Nursing services

[Guest guest]

Hello,

Just wanted to make a few comments about the home nursing and school

nursing talk.

had a trach from birth until the age of 4. Because of the trach, we

weren't allowed to leave the hospital until we had nursing services set

up. I remember coming home from the hospital and the nurse was pulling up

my driveway at the same time. Bizarre. A very personal moment of my life

had to be shared with a complete stranger. But she is considered family to

us now. She and I still continue to talk to this day....but I've had my

share of losers also. One nurse ate me out of house and home. Another

nurse tried to take over as the role of mom (or so she thought). My sister

and friend lived in my house with me so somebody was always home, watching

what they were doing. But if I didn't like what they were doing, I told

them immediately. If that didn't solve the problem, I called the agency

and the manager would take care of it. " s " was a popular name

at that agency and many nurses wanted the case because he was such a good

baby and so easy to care for. Two of the nurses talked me into making them

full time on my case so I was truly blessed with good help. One worked

M-W-F and the other one worked T-TH-Sat.

When went to school, his nurse went to school with him. The bus

would pick them up and drop them off. It also needed to be written into

his IEP that the school provide a nurse because needed to be tube

fed. Although had his own nurse, I still wanted back up. It was

pretty easy for me to demand that because we live in a big city and there

were also other kids there that needed services.

When got his trach removed, the nursing agency gave me a four week

notice. The state would only pay for four more weeks of services to help

transition from having a full time nurse (7-3PM) to no nurse at all. I

still remember being in shock and so worried about things.....the nurses

did all of my ordering of medical supplies, was my voice to teachers and

therapists while I was at work, informed me of special things had

accomplished, ect. But honestly, and I did just fine without them

too. (I have 's teacher's home phone number and school number on

speed dial....just in case is getting so much better with his

speech and I am glad that he doesn't have nurses because he got sooo

independent afterwards. We weren't sure if it was because the trach was

gone or there was nobody there to baby him. I know I've said it before and

heard it before, our little CHARGERS are just the most popular and outgoing

kids in the school. It's amazing!! I picked up from school early

yesterday and everybody we passed in the hall said hi to . The

school nurses can be too picky at times (the doctor wrote an order for

to drink water out of a tippy cup and the nurse saw his teacher let

get a drink out of the bubbler and yelled at the teacher) but I know

they are just following orders. Teacher calls me, I call the nurse and

tell her to lighten up. It's rather funny at times and she scolds me too

but it's all done in fun!! She thinks the teacher and I are in cahoots

For only a few comments, this is too long....sorry.

Have a great weekend all!!

Nicol mom to 7 CHARGE and Jordan 3