Can a school nurse leave the school clinic?

[mommynurse890]

Hello nurses! I have one important query about school nursing. I am working as a school nurse in a nursery in the UAE. If i am not mistaken, I am the 3rd nurse who worked here. it was a long time practice here that the school nurse will go for rounds twice a day (nursery is working only for 6hrs) to go for rounds to each and every classes. there are 3 villas in this nursery and sections are from A to R plus Playgroup. one round will take me 1 1/2 hour to finish. many times it happened that I was in my rounds in one of the villas when an emergency happened in another villa and they sent the child to the clinic assuming that I am there. I came from the farthest villa and it took me time to reach the clinic. Still, the principal has not noticed that it is really not good to leave the clinic and go for rounds. in this case also, the teachers are mind set to think that I will be the one to go to their classes to check the children. So if complaint is there in the 1st villa, and i am on my rounds in the 3rd villa, the helpers will look for me and tell me to go to that class, which is very difficult. for long time, i was trying to find a written literature that says that the nurse is never allowed to leave the clinic (unless deemed necessary) but i cannot find one. Can you help me with this?

[Amethya]

This made me laugh.

I'm often tempted NOT to...

Oh you....

[ABRN2012]

Maybe tell the admin that this is a violation of privacy to "round" in the classrooms and address every little issue in front of the entire classroom. My personal "nurse" policy is that I don't have to tell the principle why I see a student or even the teacher unless it means they need to go home or I have to involve them. I would lose my mind going classroom to classroom asking if anyone needs to see the nurse. It would take me more than 3 hrs! Its bad enough when they see me in the hall and start yelling down the hall all their "ailments". Admin are more apt to listen if you use words like liable and privacy violation. Id address it that way. They need to be coming to you.

[WineRN]

Not everyone i need to check with the thermometer. But still, i have to go to every classes to check the children. Even the smallest marks/wounds i have to check if they have. Because if i dont, the principal will attack me. Everyday i feel sad for that kind of policy, it is actually "nonsense" that's why I need to stop it.

The tiny ones have different rules to follow.

The daycare for my daughter needs to inform me of any and all injuries AND they need to document any injures that staff notices that may have come from home so that way their staff can't be blamed. Thankfully they know I'm a nurse and just tell me at pick up about any minor injures, but when she first started I got a call because staff was anxious about her birth mark on her bottom. They thought it was a bruise from home.

All of this is related to state regulations, not the facility itself. Maybe your facility is the same?

Could your school invest in walkie talkies? That way if you aren't in your clinic they can walkie you to let you know where to head next? I personally don't think you should be doing rounds, but I am biased and I only leave my office for lunch, and emergencies. I think it just makes more sense to bring the sick ones to you instead of you hauling a bunch of supplies with you everywhere.