Sunday, December 6, 2020

Write With Me- The School Nurse Anthology


 Have you noticed the new tab on the 
Diary Of The School Nurse blog?

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Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: Writing is an excellent way to share our personal school nurse stories and to help spread awareness about school nurse as a profession. I hope you consider sharing a meaningful story today! Click one of the above pictures to submit your heartfelt story and/or poem.

I have this elementary love for I AM poems and thought many of you might too.

I AM poems are easy enough to write, yet strong enough to be full of emotion.

Please accept this invitation to share your I AM poem with me. 

2020 has been quite the year and writing about your challenges, achievements, guilt, happiness, and/or sadness might be just the outlet you need 
(and didn't even know you needed!).







Sunday, October 18, 2020

FREEBIES for The School Nurse

 Where can The School Nurse find FREE SAMPLES?

This post contains affiliate links.

Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: I am lucky to have a decent budget that covers needed items and a few wants. However, I still search out FREE SAMPLES to make my budget stretch even further. PS I do not have free samples to send to other school nurses :(

How many school nurses do you know with an unlimited budget available for any and all nurse's office purchases?

Not many right!  Most school nurses have adequate budgets to cover the necessities, but there are many other items that might not be categorized as necessary but would certainly make student's school days easier.

Please share this blog post with other school nurse's so they can view the list too.


Let me know if there are any free resource I should.

Many thanks and I hope you find this freebie list helpful!


PS If anyone has a coupon for a free countertop nugget ice maker please let me know :) 


Check out The School Nurse Amazon Storefront lists too!


School Nurse : Personalized Items    She Wanted To Change The World : School Nurse

Sunday, September 27, 2020

FREE- Medication Administration in the School Setting Training

School Nurse Training : Medication In Schools

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Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: Medications at school require careful handling—from following state laws and school policies to proper storage and documentation. Training staff to assist safely is key to keeping students protected and things running smoothly.

Medication Administration in the School Setting: What You Need to Know

Administering medication at school involves more than just handing out pills. It requires strict adherence to state nurse practice acts, school policies and procedures, and careful documentation to ensure student safety and legal compliance.

  • Necessary Forms: Most districts require signed physician orders, parent/guardian consent forms, and medication administration logs. These forms serve as official authorization and track each dose given.

  • State Nurse Practice Act: Your state’s Nurse Practice Act guides what tasks can be delegated and how to safely oversee medication administration by unlicensed personnel. Be sure you are familiar with these laws to stay compliant.

  • School Policies & Procedures: Each school or district has detailed protocols regarding medication storage, administration times, emergency plans, and communication with families. Following these policies protects students and staff.

By maintaining solid policies, clear documentation, and proper training, schools can reduce medication errors and keep students safe.

Medication Training for School Staff Made Simple

As a school nurse, one of your critical roles is training unlicensed staff—whether they’re office personnel, teachers, or aides—to safely administer medications. When staff feel confident and prepared, student safety improves dramatically. That’s why having clear, straightforward, and customizable training resources is essential.

Do you have a medication training for staff?

Not long ago, someone asked if I had a school nurse resource designed specifically for medical training in the school setting. Surprisingly, I didn’t—but that didn’t last long! Now, I have not just one, but two options for you to choose from! Here’s the first...

Option One: Comprehensive Medication Training PDF


Understanding medications in the school setting can feel overwhelming, but this FREE PDF is here to help! Whether you’re a new school nurse or just looking for a solid reference, this resource breaks down key topics like policies, procedures, documentation, and more.

Since every school and district has its own guidelines, this PDF is designed to be customizable—so you can add personalized notes and details to fit your specific needs. While I am a district school nurse, I’m not your district’s nurse—but I hope this resource gets you started in the right direction!
Inside, you’ll find sections covering:

✅ Policy & Procedures
✅ Forms
✅ Medications
✅ Inventory
✅ Storage
✅ Administration
✅ Documentation
✅ Resources & References

Download it, make it your own, and let me know if you find it helpful!


Option Two: Editable Google Slides Training Series

This FREE Google Slides training is perfect if you prefer an interactive presentation format. Ideal for school nurses who travel between buildings or districts, these slides can be tailored to your unique school policies.

The slide deck includes 15 ready-to-use slides covering:

  • Medication statistics & background

  • How to read prescription and OTC medication labels (with video!)

  • Safe storage and documentation practices

  • The “5 R’s” of medication administration

  • Printable certificates of completion for staff

  • Poison Control info and printable practice labels

  • Clickable links to additional resources

This option makes training sessions engaging and ensures staff can review the material as needed.

This Google slide training is available for FREE via Teachers Pay Teachers.



Statistics from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Sample wording for medication guidelines in the school setting
Prescription & Over-The-Counter Medications
How to read a prescription medication label
Linked video teaching how to read a prescription bottle label
Storing medications in the school setting
Documentation for medications in the school setting
The 5 R’s for safely administering medication in the school setting
Review
Printable certificate of completion
Available resources
Poison Control information
Printable practice prescription labels
Clickable resource pages

To Sum Up

Training yourself and your staff on medication administration doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With these free, flexible tools, you can deliver consistent, clear education that protects your students and empowers your team.

Additional Resources for School Nurse Medication Training


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Medication Administration & Inventory Log  $3!


 




Saturday, August 29, 2020

Moms Who Care

It Takes A Village

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Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip:  It truly does take a village!  My students, school families, and staff are bless beyond measure to have the wonderful non for profit volunteer group- Moms Who Care at our school on a weekly basis!  

Moms Who Care Mission

Their mission is simple- Their impact is huge!

Helping students achieve success by meeting essential needs such as:
clothing, hygiene products, school supplies, and after school snacks.

Are you a school nurse who:

  • collects stacks of  clothes in your office cabinet "just in case"?
  • keeps a hidden stash of school supplies for students who need them?
  • keeps snacks for certain students you know will be hungry later in the day?
  • desperately wants to help more students meet their essential needs, but feel like you don't have enough time in the day?

Those statements described me, The School Nurse, years & years ago!

Then, one crisp fall day in 2009, the future founder of Moms Who Care (MWC)
worked up some courage, called the high school and asked if there was a staff member who would be interested in receiving gift bags full of hygiene products for students?

Thankfully, whoever answered the phone that day transferred the call directly to the school nurse's office! Little did the caller know, the service she offered was highly needed and we immediately took her up on the generous offer; and so, our village started!


At the time (2009) of the call, I had a large wooden cabinet in my office with curtains hanging on tension rods covering shelves overflowing with clothes, shoes, socks, hygiene products & a few random snacks for students. You can see in the below picture how my office looked many days. The floor covered with random donations waiting to be sorted and put on the shelves. The shelves were hidden behind the checkered curtains on the bottom right of the photo.

Now (2020), after offering services for over a decade to thousands of students,
my school family has a committed group of volunteers with the MWC organization who have a large room in the school (with windows) full of clothing displayed on department store style fixtures with custom shelving units lined with shoes, hygiene products, snacks and school supplies! 

They also have a separate storage room for off season supplies with an area to sort through donations and organize items. All donations are graciously given by generous community membersTo say my students are blessed is an understatement.


Although the logistics of the program have changed over the years, 
the Moms Who Care mission has remained the same.

To help students achieve success by meeting essential needs such as:
clothing, hygiene products, school supplies, and after school snacks. 

Typically, students who participate with the MWC program qualify for the free/reduced meal program. However, students are never turned away;
there are so many scenarios where a student might benefit from participating in the program and we would never want to deny help to a student who might benefit from the program.

Moms Who Care focuses on serving the student as a whole person.


The MWC volunteers understand when the basic needs of the student are met, 
then the students are more prepared and ready to learn.  Students who are signed up shop monthly by grade level.  They are also allowed to go down as needed for specific items even if it isn't their assigned week to "shop".

For More Information Visit the MWC Website here

To Purchase Items & Send Directly to MWC click here (not an affiliate link)

Check out these other popular DOASN blog posts & product links.




Saturday, August 1, 2020

Sample School Nurse Interview Questions

I'm interviewing for a school nurse job!
Now What?

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CONGRATULATIONS!

You had the courage to apply for a school nurse position 
during this uncertain, exciting and challenging time. (pandemic 2020)



Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: Being well-prepared for an interview is a crucial skill. Taking the time to thoroughly prepare can significantly help you stand out from the other applicants and make a lasting impression. Use this opportunity to showcase your readiness and dedication to the role.

Congratulations! Out of all the applicants, you received a call to schedule an interview! After the butterflies settle, you might be asking yourself—Now what?

If you've never worked as a school nurse before, you might be wondering how to prepare for your interview. Being well-prepared can help you stand out from the other applicants. Hopefully, you'll get a call back for a second interview, or better yet—receive a job offer!

Since so many of you have reached out via email and Facebook messages asking for interview tips and sample questions. To help you navigate this process, I decided to create a comprehensive PDF guide!

Preparation is key to making a great impression. For a complete list of interview questions and tips on how to answer them, download the free PDF guide I’ve created. It’s packed with valuable insights to help you succeed in your school nurse interview.

[Request the Download]

Good luck with your interview preparation! I’m confident that with the right preparation, you’ll make a great impression and land the job you want.



Check out these other popular DOASN blog posts & links.





Wondering what supplies you might need for your school nurse office?