2010 - 2011School Nurse Report

Situation:

• At Magnolia – A student comes upon a student who

is staggering and mumbling in the hallway. He takes the student to the nurse’s office….

– A teacher assistant collapses at an entrance to the school….

Situation:

• At Oak Park– A 3rd grader at PE is playing kickball

and slid into 2nd base causing sudden pain to his ankle…

– A kindergartener fell in the classroom, bumped her head and became unconscious…the nurse was called for….

Situation:

• At Pecan Park– During PE class a student collapses

and begins to shake…– Student with eczema visited the

nurse for itching…– A pregnant teacher visits the nurse

not “quite right”….

Situation:

• At Taconi– A teacher collapses in the

classroom….

Situation:

• At the Middle School– A staff member enters the nurse’s

office and states “I’m not feeling right”. Soon after seizure like behavior is observed

– A bus driver sits on the steps to the bus clutching his chest…they call for the nurse

– Before school a student is playing football with a group, the ball hits the student causing extreme pain to his elbow

Situation:

• At the High School– A student is sitting in class and

began shaking and convulsing…– A teacher visited the nurse in the

morning complaining of a head ache and not feeling well…

School Nurses

• One of the greatest values of a school nurse is the to perform a health assessment

• A nursing assessment determines if someone is experiencing mild discomforts that can remain in class or life threatening symptoms that require a 911 call

The Value of a School Nurse

Why is it important that our students have access to a

school nurse?

School Nurses

Establish treatment and medication regimens to keep children

in the classroom – promoting student

achievement and success

School Nurses

• Provide Emergency Care as needed• Plan for health related emergencies• Provide vision and hearing

screenings• Write Emergency and Individualized

Health-care Plans

Total Student Visits

Total Medications Administered

Total Treatments Administered

Screenings

Classroom Education

Staff Visits

The Rest of the Story• At Magnolia

– The student that was wandering the halls disoriented was well known by me as having diabetes. His blood sugar was dangerously low. He was able to swallow and was given juice and other carbohydrates to get his blood sugar up. It took over an hour to bring his blood sugar up to normal.

– The teacher assistant that collapsed at the entrance tripped coming into the building. I assessed her and noted a deformity to her right shoulder. I stabilized it and got her to the ER. Her shoulder was broken in 2 places and she tore her rotator cuff.

The Rest of the Story• At Oak Park– The student injured while playing kickball was

assessed by Nurse Shanel McCaleb. She noted the swelling and inability of full range of motion. She contact his mother and recommended he visit the ER. It was determined he fractured his growth plate.

– The kindergarten student that fell bumping her head in the classroom became unconscious. Nurse Shanel assessed for open airway and cardiac output. When student roused briefly she assessed orientation and found student to be confused. 911 was called. Student remained in the hospital for 18 hours to observe. Diagnosis of concussion was given.

The Rest of the Story• At Pecan Park

– The student that collapsed in PE was a student who Nurse Dawn Wilson knew was newly diagnosed with Epilepsy. Nurse Wilson wrote an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) and Emergency Plan. She shared these plans with all of the teachers instructing them in how to keep a student safe while having a seizure. The PE Coach reacted appropriately according to these plans.

– The student with eczema is well known to Nurse Wilson. While assessing the rash, Nurse Wilson became concerned and suspected and infection. She notified the parent and recommended a medical visit. This student required hospitalization and IV therapy for 6 days.

– The pregnant teacher not feeling well was assessed by Nurse Wilson and found to have elevated blood pressure. Again, a doctor visit was suggested.

The Rest of the Story• AT Taconi

– The collapsed teacher was assessed by Nurse Terry Tate. She found the teacher in semi-consciousness, dangerously low blood pressure, shallow breathing and an irregular heart rate. Her blood sugar was normal. Nurse Tate continued to assess her vital signs, with the AED with in reach, until the ambulance arrived. She was admitted to the ICU for several days.

The Rest of the Story• Middle School

– The staff member that entered the nurse’s office complaining of not feeling “right” and began having seizure like activity. Was well known by Nurse Lynda Howze as someone with diabetes. Nurse Howze found her blood sugar was very elevated, as was her blood pressure and pulse. Nurse Howze kept her safe during the episode. Continued to monitor her airway, blood pressure and heart rate. After about 5 minutes she appeared normal. She was transported to the ER. A CT scan showed she was having “mini strokes” and was able to get treatment.

– The bus driver found clutching his chest was assessed by Nurse Howze. Even though his vital signs appeared normal she knew the symptoms could mean something more. She gave him 2 aspirin and had him transported to the ER. He had 2 cardiac stents placed on the following day.

The Rest of the Story

• Middle School continued:– The student hit in the elbow with a

football was assessed by Nurse Howze and found to have limited range of motion. Recommendation made to parent to visit their doctor. An x-ray showed a fracture to the elbow.

The Rest of the Story

• At the High School– The student is known by the Nurse Shannon

Ford to have a history of Epilepsy. She was confused and disoriented after the seizure. She was transported to the ER and is currently under the care of Epilepsy specialist at Oschner Hospital

– While assessing the teacher’s head ache, Nurse Ford learned the teacher was hit in the face at a ballgame. The teacher was up vomiting during the night. She was referred to the ER and found to have a fractured nose and concussion. She was out of work for 3 day.

Tomorrow is

National School Nurse Day

Take the Time to

Thank Your

School Nurse!