Do you get recognized at Christmas with a special card or gift...?

[Nurse ABC]

from other staff or parents? Yeah me neither! One school they collected money for the secretary and principal to give nice gift cards (over $100 each) and the other school they gave special cards to the secretary, principal, custodians, and the cooks but did I get one? No of course not. Why would I? I did get a couple Christmas cards from some staff that hands them out to everyone so at least I was included in that.They make a big deal of Secretary and Bosses Day but half the time no one even mentions Nurse's Day. Teachers get all kinds of presents. However, the nurse better be available to give up her lunch for a puker or babysitting a lice infested kid any day, not to mention keeping kids alive. I feel like we get dumped on so much, offer a service no one else in the school can, and make the day easier for everyone else but don't get recognized for any of it. I don't need a special card or gift-just a plain "thank you for what you do" would suffice maybe just once the entire year!

So to all of you fellow school nurses "THANK YOU for all you do (and I know how much that is!) because it DOES make a difference for the betterment of the kids which is what is MOST important! I wish you all a wonderful break and hope you enjoy the time off with your loved ones! I know I will!

[abc123RN]

I am so blessed where I am right now, as a long term sub at a fantastic school!! Just about everyone on staff here has done something for me. I wish every school was like this one so everyone here would be treated as special as the nurses in our county.

[SchoolNurseTXstyle]

I am at a great school now that includes me on things and even does something special on school nurse day. However, I have been in schools where I never got anything and it just made me really mad. Everyone deserves a pat on the back! Hang in there!

[Stitchy's mom]

The teachers (for the most part), kids (for the most part) and parents (for the most part) are super where I am. Administration...not so much. I'm probably only going to get a "We'll miss you." on Friday (my last day). But that's okay, I'm going to be able to stay home and be there when my kids need me. And honestly, they'll always need mommy, no matter how old they get. I think that the saying "You don't know what you've got till it's gone." applies here. Grandmom would say that "it's okay, your halo will be a tiny bit shinier."

[bsyrn, ASN, RN]

Nurse ABC...I can do you one better....I actually have to collect for the secretaries kitchen and cleaning staff, then hand out their gifts. Its comical actually but this is a great place to work so I don't mind. I exchange with a few of the people here. Merry Christmas to everyone

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

some are better than others at thinking about me here- nothing gets done on a group scale which is okay - there does seem to be a group collection that goes around -if it makes it's way to my office i'll contribute, but i don't go out of my way to find it (as honestly i can't - i just can't get out of the office). My boss gets me a small gift, i get him one back, i exchange small gifts with some of the secretaries and one teacher that i've become friendly with. I will occasionally get a gift from a student that i see on a regular basis (like a diabetic or one of my daily med kids) but that's about it. I'm fine with all that. I don't need gifts to be happy. A quiet office is enough for me :)

[AdobeRN]

I am fortunate - I work at a great school. I am lumped in with the office staff and they include me in on everything - I do not feel left out. There are several families that think of me & appreciate what I do - on holidays they send cookies, gift cards etc, which is very thoughtful of them. During nurses week the teachers of each grade level will collect supplies for my office - bandaids, soap, cotton balls, qtips, kleenex, wipes etc - I ususally get enough supplies to last me thru to the next years Nurses week - I rarely need to spend my limited budget money on these items.

The only time I feel kindof left out of things is when we have special luncheons for the staff - I never get to sit in the lounge and just enjoy a 20 minutes lunch with the other staff members. I end up just making a plate and eating at my desk in between treating kiddos.

[AdobeRN]

I am fortunate - I work at a great school. I am lumped in with the office staff and they include me in on everything - I do not feel left out. There are several families that think of me & appreciate what I do - on holidays they send cookies, gift cards etc, which is very thoughtful of them. During nurses week the teachers of each grade level will collect supplies for my office - bandaids, soap, cotton balls, qtips, kleenex, wipes etc - I ususally get enough supplies to last me thru to the next years Nurses week - I rarely need to spend my limited budget money on these items.

The only time I feel kindof left out of things is when we have special luncheons for the staff - I never get to sit in the lounge and just enjoy a 20 minutes lunch with the other staff members. I end up just making a plate and eating at my desk in between treating kiddos.

[bell1962]

Nope. Turnover here is very great. The few people I used to be "friends" with no longer work here. The boss does nothing special for us. Everyone is extremely busy and there is no time for the little things that really make a difference, except maybe in the individual classrooms, that I am not a part of. We have a "holiday" party at a bar after school today, everyone pays their own way(which includes snacks) and the young people ( mostly TA's) hang out after and drink. Nothing during school. everyone is too busy and that is unfortunate....it's not like it use to be.

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

So far, no. I get a lot of Thank You's as needed, but nothing special. There's a holiday pot-luck at one school and the other school Admin staff brought treats (yay for early morning high blood sugars!!!). For Nurse's week my the District staff brought me this lovely nurse doll in the traditional white uniform and it moves and makes music. She's so lovely! Plus a plant and a gift card to a local restaurant. It was also during Teacher's Week so I got to get in on the free food too Also, plus it's Finals today and tomorrow so my mini-Thank you is that there will probably be no visitors, unless exhaustion from stress or a student passes out again.

[Tina, RN]

Nothing special for me, either. But, then again, I also don't even rate a card or a mention for nurses' week... I have never felt so utterly needed and so utterly disregarded at the same time, as I have at this job. LOL

[SchoolNurseIrina]

Our Supervisor got us each a Poinsettia this year. Then we got the obligatory christmas cards from the superintendent and from a staff member. It's my second year so things are better. Last year we each got a lily plant when we were group with secretary's day. It's all fun.