Tips for school nurse at high school?

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I've just started subbing this year, but have only subbed at the lower grade schools. Next month the high school nurse is going to need me more often. I'm really nervous about the older kids for some reason. Any tips on what you've dealt with and how you handle it? With the little ones who have a fever or lice, I call the parent and they come to pick them up.......but what about a high school kid who drives himself to school and needs to be sent home? Any tips on how to better know if they are faking it, etc? I love this group and am steadily reading posts daily!

Once these kids hit 2nd grade they're all taller than me so I'm scared of basically everyone that's above 8 yrs old.

Life is just scary when you're 4'11"

But, I get it OldDude. HS would terrify me. That's basically why I didn't major in education along with my first degree in Spanish.

They are the best! Love the HS kids.

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I have to agree with Far. I love my high schoolers.

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..

I only have one building of high schoolers, there is also 7th and 8th grade students there at well. So, I get the best (or worst/scariest) of both worlds. However, since my hubs is the Principal there, they don't give me any grief. The students know that we are both no-nonsense pretty much when it comes to being in school, when they are supposed to be and in class, where they are supposed to be. But, he is talking of retiring after next year. Yikes! :bluecry1:

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My Principal told me and the AP we were going to be demoted to the k-2 school because we made fun of his bitmoji on the class trip.

Fate worse than death for me.

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
My Principal told me and the AP we were going to be demoted to the k-2 school because we made fun of his bitmoji on the class trip.

Fate worse than death for me.

If my hubs told me this. We would certainly have to have a heart to heart conversation about it. "Ummmmnooooothanks, but thanksfortheoffer"

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Haha, you guys crack me up! Thanks so much for your input!!! I'm terrified, but am going to just jump in and go for it and try to educate myself as much as possible.

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I work with high school students. I have subbed in elementary, middle and high. High school is my favorite. As a sub nurse once they find out you are there they are going to try to "fake it". Stick to your guns. Remember they are over grown elementary kids and ice still works for most of their issues! If a child gets sick and needs to go home and drives. Find out the schools self check out policy. I have had kids I didn't feel were safe to drive home, *Migraines, dizziness, vomiting.* I called for parents to pick up. At my school I do not issue self check outs. Any and all check outs go through the main office.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts

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Specializes in Telemetry, Orthopedic, M Surg, School RN.

Same here. I have never had elementary kids. Only high school so I can't compare. Overall it's been rewarding and challenging. We have a reproductive health program in our nursing office so we do a lot of talking about safe sex and std testing etc. First aid is what you'd normally expect. Attitude can be high at times and manipulation as well but depending on the school culture that can be nipped in the bud. I hear alot of "Miss, Miss I need ice for my stomachache" or "All you do is give ice " I have to bite my tongue a lot but my favorite saying is, This isn't CVS. I'm not supposed to have stockings and needle n thread. Lol.

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Make friends with the support staff (though that goes for any grades!). I had no idea what the policies for certain things are, and they all know!

For students who drive themselves, I must talk to the parents first. Then I call the main office, and the student can sign themselves out. I have called parents and said that the students need to be picked up because they're unsafe to drive, but that's rare.

For fakers, I don't know yet. I'm still working on that. I've gotten cruel in my time here (all 5 months!) and now tell students that if puke doesn't happen in the classroom or my bathroom it doesn't count, barring other symptoms (they don't know that part).

I find the high schoolers are too smart for the mouth wash trick.

But I have no tricks really yet, so I'm watching this too.

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Specializes in School nursing.
I have to agree with Far. I love my high schoolers.

Me three! Love 'em AND my middle schoolers. Bring on the puberty, periods, tampon/pad request (along with perceived-death-by-cramps), sex questions, sometimes poor life choices, sports injury & concussions, and transitions to college.

When I see them graduate and enter the world, I tear up a bit hoping at the very least they will remember that colds don't equal death (or skipping your AM college class), ladies always keep a spare pad/tampon in your bag, and where one can get a condom and/or tested for STIs if needed.

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Don't show fear the little darlings can smell it!! Go into it like you already know what you are doing!! *They will never know the difference* They will pull the, "Well the other nurse does it this way. Tell them hold up, I am not the other nurse and we are different people. This is MY way of doing it."

Haha, you guys crack me up! Thanks so much for your input!!! I'm terrified, but am going to just jump in and go for it and try to educate myself as much as possible.
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Oh my gosh, My kids say I put ice on everything. I tell them, No not everything, Headaches, falls, injuries you get ice. My diabetics tell me that even if they came down with a scratch I would be like, Check your sugar, check your ketones. LOL.

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