OBJECTIVES FOR THE PEDIATRIC NURSING STUDENT EXPERIENCE IN THE ANDOVER SCHOOL SYSTEM
The objectives below are meant to serve as a guide for the expectations of the nursing student experience in the Andover School System. The extent to which each facility is able to provide the student with such an experience may vary and is always open to discussion with the clinical instructor and/or course coordinator. Beyond this, students are expected to arrive to the facility on time, in professional dress and behave in a professional manner. Appropriate communication skills including confidentiality and keeping consistent with Hippa standards are always an expectation.
During the school clinical experience the student will be expected to:
-assist the school nurse (or teacher) with health care assessments including, but not limited to, screening (hearing, vision, scoliosis).
-assist the school nurse in the measurement of height, weight, BMI, vital signs.
-observe the school nurse in her assessment and management of a student who comes to the nurse’s office with a complaint of illness, injury or needing some type of assistance.
-observe the school nurse or teacher administer medication; the student nurse will not administer medications in this clinical experience.
-observe and appreciate the differences in growth and development of children of various ages as evidenced and discussed in the weekly journal (given to the clinical instructor).
-maintain confidentiality in discussing conversations and/or events witnessed during this clinical experience. All documentation in the weekly journal will use a hypothetical first initial only.
-assist the school nurse in the delivery of health education to students, parents and/or staff as deemed appropriate by the school nurse and the clinical instructor. All teaching by the student needs to be reviewed ahead of time and witnessed by a licensed professional.
-adhere to hygiene principles of the facility including good handwashing and maintaining universal precautions when applicable.
Assignments:
1. Each student will submit a weekly journal (electronically) to the clinical instructor within 48 hrs of the school experience. This journal should include: the role of the nurse, growth and development examples, health problems in children encountered, interactions with the families. In addition, the student should self-reflect his/her progress for that day: what was the most important thing you learned that day, what was most meaningful, what would you have done differently.
2. Each student will meet with the clinical instructor during an on-site visit twice during the clinical rotation.
3. If applicable, students may give a short presentation on a preventative health issue, construct a bulletin board and/or provide direct health teaching to an applicable audience.