVID-like symptoms, but now that I'm trying to actually get them to help me find a place to fit test they're saying it's "a recommendation."

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

3 hours ago, BrisketRN said:

@ruby_jane Have you been fit tested for your N95? Our state dept of health stated nurses should wear fit tested N95 if assessing a student with COVID-like symptoms, but now that I'm trying to actually get them to help me find a place to fit test they're saying it's "a recommendation."

I've gotten the same answer in general from my department of public health. Or I'm told to contact my local fire department to arrange for fit testing...

I'm planning on surgical mask/shield when working with students with non-COVID-related visits, quick initial possible COVID assessment and save my N95s for the prolonged visit with a possible COVID student since a) hard to get N95s b) surgical masks have been shown to be effective here.

Note: guidance from my state is also requiring surgical masks be worn by students with COVID symptoms in the isolation space. Just for ordering purposes for those reading this and still ordering supplies...

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

On 8/19/2020 at 11:38 AM, BrisketRN said:

@ruby_jane Have you been fit tested for your N95? Our state dept of health stated nurses should wear fit tested N95 if assessing a student with COVID-like symptoms, but now that I'm trying to actually get them to help me find a place to fit test they're saying it's "a recommendation."

So....long ago and far away when I worked TB I was in charge of fit testing equipment. But what I learned in the last six months was that most of that labor was for naught. We do not actually have a great choice in terms of small, medium and large N95 due to the supply chain issues. So we're going with "one size fits most." Also trying to find the equipment to properly test fit is challenging, again due to supply chain issues. Also I'd far rather have the hospital have that stuff. Incidentally the local hospital doesn't have enough N95 masks and is asking the staff to bring in a used one to be fit tested with. Crazy world, this 2020.

[BrisketRN, BSN, RN]

2 minutes ago, ruby_jane said:

So....long ago and far away when I worked TB I was in charge of fit testing equipment. But what I learned in the last six months was that most of that labor was for naught. We do not actually have a great choice in terms of small, medium and large N95 due to the supply chain issues. So we're going with "one size fits most." Also trying to find the equipment to properly test fit is challenging, again due to supply chain issues. Also I'd far rather have the hospital have that stuff. Incidentally the local hospital doesn't have enough N95 masks and is asking the staff to bring in a used one to be fit tested with. Crazy world, this 2020.

WOW!! Yes--we're just going to make it work.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

16 hours ago, ruby_jane said:

So....long ago and far away when I worked TB I was in charge of fit testing equipment. But what I learned in the last six months was that most of that labor was for naught. We do not actually have a great choice in terms of small, medium and large N95 due to the supply chain issues. So we're going with "one size fits most." Also trying to find the equipment to properly test fit is challenging, again due to supply chain issues. Also I'd far rather have the hospital have that stuff. Incidentally the local hospital doesn't have enough N95 masks and is asking the staff to bring in a used one to be fit tested with. Crazy world, this 2020.

I did some basic measuring myself of my face and those of the nursing staff to line up with sizes here. But word to all this. I'd also rather let the hospital have that stuff. I can work with a shield and a surgical mask 95% of the time as I'm no doing an aerosol generating procedure. And if I absolutely have to, I've found a small space for a neb for one specific student, IF they end up in the building at all this year.