Teaching classes

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Ok, so I start a school nurse position next week. I've only got 3 years of adult PCU experience. I've been reading various school nurse articles and books and I've noticed something that I didn't expect.

Do RNs in a school setting teach whole classrooms on a regular basis/frequently/occasionally?

I knew I would do education but I didn't realize it may include the whole classroom? I figured it would be the student/their parent. This part is kinda discouraging me as I have zero teaching experience.

If this is the case, do they give ample time to put together a lesson plan or already have one that you can use?

I need words of encouragement! :)

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Specializes in School nursing.

It really depends on your contract/job. What does your job description say?

A lot of the nurses on this board don't teach. Some districts require additional certification if a school nurse were to teach health. So I would be surprised if you job required it. School nursing is a ton of one-on-one and parent health teaching.

I, however, do teach in the classroom as well. And I love it. I teach sex ed to grades 7, 8, and 10 and a couple of other health topics to grades 9, 11, 12. I put in a lot of continuing ed hours so I could teach sex ed and use a specific curriculum. I use another curriculum for other health topics, and am developing my own curriculum for grade 12. I am in the process of also becoming a certified health teacher in my state. My teaching load varies by quarter from 6 - 12 classes a week.

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Elementary level here....I may go into a class and give a brief talk about handwashing but that is about it. We do have our annual "puberty/hygeine" lesson for 5th grade - I just play a video for that and there is not much teaching on my part.

For the staff I teach two CPR classes per year - fall & spring.

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I do a one day talk with 3rd grade about the heart; how it works, what it really looks like, heart heath-I show some EKGs and some Cath pictures that I acquired in my previous life as a cardio nurse. I do a quick hand washing talk with the kinders and the 5th grade girls' puberty talk(always a good time). But no teaching of an actual class is required here.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

I am in a K and 1st grade school. I had to write the lesson plan for the nutrition curriculum I teach for K and then teach several classes in the classroom. For first grade it is more of a health and safety curriculum. Again I will write the curriculum/lesson plan. If you look on line you can find ideas. I actually really enjoy teaching so for me it was the curriculum writing that was more of a PITA. But once that was done it was fine.

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I teach Health for our kids PK-6 but it was never a part f the job until I started. It was something my administration wanted and I only needed 1 graduate class to get my certification as a School Nurse Teacher. I am now am responsible for the whole Health curriculum for the building. It's a lot of work but I really enjoy it.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I do no teaching in the classrooms.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

It varies. I did the HIV/STI education for 8th graders at my first school district. At my 2nd district I did a presentation on "How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex" for the Title 9 night. Only 2 people showed up for that one. Considering the county is #4 in the state for teen pregnancy I wasn't surprised....

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I do no teaching in the classrooms.

Same here.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I give a NAMI presentation and am proposing a drug awareness program for middle schoolers. Our athletic trainer quit and left a hole in health education. I am willing to step up and fill in the void.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I am a new school nurse too. Left 3 years at a hospital. I guess it probably differs from school to school or district to district. I don't teach whole classrooms. Typically I do just in time teaching or training for staff on things like seizure first aid, using an EpiPen, how to draw up and administer glucagon, that kind of stuff.

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.
Same here.

Same. I would like to, maybe once a month a quick lesson. But our teachers already have so much to get in to a limited time frame...

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