Working As a Nurse in College Health Services

There comes a time when the hospitalthe condition, the nurse will treat the student
environment becomes unbearably depressing thataccording to the guidelines. Depending on the
you feel you need a change of scene. If youprotocol and whether certain criteria are met, the
want to work in a more 'vibrant' atmosphere (anurse can administer antibiotics and other
bit of a paradox when it comes to healthcare)non-narcotic medications. If the student has
you may want to consider working in collegespecial concerns or a critical condition, the nurse
health services. The university or college settingwill typically call and consult the physician to get an
can be a breath of fresh air, just what you needassessment whether the student should be seen
to recharge yourself.in the physician's office, sent to the emergency
Varied forms of college health servicesroom or be treated there at the health services.
Depending on the size of the university or collegeDepending on the school's population, a nurse can
institution, college health services today are varied.see an average of 10 to 30 students with various
The larger colleges will have a more extensivemedical concerns daily. Common complaints that
facility, usually directed by a physician, and havestudents have are usually injuries such as strains,
an available staff 24 hours a day so that studentsprains, lacerations, as well as upper respiratory
patients can stay-in overnight for observation.infections, urinary tract infections, food poisoning,
Smaller colleges are typically directed by a headmigraines, and so on. Besides students, nurses will
nurse and a physician only comes to the campusalso provide healthcare to staff and faculty.
for a few hours every week. The smaller collegeMedical services provided in college healthcare
health services are usually open for five days aAs mentioned above, different institutions have
week, closed during weekends and do not providedifferent scopes of medical services, and the
services after-hours or in the late evening. If everextensiveness of these can depend on the size
there is a medical problem after clinic hours, theand budget of the institution. Besides basic
student is referred to a resident assistant whocheck-up and assessments, services can also
follows a protocol of having the student be seeninclude health screenings, drug tests, allergy shots,
by a physician or sent to the emergency room inurine pregnancy tests, immunizations, and
a nearby hospital.laboratory tests and services. Most college health
Typical day for nurses in a college health serviceservices also have affiliations with local hospitals
settingproviding counseling and educational health
On a typical day, nurses assigned in college healthprograms. Some universities or colleges may also
services will assess a student with a health-relatedhave their own hospital or an extensive medical
complaint and make a diagnosis. The nurse followsfacility and the latest technological equipments,
protocols written out by the school's physician inparticularly if they specialize in offering medical
making a diagnosis. Depending on the severity ofeducation or courses.