My career meme- School Nurse

I know there are so many of these going around that people are getting sick of them, but I just had to join in the fun! Hope you all enjoy. :)

(Click on photo to enlarge)

P.S. I made it all by myself, I didn't copy it. Aren't you proud of me?

A School Nurse's Adventures with Swine Flu

.... and this is no hoax. :)


Saturday:

I woke up with scratchy throat and stuffy nose.

"It must be a cold or sinus," I told my family. "Otherwise, I would have a fever."

I developed a headache by late morning, but took some sinus medication and felt better during the afternoon.

"See, I told you it wasn’t any big deal."

But then.... suddenly, around 6:00 PM or so, I was hit with chills, sneezing, and body aches.

"I sss-still think it’s a-a-a little cold..." I insisted through my chattering teeth.

My "little cold" had a pretty decent fever of 100.8. But, I like to live in denial. It's a pleasant place to live...! It wasn’t until late that evening I finally admitted to myself that I most likely had the flu.

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Sunday:

I had to miss Church and Choir. They wouldn’t have wanted me, anyway, because I sounded like Kermit the Frog with laryngitis. In actuality, I was beginning to think this flu stuff wasn’t too bad. I still had a fever that was hanging around 101, couldn’t talk, but felt well enough to surf the 'net on my laptop while resting in bed. Pretty nice way to be sick!

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Monday:

Where am I? Who am I? I can’t get up! Did somebody break in and beat me up last night? I am hurting all over! Even the ends of my hair hurt, if you can believe that. What do you mean I have a fever of 103.4? That’s a radio station, not my temperature! No, I can’t drink anything, I feel like I’m going to be sick at my stomach. OK, ok, take me to the doctor. Please. (Did I say please?) I have a blur of a memory of the doctor swabbing my throat for strep, (negative) followed by a nasal swab (positive for influenza type A.)

"I already had my seasonal flu shot, Doc!"

"You almost certainly have H1N1 influenza. That is the 'Type A' strain that is going around at this time."

The doctor hit me with his best shot. A little Phenergan de Gluteus fixed my nausea, and I was sent out with prescriptions for hydrocodone cough syrup, asthma inhaler, oral Phenergan, and Tamiflu... a wonder drug... no lie! Arthur was instructed to be the driver. (Surely they didn’t think I drove there to begin with??)

I took my first Tamiflu and a dose of cough medicine as soon as I got home. I guess I went to bed after that, because that’s where I woke up the next morning.

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Tuesday:

I woke up feeling almost human. But, wait! John was outside my door crying. Literally.

"Mom! I have a percussion contest today."

"Ok, what time is your contest? And why are you crying?"

"Because I’m sick, and can barely move. I started feeling bad last night, but thought I could make it through the contest."

I felt his forehead, and even though I myself was still feverish, he was sizzling. I found our spare thermometer, and within a minute realized he wasn’t going to any contest, or even school that day. His fever was 102.

Once we had John medicated and tucked in bed with tissues, Gatorade, his phone, and remote within reach, I went back to bed. My afternoon temp= 100 degrees.

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Wednesday:

Much the same. John still sick, sleeping like a petrified log. His temp=103.5. Arthur and I rouse him every couple hours for medicine, to drink, eat, and change out of saturated t-shirts. My own afternoon temp= 100 degrees.

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Thursday:

Much the same. John still sick. My afternoon temp= 100 degrees.

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Friday:

Not here yet. But watch the CBS Evening News on Friday! My supervisor with Oklahoma City Public Schools, Debbie Johnson, is going to be interviewed about the H1N1 flu and the community immunization clinics our school nurses will be participating in.

Beware of H1N1 Hoax

There is a hoax email making the rounds about the H1N1 vaccination. At first glance, it appears legitimate, but after a bit of research it turns out to be a hoax.

I am in no way telling everybody that they should (or should not) go right out and get an H1N1 vaccination when it is available. That is between each individual and their physician. But nothing riles me more than hoaxes and urban legends that spread whatever propaganda the original author intends to promote.

The email starts like this:

"My sister just called, for those of you that don’t know she is a RN in the ER at Baptist. They had a meeting this morning on the H1N1 vaccination, and the doctors at Baptist are advising that their staff and patients NOT get this vaccination."

It goes on to make a claim that a child of the hospital employee received the H1N1 vaccination, and now has Guillian Barre Syndrome. As evidence, it gives a website that at further review, is a neuro medical site with information about the symptoms of Guillian Barre. There is nothing on this site about the current H1N1 vaccine.

If this were the truth the physicians at whichever "Baptist" medical facility (there are a zillion of them in the U.S.) would be alerting more than just their staff in some secret meeting.

Here is what I found on Google. It looks like a lot of people have already received this email. But, notice: Sometimes the sister has no name, sometimes her name is Kim, sometimes her name is Kay:

Search Results Swine Flu Email

When in doubt about anything regarding your health, please talk with your physician. Get a second opinion if you are still in doubt. But don't get your "second opinion" from a chain email... or even from a blog like mine! :-) See a health professional.

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P.S. If you are interested, here is my post about the swine flu from back in April, before they developed the soon-to-be released vaccine.


P.P.S. As of 10-5-09, but symptoms beginning 10-3-09, I myself have been diagnosed as having the h1n1 flu. Let me describe my symptoms:

1. Haven't felt like eating anything for 3 days.
2. My body feels like it has been pounded with three large bricks.
3. My head feels like it is being shot out of a cannon.
4. My fever has hovered between 102 and 103.5.
5. My throat is on fire.
6. I need help to walk to the rest room.
7. I have alternated between freezing in Antarctica and roasting in Hades.

I went to the doctor yesterday and tested positive, so I am now taking Tamiflu. I noticed a big difference within hours of starting it, but have a long way to go. This flu is real, folks, and it is awful.

My 15 Minutes of Fame

Student: “Can I have a hug?” (gives me a hug)

Student: “Can I have a dollar?”

Me: “You are so cute I would be tempted to give you a dollar if I had one, but all I have in my pocket is a bit of dryer lint.”

Student: “Can I have the lint?” (then laughs and gives me another hug.)

How can anybody not love a job like mine?!?


I have been selected as Oklahoma City Public Schools' "School Nurse of the Year." Woo Hoo!! This week's Film Clip Friday is not my own film, but rather a film from the City's website and the corresponding article that was in Wednesday's newspaper.

National School Nurse Day

John says now I can walk into any restaurant in Oklahoma and demand preferential seating with the statement: "Don't you know who I am?" LOL!!!

Swine Flu! Panic in the Streets!!!!!!!!!

This is just one nurse’s opinion.

Yes, concern is warranted.

By all means, practice good health hygiene. Wash your hands frequently with soap and running water. Always cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, using the crook of your arm, not you hands. Wash down contaminated surfaces with a good disinfectant. Eat a balanced diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Stop smoking because it irritates the linings of your nose and lungs, making it easier for bacteria and/ or viruses to take hold. Get regular exercise, and plenty of rest to keep your immune system strong. Avoid anyone that is exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

If flu symptoms develop, seek medical attention. Stay home, otherwise. Rest, increase fluids and continue to eat healthy.

But, do not panic!!!

OK, true, there is no immunization for this flu. But, how many people skip their flu shot every year for the other kinds of flu, which are also deadly? Way too many, and people do die every year.

What about closing the schools as they have done in Dallas/Fort Worth? Well, maybe that will help, but only if they also close all the fast food restaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters, skating rinks and other “kid” hangouts.

I’m afraid this may end up being this year’s MRSA, Bird Flu or SARS, which have been sensationalized in years past. If we sound the alarm and scream “The sky is falling!” too often, people will become too complacent, like so may have about the regular annual influenza.

Panic is not needed. What good does panic do anyway? Calm calculation keeps us much safer than panic. Let’s trade sensationalism for a little common sense.

(And keep washing your hands. It won't hurt anything!)

Very Personally Yours

Today is the beginning of another school year. The time goes by so fast!

I began my current position in August of 2000. The kindergarteners from the year 2000 at my schools are entering 7th grade this year! I see some of them every now and then, and they are growing into beautiful adolescents. I hope some of what I have taught helps them to grow into happy, healthy adults.

One unit that I am responsible to teach is the “Growth and Development” program. You know (gasp)… THE FILM! The (insert giggling girls here) No Boys Allowed Film. Or, the (insert embarrassed boys pretending to be macho) No Girls Allowed Film.

Since I understand the sensitive nature of this subject, I usually don’t present the boys film unless there is no male staff member able and willing to do it. Although I can discuss any subject without a flinch, the boys are too shy to ask me the questions their little inquiring minds want to know. The girls, however, are another matter. We all sit on the carpet for an informal bit of “girl talk,” then I show the video and pass out product samples. By the end of the session I answer so many questions they have to rush so they don’t miss the bus.

Today as I unpacked a box of samples for this year’s students, I thought back about my own puberty education. Many, many years ago, 1964 to be exact, our school nurse and our gym teacher held a program for us, and showed “The Film.” But times were different then. Instead of a school day class with a permission slip, our class was an actual night program and our parent was required to be with us or we could not attend. It was a Very Big Moment in my life that almost didn’t happen. My mom wasn’t keen on the idea of attending the event. Thankfully, my best friend’s mom decided to take her, and helped convince mine.

The film we saw was already pretty old by the time we saw it, because there wasn’t a huge market for puberty films in those days. Sanitary supplies were only whispered about; they were not the subject of huge marketing campaigns and commercials as they are nowadays!

I recently found that ancient movie, “The Story of Menstruation,” on YouTube. Believe it or not, it is an animated film that was created by the Walt Disney Studios! This really brings back memories. We even received the “Very Personally Yours” booklet that the narrator mentions.

I’m glad I was able to find this, because it helps to remember how important this rite of passage was to me. When my students receive this instruction, my presentation may well set the stage for their attitude toward maturity and body image. It always needs to be good!

Here’s the film. Oh, by the way,… (giggle)… No Boys Allowed!

Sweet Little Words

This week happens to be National Teachers Week and National Nurses Week. Being the school nurse of three elementary schools gives me a lot to celebrate. All week long my schools have hosted events in honor of the occasion. There have been breakfasts, brunches, cakes and cookies. I received goodie bags with candies and other neat things like this little sign I found in one:




The most fun part of the week for me was yesterday. Our secretary announced over the intercom, "Today is National Nurses Day. Don't forget to tell our nurse that you appreciate what she does for us."

All day long the kids were stopping me in the hall or dropping by the clinic to say "We Peacie-ate you, Nurse Stephanie!"

It is so wonderful to be Peacie-ated! :)