My Clinic

These are the flowers that David had sent to my school on the first day of school! Isn't he so sweet?

This is a picture of my Clinic. Actually, it's a picture of my desk. I haven't taken pictures of the rest of the clinic.

I am loving my new job. There are definitely things about it that will take some getting used to, but for the most part it has been fabulous. I absolutely love our new principal and assistant principal. I was really concerned about the three of us all being new to our jobs and to the school, but so far it has worked well. I feel like I have their support and yes, I've already needed it. I got cussed out for the first time by a parent last Tuesday. In our New Nurse Academy, before school started, my supervisor told us that if anything was going to make parents mad at us, it would be about immunizations or lice! Well, guess what. We have already had several cases of lice in our school!!! This particular mother did not like that I found lice in both of her son's hair, and she proceeded to tell me exactly how she felt about it. I informed her that I did not use that kind of language, that I did not appreciate her using it with me, and that if she continued, I would have to end the conversation!!! She then called my principal 3 times before she was able to contact him. Of course, he and I had time to talk before he talked with her so that I could tell him exactly what had happened. He was very supportive of me, and he helped calm her down.

I think that people think school nurses just sit in their clinics and wait for sick children to come to them. I have said this to a few people and their response is "Well, what else DO you do?" Thanks!!! I am responsible for making sure that all of the children's immunizations are current. If they are not, I have to contact parents and follow-up so that I don't have to kick them out of school. By the way, do you know how few parents REALLY care about the health of their children??? It is amazing to me how lazy some people can be (or maybe they're selfish). Anyway, I also am responsible for giving medications. I have to make personal care plans for any child who has a health need and requires support from me (Do you have any idea how many I have with a school of 870 children?). These are just some examples. Please know that your child's school nurse does a lot more than handing out ice packs and band-aids. Give her a hug (if she's that kind of person) every now and then. Or at least tell her that you appreciate her being there.