Tips for....

[KeeperOfTheIceRN]

....screening hearing and vision on Kinder through 2nd grade.

And GO!!

[WineRN]

screenings... *Rocks back in forth in fetal position*

*shudders*

jk.

Last year for me... was horrendous! It was my first year and every new idea I had was always blocked by "Well the last nurse." And I was expected to it like last year. The last nurse did every kid... one at a time in her office, with the PTO parents helping. It did not work out... it took forever to get the Kinder done and the PTO parents were not helping me, so I was by myself, with 4 kids at a time in my office and it was... NEVER AGAIN!

So this year, I'm doing a new way, and hopefully it works out so well, that we can do it again like this.

I basically told my admin, I'm not the last nurse and we will do it my way. I already set up 2 days of screenings next month, I'm still trying to fix up my idea, but basically I want to get one class at time, from each grade, in the gym.

I already called this program called Eye Care 4 Kids, who do free school screenings for schools and the best part of them is if a child is in need of glasses and are financially unable to, I just fill out this application and send it it. They approve it and pick a doctor for the parent, the parent takes a copy of the application and that covers a free exam and glasses.

So the program does the vision in the gym, and across my gym I have the coaches' office. I'm setting up my hearing stuff there, and I'll do hearing one a time as well, once done, I'll do my AN check and send them on their way.

I'm still thinking if I should do younger to oldest or oldest to youngest? My kid's school does it oldest to youngest, and they do all the school, but I'm only doing mandated grades only because it's easier and it'll take less time.

Good for you sticking up for yourself!!

I still get the occasional "The last nurse did..." but usually from parents wanting to bend the rules and not staff.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

I visited New York City once a few years ago. I got a couple pictures of me and my #4 son with some FDNY firefighters and with a couple NYPD officers. 911 Memorial and some other stuff; had a great time. They even have Bud Light way up there!

Mmmm...those men in uniform...

[halohg, RN]

I create an ad hoc in infinite campus to evaluate those who need screenings, if MD did on physical I don't repeat. Then I create individual passes for each student according to teacher and which screenings need to be done. I use the results of the adhoc in excel or sheets and create labels to make the paper passes. The passes are now my note takers, which I transfer into the computer and onto paper charts at a later time. I start with 1 and 2 then KG and last PK. I have all but PK come to my office in the AM hours in sets of 3. For far vision I have 2 feet taped to the floor so they know where to stand and in which direction. I have 2 sets of sunglasses with a post it occluding half and empty on the other side. I use a 3 foot pointer or laser pointer to give directions. For hearing I explain to simply raise and lower their hand when they hear a beep. I don't care which hand they raise, if they hear something at all obviously it's on the side I'm testing. Near and color screening pretty straight forward. For the pre kindergarteners, I go to the classroom and start with the color and near testing first, then have them come to me a month or so later to screen far and hearing, that way they are not scared of me...to much. I leave them for last giving them more time to know their shapes. In my past and in a KG thru 5 school, I would use the GYM teachers office and pull them from gym class one by one, however that was only successful because the gym teacher did not mind the interruptions and I had a float nurse cover the health office. In the beginnning of the year all students that come in for headaches, stomaches, lost teeth, abrasions,etc. during slow times, I just do their screenings on the spot along with the buddy that accompanied them. I might also pull early arriving students hanging out in the front hallway to get them done. Good luck

[peacockblue]

Screenings are the worst part of my job. The two elementary schools I travel to take about 6 days and the high school takes all year since I am only allowed to pull from PE and they have it different semesters. I find first and second grade to be the hardest. They don't listen and are just generally difficult. The K kids try at least and the older kids get it. I like to be in the hall outside the rooms. I a, allowed a sub so someone is covering the clinic. I go into the rooms and explain what I am going to do and bring out about 5 at a time. Thankfully I don't have to do hearing except absences and re screens because our SLP people help us. 1300 kids total. Vision screening yearly in my state.

[Amethya]

In your experience guys, is older to youngest easier in grades or youngest to oldest? I got screenings in 2 weeks, so I'm doing my schedule but I don't know which way to do it.

[BeckyESRN]

In your experience guys, is older to youngest easier in grades or youngest to oldest? I got screenings in 2 weeks, so I'm doing my schedule but I don't know which way to do it.

I always do oldest to youngest. The older kids generally know what they're doing and they much quicker than the littles.

[KeeperOfTheIceRN, ADN]

Thanks for all of the great tips guys! I really appreciate it!!

[OldDude]

In your experience guys, is older to youngest easier in grades or youngest to oldest? I got screenings in 2 weeks, so I'm doing my schedule but I don't know which way to do it.

I do youngest to oldest...start with PK. The younger ones take more time and patience so I start with them. Once I'm done with Kindergarten and the tumbling E it's a snap.