Composed of 17 campuses and spanning from preschool through 12th grade and adult education, the Portland Public Schools are home to a large and diverse student population. Tina Veilleux is the School Nurse Coordinator for the district, overseeing the nurses in each school in addition to a variety of other roles. I had the opportunity … [Read more…]
From the moment I walked into the health office of Pond Cove Elementary School in Cape Elizabeth, nurse Erin Taylor knew it was going to be a busy day. A number of teachers were out sick, and, as Erin forewarned me, this always meant more students would be visiting her office with stomach pain, headaches, … [Read more…]
An unexpected but integral part of this independent study has been the opportunity to connect with and observe the work of the Maine Department of Education’s School Health Services Team. Initially, I had no idea that this team even existed, yet it has become increasingly clear to me the important role they play in supporting … [Read more…]
One of the most difficult aspects of nursing school is the occasional sense of disconnect between classroom learning and real life. Oftentimes, on exams, we are asked what we would do or say in a given scenario, yet it is challenging to ascertain what actions we would actually take when faced with the situation in … [Read more…]
Final ePortfolio Reflection Prompt: Reflect on what you learned from this project and how you will apply this in your future nursing practice. Think about your audience, which could be a potential employer in your first nursing position. What would you want them to know about your capacity to contribute to quality improvement and evidence-based … [Read more…]
Having worked as a CNA in memory care for a handful of years, collaboration is not a new skill for me. After all, teamwork is present everywhere in this field, be it in the form of discussing updates to a resident’s care plan with the nurse or assisting another CNA to transfer a patient. Yet … [Read more…]
Course Description: This course explores theoretical frameworks that inform the mental health nursing care of individuals, families, and communities of diverse cultures and backgrounds across the continuum of care. Emphasis is placed on the development and implementation of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary when providing nursing care to those with acute and chronic mental illness … [Read more…]
Growing up with family members in law enforcement (and as an avid reader of crime novels), I have always had an interest in forensics, but little knowledge of how it could be applied to the nursing profession. As a first year nursing student, our class had a presentation from another forensic nurse, which first opened … [Read more…]
I found the process of completing a medication reconciliation to be extremely interesting, especially since it was on a close family member. It felt like a deep dive into an often very personal aspect of someone’s life, and I was grateful that my relative was willing to be so open and answer my many questions. … [Read more…]
As nurses and healthcare professionals in today’s increasingly fast-paced, interconnected world, it is not enough to just be well-versed in the latest medical advancements and treatments. Instead, nurses must be aware of the unique issues and challenges in the communities they serve, recognizing and addressing risks to impaired health and potential disparities. Here in Maine, … [Read more…]
