Advice For New School Nurses
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.png "Where can I find support for new school nurses? This blog post answers some FAQ to help new school nurses feel more prepared for their new roles.")
Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: A new career as a school nurse can be overwhelming, but it can also be an exciting opportunity for growth and fulfillment. I'll post links below to relevant DOASN blog posts that will help you get started on your journey. Remember, starting a new career takes time and effort, but with dedication and perseverance, you can find a fulfilling and rewarding path.
Subscribe to the new school nurse email HERE, then check out the online, anytime 1 hour CE course created just for new school nurses HERE!
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.png "Where can I find support for new school nurses? This blog post answers some FAQ to help new school nurses feel more prepared for their new roles.")
Welcome to the world of school nursing!
Sincerely,Hello New School Nurses!
Hi there! Welcome to your new career as a school nurse. This job is super important & involves a lot of different duties! You'll be helping to keep students, teachers, and everyone at school healthy & safe. Remember, you’ve got the skills and knowledge to handle whatever comes your way; you just might need a little extra education and you've come to the right place for that! Again, welcome to school nursing! I hope you have a great and rewarding career.
Elisabeth AKA The School Nurse
FAQs FOR NEW SCHOOL NURSES
Advocacy & Support
Advocacy and support for school nurses are crucial for ensuring the health and well-being of students and school staff. School nurses play a critical role in promoting health education, providing preventative care, and managing chronic conditions. By advocating for school nurses, we can ensure that schools have the resources and support necessary to provide quality healthcare services to students.
Supporting school nurses can lead to improved academic outcomes as healthy students are better able to focus and learn. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize advocacy and support for school nurses to maintain a healthy school environment and promote student success.
.png "Where can I find support for new school nurses? This blog post answers some FAQ to help new school nurses feel more prepared for their new roles.")
RESOURCES
Mentorship & Networking
Networking and mentoring are both beneficial for school nurses, but they serve different purposes.
Networking involves building relationships with other professionals in the same field or industry, which can lead to new job opportunities, sharing of resources and ideas, and expanding one's knowledge and skills. On the other hand, mentoring involves a more personal relationship between a more experienced school nurse and a less experienced school nurse, where the mentor provides guidance, support, and advice on career development and professional growth.
While networking can be done with multiple people, mentoring typically involves a one-on-one relationship. Finding a mentor is important for new school nurses. A mentor can offer advice on how to handle difficult situations, share best practices, and provide insight into the unique challenges of working in a school setting.
In addition, having a mentor can help new school nurses build confidence and establish a professional network. Overall, finding a mentor can be a valuable resource for new school nurses as they navigate their role and responsibilities in the school healthcare setting.
School nurses can find networking & mentorship opportunities via online avenues. Check out a few online resources listed below.
.png "Where can I find support for new school nurses? This blog post answers some FAQ to help new school nurses feel more prepared for their new roles.")
RESOURCES
Google Search Results "School Nurse Mentor"
Google Search Results "School Nurse Networking"
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Duties & Responsibilities
School nurses have a variety of duties and responsibilities. Not only are they responsible for managing student health records, administering medications and treatments, and providing first aid and emergency care; they also may be responsible for conducting health screenings, developing and implementing health education programs, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals to ensure the overall health and well-being of students.
School nurses play a critical role in promoting a healthy school environment and supporting the academic success of students. The duties and responsibilities of each school nurse should be defined with state practice guidelines and school district needs.
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RESOURCES
Routines & Boundaries
Establishing a daily routine with clear boundaries (including taking a lunch break) can be essential for school nurses. Routines can help you manage your workload effectively, ensure that they have time for self-care, and prevent burnout.
Remember, you are setting a healthy example for your students and staff too. Would you encourage them to skip lunch daily or eat while working? If not, then you need to prioritize your lunch break too. Taking your lunch break can help you recharge, attend to their personal needs, and ultimately provide better care to students. It is important to prioritize self-care and establish healthy habits to maintain overall well-being and provide the best possible care to those in need.
RESOURCES
Organization & Decor
Having an organized school nurse's office is crucial for several reasons:
- It ensures that all necessary medical supplies and equipment are easily accessible and readily available when needed. This can be critical in emergency situations where time is of the essence.
- An organized office helps to maintain a clean and sanitary environment, minimizing the risk of infections or the spread of illness. It can also help to streamline administrative tasks, such as record-keeping and inventory management, allowing nurses to spend more time providing care to patients.
- An organized nurse's office is essential for providing efficient, effective, and high-quality healthcare services.
School nurses spend a lot of time at work, take the time to create a space that is functional and makes you feel good. An aesthetically pleasing office space is important for several reasons:
- It sets the tone; a visually appealing workspace can impress students & staff, helping to create a professional and trustworthy image for your school.
- Creating a positive and comfortable work environment can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction.
- A well-designed office space can also reflect the values and culture of your school and your professional values as well.
RESOURCES
Funding & Budgets & Supplies
Public school budgets are the financial plans that outline how funds will be allocated to various school programs and services. The funding for school nurse staff is typically included in the overall budget and varies depending on factors such as the size of the school district, the number of schools, and the student population. Funding can come from a variety of sources, including federal and state grants, local property taxes, and fundraising efforts.
School nurse staff play an important role in promoting student health and wellness, and it is essential that schools allocate adequate funding to ensure that students have access to quality healthcare services.
One way to provide quality is to have the supplies you need & to know where (& how) to purchase those supplies. You'll want to find out what your school year budget is and what you are required to purchase from that budget & from where you can purchase items.
The easiest way for me to get supplies is to place a purchase order with the assigned person at my school district through our Amazon Business account! This account offers no tax and quick (usually two day), free shipping! You can view all of my supply lists HERE.
OTHER RESOURCES
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Check out these other popular DOASN blog posts & product links.
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.png "Using DonorsChoose is one way public school nurses can supplement their yearly budgets. Receive donations towards school nurse office supplies.")
.png "Using DonorsChoose is one way public school nurses can supplement their yearly budgets. Receive donations towards school nurse office supplies.")
.png "Using DonorsChoose is one way public school nurses can supplement their yearly budgets. Receive donations towards school nurse office supplies.")
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.png "School nurses can expand their professional library by creating a DonorsChoose project for health related books. Use this personally or read to students")
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