Training to be a school nurse

[Jenniffer]

I was recently hired as a float/substitute school nurse in my area. I was never told I would be working mainly at a school for special needs kids, and this will be my first experience working with this population.  How much on the job training should I be receiving?  How do you handle walking into a school that you have never been too and doing an effective job as the school nurse?  How did you learn about all the paperwork and how to do it correctly?

[LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN]

Welcome!  ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

Definitely take a browse through the this subgroup, a common theme is that School Nursing is one of the most independent niches you'll find.  Very few of us get an orientation that is more than a couple of hours. Subs frequently get an overview of charting software and then are set off into the world.   Ideally, there would be much more than this. 

Ask to see a Health Services Manuel if your district has one with all policies/procedures outlined in it - and then read it!

School Nursing: A  Comprehensive Text by Janice Selekman is a wealth of knowledge and part of many Certified School Nurse programs. I sit near mine for good vibes and reference. ? 

Your state should also have information pertaining to school nursing, often found under the Department of Education as well as the Department of Health.

See if someone else in your district or a neighboring one if yours isn't available to be your mentor and is open to taking calls/e-mails with questions from you. 

Again, Welcome!

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

I highly recommend the "School Nurse Resource Manual: Evidence Based Guide to Practice".

It's full of common scenarios and interventions to utilize. I've been replacing it with the latest editions for a few years now, I like it so much

Maybe think about checking out DDNA for membership considering that you're working with a special needs population...