Gerri Harvey's Christmas Card

School Nurse Christmas Cards 

by Gerri Harvey RN - School Nurse Perspectives

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Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: Looks like we're going to make it through another semester! I hope it was a great one for you & I hope you enjoy this oldie but goodie from Gerri.  Have a great new year and second semester.

Click the images below for more FREE printables.

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Splinter Outs - Are they worth the cost?

get Splinter Outs In your office now!

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Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: Most school nurses have a limited budget and must decided what office supplies they can splurge on and what items they need to save money on. There are many "outside of the box" options available to help you get the most for your money. Read on to learn about one of the ways I save money on medical office supplies.

Splinter Outs - Are they worth the cost?

Yes and No...  If you've used them before then you know they are worth all the pennies. However, if you have a limited budget (and what school nurse doesn't have a limited budget) then you might be looking for a splinter out alternative.

Either way, this is new item to add to your school nurse office this year!

Splinter Outs are perfect for removing those tiny splinters that are impossible to remove with tweezers!  However, when my budget is running low then I use a simple blood lancet & you can too :)  You can literally get hundreds of blood lancets for a fraction of the cost. Check it out for yourself by clicking one of the images below. 

Splinter Out- https://amzn.to/2LcMibZ

Off Brand Option- https://amzn.to/2ZJ4LRg

Magnifying Lamp- https://amzn.to/3OXbGUw

Medical Terminology Classroom Organization

How many school nurses also teach in the classroom?

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In addition to being a school nurse, I've been teaching in the classroom setting since 2015 and love it! If you're ever given the chance, I hope you take it and love it too.

Lesson Plans for the Classroom Setting

Ever since COVID hit, my teaching world—like many others—shifted completely online. I still teach Medical Terminology, just not in person anymore. This online option has actually worked out really well for my high school students, especially those who are also involved in Work-Based Learning (WBL) or dual credit programs like CNA or Fire Science. It's flexible, accessible, and still allows them to explore healthcare pathways in a meaningful way.

Are there any other school nurses out there reading this post who also teach in the classroom? If so, I’d love to connect!

Originally (back in 2019), I was teaching in-person classes at both the local community college and at the high school where I’m the school nurse. I taught a college-level Medical Terminology course for students interested in future careers in healthcare. And honestly, I’ve loved every minute of it.

"I was awed by what school nurses knew, the fact that they teach AND practice medicine to hundreds of students, staff, and visitors." (Sarah Matacale BSN, RN, 2018)

That quote really stuck with me. It’s true—we do a lot in our role. And being able to bring that knowledge into a classroom just feels like a natural extension of what we already do every day.

What I Use to Stay Organized

These are the products that help me stay sane and organized while planning out each 16-week course:

🗓️ House of Doolittle Lesson Plan Book
I’ve used this for three years and still love it. It's simple, inexpensive, and easy to customize with markers (Crayola, of course!). The M–F vertical layout is perfect since I’m planning just one course. I pencil in dates and daily plans one week at a time so I can easily update as things shift. More detailed outlines and resources go into a Google Drive folder organized by book chapter.

🖍️ Crayola Markers – Because planning is just more fun in color!

✏️ Pencils – Gotta be able to erase and adjust, right?

💛 Yellow Highlighters – My go-to for highlighting key chapters or major due dates.

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Teaching has added so much to my nursing career. Whether it's face-to-face or through a screen, the opportunity to guide students toward healthcare careers is incredibly rewarding. So if you're a school nurse who's ever considered stepping into a classroom, my advice? Go for it. You have so much knowledge and heart to offer—and students will absolutely benefit from your real-world experience.

Let me know if you’re also teaching! I’d love to hear what courses you’re involved in or swap tips for juggling both roles.

I also use the free version of Quizlet for my students.

Check it out HERE.

Getting Organized With A Document Sorter

Organize all the piles of paper with this DOCUMENT SORTER!

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Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip:  I had no idea how much paperwork would be involved when I started this school nursing journey!  Read on if you can relate.

My all time favorite office supply!

If you've ever been overwhelmed by all of the piles of papers cluttering your office, then this document sorter might be for you!  If you know me at all, then you know I love Amazon! 

Thankfully, my school district appreciates Amazon too!  In fact, my school district (and many others) have tax-exempt business accounts set up. Ask whoever is in charge of ordering your supplies if this is an option for you too.  I create a shareable Amazon list to share with the district person in charge of ordering and once my request for items is approved then it is super easy for her to order the requested items!  Shipping is usually fast and free which are added bonuses!

Busy school nurses understand the value of time!

Filing is something that we know needs to be done, but it will have to wait until we have a few "extra minutes", right?!  

Instead of just creating stacks of papers and forms that are waiting to be filed, you can at least organize them by last name. This makes searching for that one piece of paper you know is in the pile, but you don't know where!  

If you use the document sorter as a holding space until you have time to file then referencing that one paper is much easier when you can search by last name. You'll actually save yourself time :) 

You can also use this hand device to organize papers by grade level, first name, specific health conditions, or form type (vision/dental) to quickly find important information when needed.

I use this item every.single.day in my office!

I purchased this document sorter / paper organizer years ago with my own money and it is one of the best office purchases I've ever made! It is a must have for all those paper piles collected at the beginning of each school year, the middle of the year, and even the at the end of each school year!

worth all of the pennies!

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School Nurses - Does Their Compensation Match Their True Worth?

School Nurses - What are they really worth?

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Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: Pay is always a hot topic within The School Nurse Fb groups. How much are you paid? Are you paid hourly or salaried?  Are you on the certified teacher contract or noncertified contract?  Do you know how to advocate for a pay increase?

School Nurses - Does Their Compensation Match Their True Worth?

If you haven't read this article yet? If not, you should!  

It had been on my to-do list since August 2018 & I'm so thankful I made time last weekend to read it.

Author, Sarah Matacale BSN RN, writes:

"School nurses have always been one of the most diverse and unique subspecialties in nursing throughout the decades. While the specific job responsibilities and pay may have changed some, the mission and purpose of the job remain constant. The National Association of School Nurses defines school nursing as " a specialized practice of nursing, that protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances the academic success" of its population."

full article HERE

School nursing can be very misunderstood and even hard to explain. However, in my opinion, it is the best nurse job around! Some days are more challenging than others, but I wouldn't have it any other way.   

"I was awed by what school nurses knew, the fact that they teach AND practice medicine to hundreds of students, staff, and visitors. They were so organized, knew who to call and when and what was a true emergency. At the end of the day, they knew that sometimes we just needed a hug, a listening ear, and some TLC."

Nurse Sarah says it best- read her entire article HERE

PS  Maybe all school nurses deserve a raise?

See below for more articles about promoting and supporting school nurses?