What makes a GREAT school nurse?

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Sometimes I get fatigued by work and need some inspiration. What makes a school nurse GREAT in your opinion?

For me, always trying to find a way to help even if there's really nothing I can (or need to) do. "I'm sorry that you've been coughing all day long (though I haven't heard a peep since you've been here and it is now twenty minutes until dismissal), I do not have any cough drops or medicine, but here's a cup for water!" Of course, I don't say all of that. ;)

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Specializes in School Nurse.

I think a great school nurse is one who does not let all the baloney we deal with each day cloud good clinical judgement. For example, even we get irritated or even poke fun at our frequent flyers, a great school nurse does not automatically dismiss them.

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Specializes in kids.

Compassion. Empathy. A sense of humor.

The ability to peel an onion- kids are multifaceted and multi layered and the best way to get to know them is to peel away their defenses, one layer at a time.

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Specializes in School nursing.

Being an excellent multitasker that can stay clam in the face of 10 students waiting...

Second the frequent fliers. To me, a great school nurse, takes a moment to acknowledge them and dig a little to find out what might be the non-physical reason that they visit so often. And recognizes that that moment of acknowledge might be just the thing that kid needs to a be successful with his/her day. Of course, the great school nurse also realizes that a that moment may need to be limited to a couple of minutes ;).

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