Sub

AdobeRN · May 17, 2018

If I have a new to me sub I will reach out via email or call them to see if they have any questions - make sure they are comfortable with computer system, give them a heads up on my frequent fliers/more difficult students, make sure they are comfortable with diabetics - review my care of the diabetics etc. If they are new to subbing in general - I invite them to stop by for 15-30 minutes or however long they want to stay so I can meet them and show them around. Our district has started this year to actually give our subs a paid orientation day which is nice.

I let the staff know I am out also - I send an email out the day before letting everyone know I am out, who the sub is, reminding them to call my office if they need anything since the subs do not have access to emails, use nurse passes. I set my email up with an auto "out of office" reply incase I get parents emailing questions or requests - so they know to call my office and speak the sub if they need anything.

I understand the anxiety of having a sub when you are out - sometimes it is difficult for me to relax when I am out.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · May 17, 2018

I actually have a sub binder with all the following:

I have a form with all important phone extensions

Poison control #

Identify any daily meds

Anything in particular going on with a kid

Where the diabetic stuff is

The binder with emergency plans

Emergency evacuation info

Where the nebulizer is

Where supplies are and so on

We actually have a paid orientation with our subs in our office so they do not walk in cold. Too late for you for that, but maybe in the future?

BeckyESRN · May 17, 2018

I also have a binder of class photos, so it's easy to figure out which kindergarten "Mia" you just saw. I add their nicknames to it and use a color-coded dot system; red for allergy, blue for asthma, brown for seizure, orange for FF, pink for crazy parents :)

LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN · May 17, 2018

I email staff more formally saying: "Yo if you send a FF up, they won't know it's a FF situation so jot a note to send with the kid!"

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · May 17, 2018

I leave a copy of the yearbook on my desk and sticky all my daily med kids in for any sub.

Though our computer system just added photos into it, so great for me! (My subs do have access to my EMR for charting).

OldDude · May 17, 2018

Our office assistant has taken the diabetes management class. She fills in when I go to lunch or otherwise off campus and if I'm on campus somewhere else when someone comes in the clinic. One of my clinic doors remains open and is connected to the front office so she hears a lot of what goes on in here so she is very familiar with the kids. I have found it is less stressful for me to have her be my "sub" when I need to take off. It's a lot easier for the school to find a sub for the office assistant than for the nurse.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · May 17, 2018

I leave a copy of the yearbook on my desk and sticky all my daily med kids in for any sub.
Though our computer system just added photos into it, so great for me! (My subs do have access to my EMR for charting).

That's GENIUS!!!

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · May 17, 2018

That's GENIUS!!!

It helps that I am the yearbook adviser at my school so I always have access to a copy of the yearbook and photos from school photo day. (It also helps me put names to faces myself in my school, especially for students I only see during screenings.)

OhioBPH · May 17, 2018

We get subs through the hospital's school health services, so they are oriented through the department but not to each clinic. I also have a standardized sub folder with important info like med lists, health concerns, and info about where to find inhalers epi pens and the AED.

I have had two subs this year and both times it was a big kerfuffle and I just want it to go smoothly.

bsyrn, ASN, RN · May 17, 2018

You have subs? We don't

OhioBPH · May 17, 2018

It is a major perk of being part of a hospital staffed department.