Want to maintain your sanity? Read this!

[Jbrandstetter]

I have a great way to do triage in my busy JH office. I have 2 signs on my door. BIG PROBLEMS and SMALL PROBLEMS. There is a list on each of them describing what you consider to be an emergency ( nose bleed, fainting, vomiting, diabetics, periods, emotional, etc) VS other ailments that can wait ( HA, stomach ache, sore throat, any muscular pain etc). Under these 2 signs I have a blank sheet of paper taped to my door. Kids who have an emergency alert me right away. Kids who don't, write their names on the blank paper and return to class. When I am done dealing with the emergencies I look up on my school master where the other kids are and go get them. This allows me to really have one: one with the kids and reduce my stress of having crowds of kids waiting for me. No kids should wait for me unless they have an emergency ( or big problem). The teachers love it as it reduces the absences from class. Try this and you will love it !

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

What a great idea! I could see how this would work well in middle and high school. I love when people share new ideas! I'm definately going to keep this in mind if I ever move out of elementary. (Half mine can't read yet! )

[amoLucia]

School nurses rock! I've said it before, I admire you guys.

[Farawyn]

That may not work in my school. I can hear the parents now... "My son felt diminished and less than special because you said his headache was a small problem!"

The kids have been good about recognizing themselves the Big Problems vs Small Problems.

In fact, nothing clears out my office quicker than a vomitting kid!

[100kids, BSN, RN]

That may not work in my school. I can hear the parents now... "My son felt diminished and less than special because you said his headache was a small problem!"

Sad.....but true.

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

I think it could still work if you used different titles. Instead of big and small problems you could try urgent and not urgent, need seen now or can wait 30 min, etc. I'm sure it's not a perfect system but I could see how it would help.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

That may not work in my school. I can hear the parents now... "My son felt diminished and less than special because you said his headache was a small problem!"

The kids have been good about recognizing themselves the Big Problems vs Small Problems.

In fact, nothing clears out my office quicker than a vomitting kid!

Or what I call "fear of actual vomit." Which is like this:

Kid #1, sitting looking ill, holding stomach, but has not vomited. Has trash can on stand-by.

Kid #2, enters, ready to ask for me [insert minor complaint here], when they notice Kid #1.

Suddenly, Kid #2 is ready to go back to class.

[OldDude]

This program should keep you in good shape!!

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

That may not work in my school. I can hear the parents now... "My son felt diminished and less than special because you said his headache was a small problem!"

The kids have been good about recognizing themselves the Big Problems vs Small Problems.

In fact, nothing clears out my office quicker than a vomitting kid!

Spit out my wine on that one! Yes, they would feel diminished......and they would not be happy

[mc3, ASN, RN]

That may not work in my school. I can hear the parents now... "My son felt diminished and less than special because you said his headache was a small problem!"

The kids have been good about recognizing themselves the Big Problems vs Small Problems.

In fact, nothing clears out my office quicker than a vomitting kid!

Farawyn, you must have the same parents I do!!!

mc3:cat:

[Farawyn]

Farawyn, you must have the same parents I do!!!

mc3:cat:

Yea, they fly around their kids' heads in a helicopter, right?