Helpful School Nurse Tip: Remember, many school nurses work alone. There is only so much one professional nurse can do and should be asked to do. Do you best with what you have. Set clear boundaries and follow the guidelines you are asked to follow.
SCHOOLS ARE ON WINTER BREAK
The majority of the school nurses I know are currently trying to enjoy a short winter break. Imagine our shock and surprise when new COVID guidelines were released by the CDC. These new guidelines have created a pile of unanswered questions and possibly more job responsibilities for school nurses and other school staff.
NEW COVID GUIDELINES
It is always interesting to find out how school nurses find out about COVID guidelines changes and updates. In perfect working conditions, each school nurse would receive an email notification from their local health department outlining the new guidelines and what the expectations are for schools. However, we are not working in perfect conditions and I imagine many schools nurses found from the news, on Facebook, or from a friend or a community member.
NOW WHAT SHOULD SCHOOL NURSES DO?
School nurses should continue to do the best they can with the resources and time they have. There are still a handful of days before schools are scheduled to return and, as we've learned, a lot of change can happen in a little amount of time. Let's hope that school specific guidelines will be shared with us :)
In the meantime, download this FREE computer wallpaper. It is a great daily reminder that schools and school nurses are being asked to FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES. Positive reviews are always appreciated too :)
I'd love to read in the comments how you and your school found out about the new guidelines and what those mean for your school. Best of luck to all.
Helpful School Nurse Tip: COVID responsibilities have added another job to our already full time job, right? Use these Google items to help you stay as organized as possible.
Welcome to the very first COVID-19 digital product The School Nurse created back in the fall of 2020. I needed something easy and editable to use that I could track student attendance, staff attendance, create a weekly report, etc. I also wanted something that could easily be shared with the other nurse at my school and those who "needed to know" in case I wasn't able to be at work for whatever reason.
This Teachers Pay Teachers product is what I created and continue to use this school year. hey are 100% editable, so you can customize them specific to your school/s and your needs. Currently, the top row of each sheet is "frozen", so it will be visible whether you have 10 entries or 510 entries! These COVID Google sheets keep me organized and provide an easy way to access all the COVID information I need on a daily basis. I think they would help you too! You can create your own, or purchase these and edit them to meet your needs.
Tabs Include:
Student Attendance Sheet
Staff Attendance Sheet
Weekly Report
No Mask / Alternative Diagnosis Sheet
LHD Notification Sheet
To help you get started, I created this informational video. Keep in mind I'm not a videographer. You will hear beautiful windchimes in the background but also some hopefully, helpful information about using this product and making your school nurse days a little easier! Also, in this video you will hear me refer to using "email notifications"!... Keep reading below to learn more about that useful tool!
The sample wording in this product is based on Illinois guidelines from October 2020. Great news though- this product is 100% editable! So, you can update the wording based on the current guidelines your school is using today!
The main purpose of the FREE product is to teach other school nurses how to use Google EMail Templates! I've implemented the use of email templates for any email situation I can- they are a huge time saver and provide consistency when communicating with others on the same topic. I hope using them helps you too and remember my disclaimer about not being a professional video maker- enjoy the content ...
Includes Sample Notification Wording For: 1. Close Contact- free 2. Positive Test Results 3. Waiting on Test Results 4. Household Member with Symptom 5. Student with Any Symptom
Using EMail templates is a must have if you are a school nurse trying to save time but yet provide a consistent message with those you are in contact with related to the COVID issues above.
These 5 sample wording options are 100% editable- the wording is a suggestion I used when I originally created them in October of 2020. Since then, I've updated my own based on the guidelines my school is following. You can edit and update these samples to be specific to your school's COVID-19 guidelines.
COVID - Athlete Return To Play Progression Form Many state sport associations are requiring athletes have a medical release post COVID-19 diagnosis and recovery and prior to their return to participation in sports.
Is this a requirement in your state? If so, use this Google Doc as the form student athletes use to provide their medical release and/or Stage of Return to Play Progression prior to their return to sports.
The Google doc is 100% editable which allows you and your athletic department or athletic trainer to customize it to your specific needs and requirements.
Help you student athletes return to their sports as soon and as safely as possible.
SCHOOL NURSE STRONG Organize your desktop today and thank yourself tomorrow with this "School Nurse Strong" 1920 x 1080 computer wallpaper. You can even purchase coordinating School Nurse Strong items in this Zazzle storefront!
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