School Nurse’s Guide to Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) - One of my first job interviews was in Phoenix, Arizona for a school nurse position...well...kinda like a school nurse position. During my interview, the director shared this story: Two girls are up and dressed and ready for school. This is not a normal school; it’s a dormitory for children with “challenges” and sort of
Year: 2018
70 Days Into the School Year
Here we are...the school nurse...70 days in the school year. And, do you want to know something crazy? That’s how many summer days we had this past summer. So, why did these past 70 days seem to have passed by so much quicker than the 70 days of summer? Now, I ain’t sayin’ those 70 summer days were boring and
How to Recognize the Fakers
“Nurse Kevin, I am so sick...I think I am having ‘ana-pol-axis.’ I am very allergic to killer bees...and marinara sauce. Can I have a mint?” Little Jenny has some very concerning “ailments.” She has managed to articulate her reason for coming to see the nurse, clearly...and without pausing...and while suffering from a very subjective case of anaphylaxis, hypoglycemia, and, more importantly,
School Nurse’s Guide to Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
I’m gonna tell you a story...it may gross non-nurses out...but I am going to tell it nonetheless. A few years ago, while working as the ADON at a nursing facility, we had a case of Clostridium difficile (klos-TRID-e-um dif-uh-SEEL), often called C. difficile or C. diff. This “young lady,” who having grown up with parents who struggled through the Great
Whooping Cough – School Nurse’s Guide
The end of the school day is one of my favorite times of the day. No, not (just) because it’s close to time to leave and get home. I just love watching all the young-uns leaving with their backpacks, shouting, “See you tomorrow, Nurse Kevin!” as they wave vigorously in an attempt to catch eye contact and know their “farewell”
School Nurse Guide to Air Quality Index (AQI)
The AQI, or the Air Quality Index, is a measuring “tool” to determine how healthy (or unhealthy) the air is outside. This is not only for the respiratory-compromised. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) uses this simplified Air Quality Index or AQI to help report the air quality in a format that even we school nurses can understand. It gives us
School Nurse’s Guide Back to School
School Nurse's Guide to Back to School Today is day one of the new school year. Today, after getting to school and getting hugs from some of my favorite people, I mosied back to my office to start digging out of the pile that usually accumulates after a summer of school cleaning and office organization. Summer is over...I am sad...but also
Pros and Cons of School Nursing
What are the pros and cons of being a school nurse? In other words, “What are the positives and negatives about being a school nurse?” There are lots and lots of positives and...well...only a few “not-so-positive” things. I dare say that there is ONLY ONE NEGATIVE thing about being a school nurse. (We’ll discuss that later.) As with any occupation, there