A bad week

MomNRN, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2005

I love my job, but this week was horrible. To make a long story short, we had a girl with spina bifida and needs to be cath every 4 hours. Are curtains are too short, so privacy would be out the window, and no, I can't lock the clinic either as I found out when we had another kid who need my immediate attention (went to the ER for 15 stitches around the periorbital area) The clinic became a mad house with teachers, administrators, police officers, etc. The next best solution was a diaper changing unit for our profound students. Here is my grip which I have encountered with 3 different teachers on different occasions. They are telling me how to do my job. For example on Tues, the special adaptive teacher would not listen to me as I repeated to her, "No we can't use lotion on her (our spina bifida kid) bottom. She has a skin breakdown between her inner thighs bilaterally, and no, we can't use powder on her either. She is at high risk for infection." She already has dark yellow, cloudy urine (which I already reported to the MD). Anyway, it's just frustrating. How do you handle know-it-all teachers?

I had a teacher attempt to give me "advice" on a lice situation. The discussion did become very heated. At the end I told her "I don't go in to your classroom and tell you how to teach, so please don't come into my office and tell me how to nurse."

Granted, this was one of our bossier teachers who was trying to pull rank on me and insist we change a procedure to suit her.

It can be trying! Good luck!

DDRN4me · Jan 25, 2005

:angryfire ONe of the few things i dislike about my job...I usually start with thanking them for their "help" and then doing what i need to do..if they persist to "advise me":banghead: then i get really clinical and give them an explanation for my actions that they probably dont understand..and if they persist i "kill them with kindness" and then tell them how much I appreciate them trying to help, but sont they have a class to teach??? Usually by then they are mad at me and stomp off, leaving me to do my job the way I need to!:)

DDRN4me · Jan 25, 2005

:angryfire ONe of the few things i dislike about my job...I usually start with thanking them for their "help" and then doing what i need to do..if they persist to "advise me":banghead: then i get really clinical and give them an explanation for my actions that they probably dont understand..and if they persist i "kill them with kindness" and then tell them how much I appreciate them trying to help, but sont they have a class to teach??? Usually by then they are mad at me and stomp off, leaving me to do my job the way I need to!:)

kidluvinRN · Jan 25, 2005

Last week was the longest short week I have ever had! Something must have been "in the air".

So, is the cath something that you do regularly with this student? If so it would seem appropriate to use the private bathroom facility and close your office briefly at that time. What emergency procedures do they use when you aren't there?!? This student needs privacy; that must be accomodated.

kidluvinRN · Jan 25, 2005

Last week was the longest short week I have ever had! Something must have been "in the air".

So, is the cath something that you do regularly with this student? If so it would seem appropriate to use the private bathroom facility and close your office briefly at that time. What emergency procedures do they use when you aren't there?!? This student needs privacy; that must be accomodated.

lindymarie · Jan 25, 2005

I love my job, but this week was horrible. To make a long story short, we had a girl with spina bifida and needs to be cath every 4 hours. Are curtains are too short, so privacy would be out the window, and no, I can't lock the clinic either as I found out when we had another kid who need my immediate attention (went to the ER for 15 stitches around the periorbital area) The clinic became a mad house with teachers, administrators, police officers, etc. The next best solution was a diaper changing unit for our profound students. Here is my grip which I have encountered with 3 different teachers on different occasions. They are telling me how to do my job. For example on Tues, the special adaptive teacher would not listen to me as I repeated to her, "No we can't use lotion on her (our spina bifida kid) bottom. She has a skin breakdown between her inner thighs bilaterally, and no, we can't use powder on her either. She is at high risk for infection." She already has dark yellow, cloudy urine (which I already reported to the MD). Anyway, it's just frustrating. How do you handle know-it-all teachers?

Maybe you need to get a little sign for your clinic door that says: I won't come in your classroom and teach if you won't come in my clinic and do nursing. (lol) I'm sorry you've had such a tough week. It sounds like you are a very special person.

lindymarie · Jan 25, 2005

I love my job, but this week was horrible. To make a long story short, we had a girl with spina bifida and needs to be cath every 4 hours. Are curtains are too short, so privacy would be out the window, and no, I can't lock the clinic either as I found out when we had another kid who need my immediate attention (went to the ER for 15 stitches around the periorbital area) The clinic became a mad house with teachers, administrators, police officers, etc. The next best solution was a diaper changing unit for our profound students. Here is my grip which I have encountered with 3 different teachers on different occasions. They are telling me how to do my job. For example on Tues, the special adaptive teacher would not listen to me as I repeated to her, "No we can't use lotion on her (our spina bifida kid) bottom. She has a skin breakdown between her inner thighs bilaterally, and no, we can't use powder on her either. She is at high risk for infection." She already has dark yellow, cloudy urine (which I already reported to the MD). Anyway, it's just frustrating. How do you handle know-it-all teachers?

Maybe you need to get a little sign for your clinic door that says: I won't come in your classroom and teach if you won't come in my clinic and do nursing. (lol) I'm sorry you've had such a tough week. It sounds like you are a very special person.

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Jan 25, 2005

Hello All,

I am new here, and excited to be part of a great nursing message boards site :)

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Jan 25, 2005

Hello All,

I am new here, and excited to be part of a great nursing message boards site :)

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Jan 25, 2005

Hey School Nurses,

Yes our jobs can be very rewarding, yet so darn frustrating at times !

I do elementary school. 750 students and roughly 100 staff members. There is only one of ME ! They all want whatever it is they want, and they all want it NOW ! Whoa.....give me a break. I am only ONE ! After 13 years of school nursing I have come to the reality that I will just do my best and try to keep them all happy, but....if I cannot....well at least I tried ! Lets all step back,,,,take a deep breath.... start over ! I am thankful that the Lord only gives me what He know's I can handle each day ! Great sharing with you all !

LPN 90

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Jan 25, 2005

Hey School Nurses,

Yes our jobs can be very rewarding, yet so darn frustrating at times !

I do elementary school. 750 students and roughly 100 staff members. There is only one of ME ! They all want whatever it is they want, and they all want it NOW ! Whoa.....give me a break. I am only ONE ! After 13 years of school nursing I have come to the reality that I will just do my best and try to keep them all happy, but....if I cannot....well at least I tried ! Lets all step back,,,,take a deep breath.... start over ! I am thankful that the Lord only gives me what He know's I can handle each day ! Great sharing with you all !

LPN 90