Screenings

[Kerber]

I am doing 8 th grade hearing screening today. I sent schoolwork email that I am doing this today and keep that in mind before sending students. I keep getting i Interrupted With stomach aches or my finger hurts!! How do you deal with that? I sent another email only send students if it’s an emergency and not for minor complaints and I think I upset some staff members by doing that.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

Close the clinic to all but emergencies. With a sign. You don't interrupt the teachers during testing....

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

THIS!!! ^^^ if they continue to come in just tell them you are testing and they can't be seen right now. I put a sign on the door that says "Testing in progess - nurse available for medications and emergencies only". Granted, kids (and teachers) think everything is an emergency.

[tining, BSN, RN]

Honestly, I don't think every teacher reads emails or follows instructions. Took me 4 days to meet with teachers about student issue that could not be put in email. The last teacher I called at their planning period. The teacher thought I was calling to help them with open enrollment of insurance. No regard for the 5 emails I sent in 4 days.

[halohg, RN]

Two thoughts, one create a system where you can do both, either by having a float nurse cover the health office and perform the screenings elsewhere in the building or have another adult in your office and manage non emergencies.
two- I encourage you to use another word other an “emergencies”, the definition to a teacher / school staff and to you of what is a medical emergency is two very different things. I will say something like unless a student is unable to breathe well or they have active flowing blood or an obvious broken bone the office will be closed as I will be performing state mandated screenings until 12pm then the health office will be open for students.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

On 11/15/2019 at 2:53 PM, Flare said:

THIS!!! ^^^ if they continue to come in just tell them you are testing and they can't be seen right now. I put a sign on the door that says "Testing in progess - nurse available for medications and emergencies only". Granted, kids (and teachers) think everything is an emergency.

The front desk person thinks everything is an emergency...?

[EnoughWithTheIce]

You have to spell it out for them. I always include "Emergencies such as............"

I also specifically state that old injuries, etc. ARE NOT emergencies.

Of course, they still send that stuff regardless!

[ihavealltheice]

I find that in the middle school setting especially, the moment I send out an email saying please don't sent students, they'll send more than if I just didn't send it out at all. Not purposefully, not vindictively, it just happens.

So, my recommendation to you is not to send the email. Pretend it's a normal day as far as the rest of the staff is concerned. You can also call students down for screenings a handful at a time and see ill students in between the screening groups (unless it is an emergency). That way, you don't get a huge backup of students in your office and it's less frustrating for you.