While their ability to treat teachers varies by district, school nurses "do have teachers fill out forms of who to contact in case of an emergency," noting that she wouldn't hesitate to treat an in injured teacher if the situation arose. Avoid hackers by doing this simple security check. The benefits of having nurses in schools has been recognized by policy-makers. I know because I’ve worked as a school nurse. After a month of nursing interventions, the rate of absenteeism decreased dramatically and, within a year, medical exclusions had decreased by 99%. As a result, thousands of children missed classes. 7 Online Resources School Nurses Should Know Author Posted by Ashley Waters on December 27, 2017 October 8, 2020. Honing the minds of a new generation? If you're interested in becoming a school nurse and still need to earn your BSN, fill out the form on this page to find the program that’s right for you! Parents should be prepared for the fact a child's sniffle or complaint of feeling hot may send them to the nurse's … Live smarter, look better,​ and live your life to the absolute fullest. For some children, the school nurse is their only contact with a healthcare provider. "There are occasionally easy give aways that a student might not be telling the full truth when it comes to feeling sick," says Kohorst. They are frequently tasked with helping teachers, too. According to the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), all school nurses should have a baccalaureate degree and an RN license to practice. When transferring to a new school or expecting a new school nurse, parents should take the time to stop by and visit with their child. School nurses also administer basic first aid and, with parental … This can include screenings for abuse, neglect, depression, and visual and/or hearing deficits. "Respect your parents. Students will come to you when they have a sore throat, bloody nose, or when they are feeling queasy. Being overwhelmed is perfectly normal. The school nursing office should … First things first – you want to set up your desk and office space. What to know to keep your child healthy in the classroom. For nurses, this means staying up-do date on continuing education is paramount. Enter your email address to get the best tips and advice. That said, there are frequently other legitimate reasons a kid might be faking ill. "By asking the right questions, we can usually pinpoint a potential reason for 'feeling sick,' such as anxiety about a test, missing a parent, or feeling overwhelmed by their school work. You might have caught on to a trend here: school nurse liability. As part of an interdisciplinary team, nurses contribute their health expertise to the development of a student’s Individualized Education Plan. "And as a school nurse you need an additional 125 hours in five years." They're on the frontlines in terms of managing ongoing student health issues. "We try to utilize our school counselors in situations where a mental health condition would be better treated by them," says Kohorst. And to achieve your own happy equilibrium, discover The Top 50 Secrets of a Perfect Work-Life Balance. The first school nurse, Lina Rogers, began her work in New York City schools in the year 1902. According to one 2005 Department of Health and Human Services report on school mental health services in the United States, approximately 32 percent of school nurses' time is spent addressing students' mental health concerns. Modern school nurses develop education and prevention programs that benefit the entire student body while serving as advocates for the individual student. If you are interested in more information about GHE's nursing schools and programs, visit our Students page! School nurses have a lot to do before the start of school, and Horizon Healthcare Staffing is here to help you prepare with the ultimate back to school checklist for school nurses. A visit to the nurse's office will look different. I’ve witnessed firsthand how rude parents can be and how difficult it can be to impress upon parents that school nurses aren’t just making things up as they go along. They're the folks who bandage kids up when they skin their knees on the playground, the ones who call caregivers when students get sick, and the ones who occasionally give stressed out kids a place to recharge between classes. "We'll walk with students to the counselor's office, help them make an appointment, or if the counselor is unavailable, we talk with the student about what's going on.". After being gone for 2+ months, your area might be a … In certain instances, such as when a child has allergies, the nurse can be certain to inform other staff members who may need to know… Topics of education for today’s student body include anti-bullying campaigns, health promotion, and the prevention of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and substance use. School nursing often provides a better work-life balance than other forms of nursing. They are responsible for assessing students for illness and injury and providing appropriate interventions. There is a surprising amount of mobility in the field.