17 things that school nurses want to know

They probably have more than one job, for one.


These are the people who are layingkids At the moment they tighten the knees on the playground, those who call natural caregivers when the students fall ill and those who sometimes give stressed children a recharge place between classes. However, despite the amount of facial time, many parents and students have with school nurses, there are countless things on the profession that most of us do not know. How long have they been through which they have been treated at work, that's all the school nurses want you to know.

1
They are probably more educated than a nurse you would find in a hospital.

graduation cap and diploma, school nurse secrets
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School nurses generally have diplomas and experience that are, at the very least, equal with any nurse you would find in a hospital or doctor. "I have a bachelor's degree in nursing science from a four-year-old university, then I have made my advice to receive my public health and public health license," saidJen Kohorst, a school nurse and the founder of the parenting websiteMinnesota Momma.

According toNational Association of School Nurses (NASN), all school nurses should have a bachelor's degree and an RN license to practice. But there is also a good chance that your nurse at the local school collapsed even more hours in the class: NASN indicates that 12.5% ​​of school nurses occupy master's degrees, compared to only 10, 3% of the RNS nationally.

2
And they continue their education long after graduating.

medical students in classroom with teacher, school nurse secrets
Shutterstock / Iakov Filiminov

Think of school nurses can rest on their laurels once they have completed their licensing requirements? Still think. "It's actually a requirement in my state that RNS has overtime for continuing education every two years," said Kohorst. "And as a schoolmonger, you need an additional 125 hours in five years." In fact, there are only 11 states thatnot Require School Nurses Included - To CompleteA form of continuous training After being dismissed.

3
Private schools are not obliged to have nurses.

nurse examining student with tongue depressor, school nurse secrets
Shutterstock / Oksana Kuzmina

According to NASN, you are less likely to find a nurse in a private school: only 34.6% of private schools occupy school nurses, compared to 81.9% of public schools. It's because, according to theRegulation of the State of Private Schools, "There is no explicit law or settlement requiring a private school to have a school nurse."

4
They usually need the consent of the physician of a child and the parents before distributing as much as ibuprofen.

pills on a countertop, school nurse secrets
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Unfortunately, if a student does not have a doctor's note and a parent by saying that they can receive a specific medicine of the school nurse - even if it's aOTC A-They will not get it. In fact, Kohorst says she can not even get backprescription Drugs to the student, he is prescribed without specific instructions either.

5
Only some school nurses are allowed to provide preservatives to students.

condoms, school nurse secrets
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That students needing prophylactic should be able to turn to their nurse at school, it is a strongly disputed problem - and it is a decision that was finally taken on a district district basis. , according to Kohorst.

Although some say that available condoms will encourage more sex, a 2019 study published in theJournal of Teen Health I have noticed that making condoms available to students at school only stimulates the frequency with which students have sex with protection, but that does not increase the sexual activity rate itself.

6
Only some school nurses can administer vaccines.

Kid at the Doctor's Office Getting a Smallpox Vaccine, school nurse secrets
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If you did not find the time to vaccinate your child before the school start, do not expect that the school's nurse can handle it for you. "While the RNs can certainly administervaccinesIt would be ... decided by each district, "said Kohorst, who notes that separate public health nurses go to his district schools to provide vaccines.

7
There is a massive shortage of school nurses at the national level.

group of nurses and doctors sitting in scrubs at table, school nurse secrets
Shutterstock / Syda Productions

According toNational educational associationThe nursing shortage is so serious that in 29 states there are more than 1,000 students per school nurse. In Utah, the state with the largest scarcity of school nurse, there is only one school nurse for all 4,893 students.

8
Many schools do not have a dedicated school nurse.

doctor measuring child's height, school nurse secrets
Shutterstock / JCP-Prod

Most schools have only one nurse, but in some cases a single nurse serves multiple population populations. "I actually share my time between several schools," says Kohorst. And it is in no case alone. Recent figures released by NASN, 35.3% of American schools do not have a full-time nurse on staff and 25.2% of schools do not have at all.

9
Finding a substitute is not an easy exploit.

Sneezing, sneeze
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Have to deal with people's sick days of day and day, it is inevitable that school nurses caught a virus from time to time. Unfortunately, finding coverage in these cases is apparently impossible. "It can be difficult to find substitute school nurses, [but] we have some who are able to help if I'm sick," says Kohorst.

10
Many school nurses teach as part of their work.

teacher standing in front of lockers at school, school nurse secrets
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Some school nurses also have the ability to flex their muscles as educators on the heap. In the case of Kohorst, it teaches growth and development for primary school students, while many school nurses are involved in teaching topics such as the sexual curriculum of their school.

11
They are often responsible for helping teachers too.

meeting between teacher and parent lies teachers tell parents
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Although their ability to treat teachers varies according to the district, school nurses "have teachers filing forms of WHO to contact in case of emergency, noting that she would not hesitate to treat a teacher injured if the situation arose.

However, Kohorst says that, for the most part, when teachers enter his office, they generally seek advice, as if their symptoms deserve a trip to the doctor.

12
There is a surprising amount of mobility in the field.

two nurses studying at table, school nurse secrets
Shutterstock / Rosshelen

Although it may seem like a school nurse means that you stay in the same position for years, there is in fact a surprising amount of ascending mobility. "If you work in a larger neighborhood, you could start as a school nurse, become a director of health and well-being, or working as aConsultant for the State School Nurse, "Explain Kohorst.

13
They can usually say when children pretend.

little girl covering mouth, school nurse secrets
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If you think your nurse at the school of your child cheats on you with a false cough, rexpense it. "It's sometimes easy to abandon that a student did not say the complete truth when it comes to feeling sick," says Kohorst. That said, there are often other legitimate reasons for a child may seem sick. "By asking the right questions, we can usually identify a potential reason to" feel sick ", like anxiety about a test, a missing parent or feeling overwhelmed by their school work."

14
They see mental health problems almost as frequently as they consider physical.

Crying teenager, school nurse secrets
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In fact, Kohorst says thatanxiety anddepression Among the two most common complaints that students enter. "School nursing are so much more than the physical health of a student," she says. "This includes their mental and emotional health that is spilling sometimes and may be like a physical symptom."

According to a 2005Department of Health and Human Services School's Mental Health Report in the United States, about 32% of the school nursing time is devoted to the concerns of student mental health.

15
They work in tandem with school councilors.

group of doctors and nurses standing in hallway, school nurse secrets
Shutterstock / Flamingo Images

While many children will present themselves at the nurse's office to have their mental health problems addressed, these issues are within the competence of the school councilor, with whom the nurse is generally working in tandem. "We are trying to use our school councilors in situations where a mental health condition would be better treated by them," Kohorst said. "We will walk with students at the advisor's office, help them make an appointment or if the counselor is unavailable, we speak with the student what's going on."

16
They are on the fronts in terms of managing the health problems of current students.

woman holding asthma inhaler, school nurse secrets
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School nurses play a vital role in managing chronic health problems for students and are on their toes in case of medical emergency. "A plan is created (and updated) each school year and communicated with those who need to know," said Kohorst.

17
School nursing care is often a better personal work-life balance than other forms of nursing.

black family grilling outside, father's day gifts, empty nest
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These long hospital changes and nights are only part of the job description for school nurses, which means that it is often a role that offers moreWork-life balance, according to Kohorst. And to achieve your own happy balance, discoverThe 50 best secrets of a perfect professional work balance.

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