So frustrated.

Published

My admin is saying that I -have- to find face masks. I’ve found sites selling them for around $25 for 50. They said it’s too expensive. I’m about to cry from the frustration. I told them I cannot find them. They’re on back order and no one knows when they’ll be in stock. “We’re running out and we need to have them.”

Specializes in School Health.
1 minute ago, SchoolNurse91 said:

I’ve tried McKesson, SNS, MacGill, and school health

I use McKesson, SNS and MacGill (mainly McKesson). I used to use School Health at my previous school, but we do not have an account with them at my current school.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
Just now, Keeperofbandages said:

I use McKesson, SNS and MacGill (mainly McKesson). I used to use School Health at my previous school, but we do not have an account with them at my current school.

Well, they’re telling me to look at grocery stores so I don’t think having an account is an issue ???. I don’t imagine Walmart takes POs. Tough times.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

what's your mask budget? Cloth masks are available on Custom ink for 120 / $200. about $1.70 a piece.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
5 minutes ago, Flare said:

what's your mask budget? Cloth masks are available on Custom ink for 120 / $200. about $1.70 a piece.

Great. I’ll look into that.

I found the state protocol for temperature checks. Face mask, face shield, gowns and gloves. Where are we suppose to find all of this??

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Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

Are you supposed to provide for your whole school, or district? I can see having a small supply in your office in case if issues, but providing for all is unreasonable.

in MA everyone has to wear a mask, so everyone should already have one when we go back to school, that is basically what my director is saying. I think it should be part of the back to school supply list!

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Specializes in School Nursing.
4 minutes ago, scuba nurse said:

Are you supposed to provide for your whole school, or district? I can see having a small supply in your office in case if issues, but providing for all is unreasonable.

in MA everyone has to wear a mask, so everyone should already have one when we go back to school, that is basically what my director is saying. I think it should be part of the back to school supply list!

For all staff and students. I don’t agree with it, but people aren’t listening to me

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
23 hours ago, SchoolNurse91 said:

It’s all so frustrating. I have no clue what to do.

"This is what I found. Take it or leave it."

Old Dude just popped out of me, sorry.

But seriously, that's the answer. Tell them more nicely than I did. It's a profiteering economy right now. Best of luck.

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14 hours ago, ruby_jane said:

"This is what I found. Take it or leave it."

Old Dude just popped out of me, sorry.

But seriously, that's the answer. Tell them more nicely than I did. It's a profiteering economy right now. Best of luck.

Yep, you need to channel your inner Old Dude and/or ruby_jane. When someone is asking you to do something that's literally impossible....it's impossible. No reason to feel bad about it, just matter-of-factly state that you can't.

I can't believe that anyone could even ask this of you - do they not read or watch the news? All the news about hospitals, EMS companies, entire states battling each other to buy PPE, and HCPs reusing or making their own supplies? Like, one school nurse is supposed to oustmart and outbid entire hospital chains by scrounging in grocery stores? Sheesh.

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For cloth masks, I bet you could get them for free. So many people are out there making cloth masks and donating them to various organizations. Basic cloth masks are quite easy and inexpensive to make, and people like to feel like they are part of the effort to help. I've made many for my family and friends from my stash of quilting fabric, so they've been essentially free except for the cost of elastic.

How many do you need? Could you reach out to your PTA or other organizations in your town/city? I bet there are some parents or grandparents who would love to form a sewing brigade. I personally have yards and yards of fabric, and I know many who share my sewing addiction do, too.

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Have you tried social media and contacting local organizations for donations? I am surprised by the amount and support by various organizations coming through together in this pandemic.

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Specializes in oncology.

I would think the masks would need to be different sizes for a kindergartner than a high school students. Shouldn't the masks be fitted reasonably? Why can't the administration put it on the student's classroom list -- like they do Kleenex? Maybe with some guidelines about what cartoon character etc. can be on it. Would you get better buy in from the kids if they got to pick out their own mask? Are you maybe creating the supplies for the parents who just buy the school kits from the school? I use a mask when mowing and found plenty of the paper ones at our hardware store. But they are disposable.

Have you spoken to other school nurses in the area? This is when networking comes in handy. Administrators all have 'old boy' networks and go off to conferences together. I am suggesting in the future you recommend you meet with other school nurses may be once a month or so or start a group yourself. Best wishes

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22 hours ago, londonflo said:

I would think the masks would need to be different sizes for a kindergartner than a high school students. Shouldn't the masks be fitted reasonably? Why can't the administration put it on the student's classroom list -- like they do Kleenex? Maybe with some guidelines about what cartoon character etc. can be on it. Would you get better buy in from the kids if they got to pick out their own mask? Are you maybe creating the supplies for the parents who just buy the school kits from the school? I use a mask when mowing and found plenty of the paper ones at our hardware store. But they are disposable.

I've made cloth masks, just simple pleated accordion style out of two-layer 6.5x6.5 inch squares of cloth. They fit my 4-year-old daughter who will be a kindergartener, and they also fit my 12-year-old son who will be a 7th grader. And, while they're a little small, they even fit me reasonably well. Granted I'm female, so some teenage boys will need something larger, but the 7.5x7.5 masks that I make for adults fit me as well as my husband and brother, who are not petite. As long as there's some adjustability in the elastic length, a basic cloth mask should fit a pretty wide age range. You could even have one size for elementary students and a larger size for middle/high schoolers.

I agree that if masks are required, it makes sense to put them on a supply list. If we're talking daily wear for all students, I think you're going to be looking at cloth masks that go home for laundry, just like their clothes. You can have some disposables for kids who forget theirs or for the occasional accident were the mask gets wet or soiled, but I don't think you'll be able to afford giving each kid a new disposable mask each day.

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