Conversation Starter Scripts for School Nurses

+ This post contains affiliate links. +

Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: SCRIPTS - Can enhance communication by providing consistency, ensuring key points are covered, and improving customer interactions. They help deliver a unified message, maintain professionalism, and handle various scenarios effectively.

PERPETUAL POST

I've decided this will be a perpetual post about all about scripts for school nurses! There are so many and instead of writing individual posts, I will just keep adding to this one :)

Why School Nurses Should Use Starter Scripts?

School nurses can benefit significantly from using communication starter scripts in specific situations. By having a starter script in place, school nurses can maintain composure and professionalism, even in high-stress situations, leading to better communication.

Communication scripts prove invaluable when discussing sensitive health topics with staff, students or their parents. Addressing issues such as chronic illnesses, mental health concerns, or medication management requires a delicate approach.

A well-crafted script allows the school nurse to choose words carefully, providing accurate information while maintaining empathy and respect for privacy. This consistency in communication helps build trust between the nurse, students, and their families, fostering a supportive and understanding environment within the school community.

Ultimately, utilizing communication starter scripts in certain situations enables school nurses to navigate complex conversations with precision and compassion, ensuring the well-being of students and promoting effective health communication.

If you don't have a script in place, then at least take a few minutes to think about what you want to say and how you want to say it.

I've used so many "starter scripts" over the years; both verbal and written. They help me guide the conversations into the right direction. I'll start off by sharing a simple one that I use multiple times a day. You can use it or switch it up to make it work for you.

Do you have stress out over the thought of making a phone call to a parent?

Having a phone script (general outline) to get the conversation started might help. I typically start every call the same way....

"Hi, this is First Last Name, the nurse at School Name,

is this parent first and last name?"

Then, get to your point... Here are a few options:

No worries, I'm just calling because ...
"I'm calling because I have Student Name in the office and they are complaining of XYZ."
"I'm calling because Student Name was in the the office. I wanted to let you know that during PE class XYZ. We've (insert assessment and treatment here). Just calling with a heads up so you can follow up with them when they get home from school."
"I'm calling because Student Name was in the office for XYZ. They want to go back to class now, but I want you to talk with them first and then we can decide. I'll need to talk wit you after you talk to Student Name, OK?"

As you can see, this list alone could go on and on! Once you have your routine down, then making parent phone calls will feel like a breeze! Good luck!

RESOURCES

Edutopia Blog Post https://tinyurl.com/ycnxej7s

NAESP article https://tinyurl.com/y53wf5nh

The School Nurse https://linktr.ee/the_school_nurse