Texas School Nurses + Covid-19

STAAR test waived.

https://abc13.com/education/governor-abbott-waives-staar-testing-requirements/6013433/

My district closed until March 31.

Let's post specific to Texas information here.

https://abc13.com/education/texas-schools-may-close-for-rest-of-the-school-year/6017852/

Schools might close until the end of year.

Stunned, just stunned.

[tining, BSN, RN]

Update: District to resume classes on April 13.

48 minutes ago, tining said:

Update: District to resume classes on April 13.

Not in TX, but I am really wondering if any schools will reopen this year. Looking at China and Italy, it does not seem likely. Especially since we have been so slow to recognize the crisis and what needs to happen to contain the spread.

[toomuchbaloney]

25 minutes ago, MHDNURSE said:

Not in TX, but I am really wondering if any schools will reopen this year. Looking at China and Italy, it does not seem likely. Especially since we have been so slow to recognize the crisis and what needs to happen to contain the spread.

IMV the school districts should be planning on NOT resuming this academic year...

[Bulldogs, CNA, EMT-B]

We are closed this week there will be a meeting Thursday to see when or if we will resume. Dallas Isd has closed indefintely.

[KeeperOfTheIceRN, ADN]

Spring Break last week. Extended break this week. We have an emergency board meeting this afternoon that I'll virtually attend and I'm anticipating a move to full closure. I never in a million years, expected this to play out this way!! My mind is blown!

[tining, BSN, RN]

Stay at home orders go into effect at midnight tonight for Houston.

[tining, BSN, RN]

Loving Microsoft Teams for meetings and sharing files.

[BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN]

Here in San Antonio, we are under a stay at home order. Our districts have all extended closures until April 24. In a campus meeting (Google Hangouts) this morning, the principal all but said that we aren't coming back this year.

[Nurse and Spy, BSN]

Are you all being told to hand over your PPE?

Schools everywhere are being asked to donate any PPE the school nurses have to healthcare workers in hospitals.

I think it is important to help but I’m wondering if school nurses, who have patient loads of hundreds of students and care for dozens of students daily (in often cramped clinics), will be provided with PPE to replace what they gave away? For example the N.J. Governor’s letter I saw states they will reimburse school districts “if” PPE is available.

I am concerned when we reopen schools we will inevitably see increased waves of new cases.

I suspect the answer will be no and school nurses - who already typically do not get the sort of high-quality and high-tech PPE other healthcare workers do - will not have adequate PPE available to purchase or will feel pressured to not use PPE so people are not “alarmed” by the sight of a mask.

The lack of PPE is absolutely unacceptable. And what we are asking of healthcare workers is completely unfair.

Would we ask one Police Department give up all their bullets or guns to another city knowing they might need them later to save their lives or the lives of those they interact with?

We have very little - gloves are usually plentiful but I have exactly one disposable gown and face shield and one pair of goggles plus some N95 masks that look more like surgical masks and not nearly as effective as ones made by 3M, etc.

I would help any other nurse in a heartbeat but don’t trust our district to make sure we are protected later.

[bluebonnetrn, BSN, RN]

Here is a great screening tool to share
https://www.sanantonio.gov/Health/News/Alerts/CoronaVirus

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

Our district closed indefinitely. For the year. But enrollment just started so there's that....