COVID-19 Will Change School Nursing – Article 1 of 2

What Is Going On ‘Round Here!

Remember back in the fall and early winter when everyone was gearing up for the flu season? I sure do (for more reasons than one). And now…nothing. As a matter of fact, I have not heard one IOTA about the flu, pertussis, measles or anything else other than COVID-19. The Facebook posts and news and the entire American conversation is consumed with the COVID-19 topic. And folks from Asia are not the only ones wearing masks when out and about; everyone of the employees at the grocery store yesterday was wearing a mask as were most of the customers. Me? Y’all know what I am saying; it’s all so surreal and movie-like. I’m still kinda in a daze with all the information I am hearing. How in the world do we process all of this hearsay and create any version of the truth…because truth be known (pun intended), ain’t nobody knowing much about this cootie in the short time we’ve known about it. But, has it only been a short time since we’ve known about it? Spooky…

Husband and wife poison themselves trying to self-medicate with chloroquine 

Ibuprofen Is OK

Ibuprofen Is BAD 

Should We All Be Wearing Face Masks? Here’s Why Experts Are So Conflicted

‘It’s crazy’: American Covid-19 panic-buying rages on

BACK TO SCHOOL…in only 120 days.

Seems like a crazy thing to be thinking about the 2020-2021 school year in April of the 2019-2020 school year. But, this is kinda my pattern. I usually prep for the next school year starting around March of the current school year. But, what do I do to prep for the next school year…will there be kids at the school house next school year? Will I be at the school house next year?

My wife and I took an awesome Valentine’s day trip this past February. We got in an airplane and flew to Spokane, Washington and enjoyed the heck out of ourselves. That was only 60 days ago. Care-free and flying above the clouds. What a time! Again…that was only 60 days ago. COVID-19 was a world away from our minds. Now, the COVID-19 flag flies high…across the nose and mouths of most everyone I see out and about (wearing masks when going on “supply runs”). 

What’s going to happen over the next 60 days? Well, the school year will generally be officially over (even for most homeschooling districts like ours), we will be in the middle of June, my garden plants will be in the ground and the joys of summer will be upon us. And, everything should be getting back to normal. Normal? Do I really think this will be true? Heck, I ain’t sure of nothing at this point. 

So, I Wrote an Article

Most of my articles are “about something” articles. There are few actual blog or opinion articles that I write. But without any children coming in to see poor ol’ Nurse Kevin, I figured I write a bit. 

We are being bombarded with so much information from so many different organizations that we really don’t know who to believe. We are advised to review the facts and make good decisions. Can someone please tell me where I can find actual facts? The news media seems determined to keep us with our TVs and Radios and Computers on and tuned in to their channels while they spill out their version of the truth. The CDC…telling doctors to…well…you read it:

“In cases where a definite diagnosis of COVID–19 cannot be made, but it is suspected or likely (e.g., the circumstances are compelling within a reasonable degree of certainty), it is acceptable to report COVID–19 on a death certificate as “probable” or “presumed.” In these instances, certifiers should use their best clinical judgement in determining if a COVID–19 infection was likely.” 

There’s an old southern saying, “bread always falls buttered side down.” It means that if you’re gonna bet on something, always bet on the sure thing. And I am sure, there ain’t no sure thing. We all are about as lost as last year’s Easter eggs. But wait, maybe there is one thing that is for sure: the response of our society to COVID-19 will change the world…I’m not saying that COVID-19 has changed the world…I am saying our response to this virus has changed the world. We school nurses are about to learn this first hand…as if we have not learned it already.

To Be Clear

I plan on finishing up and publishing an article tomorrow about some of the possible changes that may occur because of this whole pandemic thing. And, I just wanted to make sure that I am clear on my guess as to some of the possible changes I think may come about for us school nurses. These are not changes that I would like to see happen, I don’t think they should happen, nor am I promoting the changes that I think are possible for the future of us school nurses. These are just a school nurse’s thoughts on how our line of work may change because of society’s response to this pandemic. 

Personally, come the end of 120 days from now, I’d love to see those kiddos returning with their hair all slicked back and combed, shiny new shoes, backpack full of new school supplies and long, unsharpened pencils, pants with intact knees and their shirt on right for the one and only time in the year. I want my normal back. But, we ain’t gonna get our normal back are we? I don’t think so. Things are going to be a bit different for us for sure. What that “different” will look like is only a guess.

Okay. That’s all for today. We’ll see you tomorrow…

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