What School Nurses REALLY Do?

[abc123RN]

I'm at 1414,doesn't include flu clinic, dental clinic, hearing and vision screens or family life classes, or meetings with parents about their little angels' medications. Just over 200 students in this school.

[mycsm]

Quote

I was the person that made the comment that the OP quoted. All I have to say about this thread is that School nurses Rock!!! I love this thread way better ?

I do not need you to confirm to us that "school nurses rock".....I do hope you have nothing but sunshine filled, unicorn flying, princess giggling days, and when you don't..do not vent here, cause I will make sure I write that I don't want to read that kind of post

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

1,568 for me and I only have ~480 students. And this doesn't count screenings, 504 meetings, and phones calls. And I am teaching sex ed/health starting after the break for 9 weeks...

I had a friend who worked nights at a relatively busy hospital sub in for me for a couple of days - she was amazed at what I kept up with! Totally changed her perspective of school nursing.

[kidzcare]

3402 visits, school of ~950. Includes daily meds but not vision hearing screenings which have been around 120 or so.

[bell1962]

I don't know how many.. would have to count them... still using paper documentation...ugh...

[Tina, RN]

bell1962 said:

I don't know how many.. would have to count them... still using paper documentation...ugh...

Me, too. *sigh*

[fetch, BSN, RN]

Two more skills to put on my resume . . . Xerox fixer and paper towel filler.

Also bloodhound: tracking down the kiddos who don't want to take their daily medication is an adventure.

[NanaPoo]

I double document...paper & computer. Wahoo!

I've had 1,436 documentable visits this year with just over 350 students.

But I've come to realize I have A LOT of visits I don't even document...I wonder how many students I see a day that I don't even make note of:

• minor falls and scrapes
• band-aids
• ice packs for minor or non-existent injuries
• bathroom accidents (email/computer documentation...but not paper documentation)
• girls coming in for pads/tampons
• middle school girls for mild to moderate drama and teenage angst
• hunger pains (I didn't eat breakfast, do you have a granola bar, crackers, etc?)
• tooth pulling
• wax for braces
• removing splinters
• minor nosebleeds
• K-5 chats and hugs when a kiddo misses his/her mommy
• uniform or shoe sewing or repair
• braiding hair
• medicating teacher or teacher's child with teacher present before or after hours

[bluebonnetrn, BSN, RN]

I had a teacher friend of mine say to me "Your job is to keep up with the immunizations and let the kid rest on the cot until their mom comes"

UMMMMM........

In the interest of friendship I bit my tongue and said "Well, it's a bit more involved than just that."

I have a school with prek-5th and about 660 students. I'm at 3,120 visits for the year which does include scheduled meds but does not include screenings, 504 meetings and other functions I am required to be at.

A lot of that is because they treat me like a primary care clinic...

Your back has been hurting for the last month? Go see the nurse.

You were in a minor fender bender 2 days ago? Go see the nurse.

But I suppose that is a topic for another post.

[Tina, RN]

bluebonnetrn said:

...

A lot of that is because they treat me like a primary care clinic...

Your back has been hurting for the last month? Go see the nurse.

You were in a minor fender bender 2 days ago? Go see the nurse.

But I suppose that is a topic for another post.

Ugh, I hate this! I, too, feel like the Urgent Care for everyone in the building, plus the parents. Some doozies:

"Johnny fell and banged his head really hard on Saturday. He was dazed and lost his memory for a little while. Can you take a look at him to make sure he's OK?" Received a note like this on a Monday morning!!

From a staff member: "I don't feel good. Can you listen to my lungs and see if I need an antibiotic? I don't want to waste a copayment." GRR!

A dad at Open House: "You know, my knee has been hurting for a week or so. What do you think it could be?"

GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!

[mrsmsh42]

WOW!, thank you for this, colleagues.

I'm a clinic RN, and people don't know what I do, either. But it was really incredibly interesting to hear all of what you do. I am impressed and I salute you.

Makes me think that I should write a post "What Clinic Nurses Do: Not Just Filing Our Nails in the Back Office to Ease Our Bon-Bon Feast" ?

Really interesting thread.

[SchoolNurseTXstyle]

1876 visits this year, does not include diabetic care and daily meds.Probably another 1000 or so if you figured those in.