What's your best School Nurse advice ?

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Specializes in School Nursing.

From Me: Give the job a year before you decide to call it quits. It takes a full year to realize if it is right for you.

The day after a really crappy is usually a better one. "Usually" no two days of chaos in a row.

The quiet students who don't complain are the ones to really watch. Kids go south fast and if they are loud and active, it's a good thing.

Teacher's are a strange bunch ! They are control freaks and will try to use you as a puppet. Do your own thing. Don't be swayed by their bullying.

Take "mental health" days occasionally. We need the refreshing. Our job is stressful.

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Specializes in Post partum, Nursery, School nurse..

Good advice. This is my first year as a school nurse and I've been all over the place emotionally. Stay or go? Perks vs. drawbacks. Teachers vs docs.ETC, ETC,ETC. But I've come to realize the reason I was drawn to this job is for the kids and so for the kids I will stay. The rest can be managed by deep breathing, this school nurse thread and sometimes a BIG glass of wine as soon as I get home!

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Specializes in School Health.

Be ready for anything, and I do mean anything. I second OP about the quiet ones. They go south quick. Keep crackers, juice, and 15 carb snacks on hand. The day your diabetic's blood sugar is 30, they won't have any. Finally, to quote on of my nursing instructors, "Fix your face!"

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..

Become familiar with and get comfortable in the "education environment." It can be lonely as the School Nurse, but, becoming familiar with the school climate with help a lot. I have been around elem. and secondary education for many, many years. The school politics is something to be reckoned with. This usually only adds to the challenges or our jobs.

Know head lice and immunizations laws in your state, like the back of your hand.

Get to know the Secretaries, Cooks, Paraprofessionals, and Janitors. They usually know a lot about the inner workings of the school.

Get on the same page as the Administration, be knowledgeable, but not afraid to admit if you don't know something. Tell whoever is asking that you will find the answer and get back with them.

Be familiar with your State School Nurse Consultant and Nurse Practice Act.

Always be looking and learning. Updating forms, etc.

If your state has a publication similar to the one in Missouri. Have a copy handy, ALWAYS. Ours resource is Prevention and Conrol of Communicable Diseases. Here is the link to ours: http://health.mo.gov/living/families/schoolhealth/pdf/Communicable_Disease.pdf

Bottom line, at the end of the day, know that you have done everything that you can do to help ensure student safety, well being, and education. (Oh yeah- it doesn't hurt to have the Abuse and Neglect Hotline memorized. When I am asked for it, I get some really funny looks when I can rattle it off without a second thought :) )

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Remember that your boss is not a nurse, and he/she don't really know or care about your license.

Get to be best friends with the custodians.

Parents are a strange bunch. As are teachers.

The kids? The kids are great.

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.
Finally, to quote on of my nursing instructors, "Fix your face!"

As in - make sure your makeup is pretty? Or as in - show no fear?

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As in - make sure your makeup is pretty? Or as in - show no fear?

As in... Collagen lips?

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Specializes in kids.

All of the above and make sure to hang out with us.

While we can derail a thread rapidly, when the issue on the table is the well being of a child, we will give you our collective best!

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Not quite a year in, but this is what I'm learned:

Sometimes your gut knows things better than you do.

Ice packs are magic. And sacred.

You'll wear many hats, nurse, educator, counselor, police officer, ophthalmologist, GI specialist (so many stomachaches!), confidant, friend, mother/father-figure, etc. Take your time and figure out what you need to be in the moment.

Very little is life or death, so most of the time, you can take your time. But, when it is serious, don't be afraid to do what you have to do.

Don't let the kids in without a pass.

TAKE YOUR LUNCH!

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Specializes in School Nurse.
As in - make sure your makeup is pretty? Or as in - show no fear?

Or maybe have a positive attitude reflected on your face?

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.

All of the above!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

You can treat sooo many things with ice packs, vaseline, water and peppermints...

An unbelievable amount of this job is smoke and mirrors -this one is not really mine, i had a professor in school nursing school that used to say this

However, never ever under estimate or get too complacent in this job. You never know what will walk through that door or what you're getting called to.

In that vein - train your staff to TELL you what type of emergency they are calling you to. Nothing drives me crazier than to be told "There's an emergency in the cafeteria!!" And I gear up, Jump kit, AED, Epipens... i practically look like Rambo only to find out that some kid puked up their tuna sandwich.

Never ever panic

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