The school nurse is much more than going in for a Band-Aid and an ice pack. The school nurse is a well-rounded example of what a pediatric nurse, counselor, teacher and advocate looks like. East Dover Elementary school had a lot of the normal ear-aches and the “my tummy hurts” type of students but also presented with those chronically ill who had diseases like Diabetes and Spina-bifida. Later on we will explore the differences between a School nurse and a Pediatric Acute care Nurse. We will learn about the 3 chronically ill children at East Dover Elementary school. I will also explain how the School nurse is important in ways we don’t usual give them credit for!
Early in the day, I was asked to help with taking blood pressure for health checks in the 3rd grade, while the nurses assessed hearing and vision. While practicing all the blood pressures, a little girl walked into the bathroom. The one nurse followed her in and within 2 mins, she was back on her way to class. This is the child who has Spina Bifida. She has no sensation in her lower half and difficulties voiding. The nurse assists her inserting a straight catheter to urinate. The child uses the bathroom 2-3 times a day. The nurses explained that it is such a normal part of their day now, they can tell time by her visits. 3 children specifically stood out in my head from this day in the nurse’s office. One child was a diabetic who needed coverage for his school lunch. The nurse just watches as the child gladly administers his own insulin. The other girl with Spina Bifida was a unique case because I had never seen a child straight “cathed” before, especially in a school nurse’s office! The last child was a young girl 6 years of age, whom looked barely 4 years old. She had suffered with upper motility issues and was diagnosed early with Failure to Thrive. This young lady had a feeding tube and had to