What questions are important to ask when interviewing?

[climbeRN]

Dear fellow nurses, hello! I am transitioning to school nursing after 2 1/2 years in NICU. I passed the first round of interviewing with the nursing director for the school district I'm in (Houston), and now I am interviewing with the principals at different schools. What are the most important questions to ask the principal? What should I make sure is already in place at the school (especially when taking on a school nursing position for the first time)? For example, I don't know what is standard as far as emergency equipment and resources in the school setting (is it normal to have, for example, oxygen and ambu bags, glucose monitors, epi and other meds?) Also is it normal for them to have policies and procedures (such as for g-tube feeds or trach care or a diabetic protocol?) Thanks for any insight! I'm totally new to this, but so so excited to get a chance to care for kids in a community setting.

[LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN]

There's a lot of variation in the answers to your questions based on district. Some schools have a Physician who signs off on standing orders, other do not. Budget will impact what type of equipment you have access to. These would be great questions to ask the administration directly.

I've worked without any standing orders and bare bones equipment, I now work with ample standing orders and ample equipment. These scenarios are only 35 minutes apart from each other!

[climbeRN]

LikeTheDeadSea -- thank you so much for the input. This is really helpful :) ill be sure to see what the situation is for this school district.

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

I find most principals don't know a lot about what we do and it seems the less we bother them the happier they are. Any policies and procedures the nurse director would know. We have a large book that has all the state guidelines, procedures and policies in it. I've never worked in a school that had oxygen or ambu bags but I suppose they are out there...You'll find schools operate on the bare basics. We do have a back up glucose monitor but we don't have orders to use it on anyone. It's a back up in case our diabetic's monitor breaks. Kids are supposed to provide any medical supplies they need for the day. Meds provided by the schools are up to the district if allowed which are not here except stock epi pens. We have standing orders by a dr in our county. It covers very basic things like gargle with salt water for sore throats, epi pens if needed, rashes, etc but that's something I'd ask the nurse director as my principal would have no clue. I find most school personnel have no idea we are required to chart and have orders to do anything. My principal would not have any idea of what supplies I needed. If you have bandaids and ice you're probably good to go!?

I would ask your principal if you have a budget for nurse supplies like bandaids, etc and how much. I'd ask who will cover your office while you go to lunch. I'd ask if you feel a kid is healthy enough to stay but the teacher wants him to go home sick will he/she support you? Maybe ask who is in charge of cleaning up kids that pee/poop their pants. Other than that I think as long as you come across as kind and confident they will be happy.

You'll find you are much less micro managed as a school nurse than in the hospital. Well except for the teachers that try but that's another topic...

Good luck!

[palli]

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