Expectations of Principal

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I recently accepted a school nurse position with a large urban school district -my 1st school nurse job. My last interview during the hiring process was with the principal of the school. I liked her personality and demeanor and she was very specific in her expectations of my role in her school. One of the things she focused on was that she needed me to help cover the front desk on a regular basis. Answer phones, buzz visitors in etc. She said specifically that I would be needed to help cover the front desk and work with the aide to work out a schedule so that it is always covered. I don't mind helping out but it almost seems to me she sees the nurse as a clerical person who can hand out meds. Being a new school nurse with no experience I have decided to go in with an open mind and see how it goes. I would think that the nursing duties would not leave much free time for coverage of front desk duties. I would like to hear opinions from those of you with experience.

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I'm in a small school and when the sec goes to lunch or has to be away from the desk she transfers the phone to my office. Most of the time it is no problem. On the occasions that I am busy with sick ones there are others close by that can grab the phone or buzz someone in the building. If I was in one of the larger schools this just would not work out at all but here we are a team. The staff here is great, the principal has even stepped in to help out in my clinic!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

This sounds all well and good, but who are you when you are called to the playground, because a student fell off the monkey bars and needs immediate first aid care ? Then do you abandon the front office, because you are covering them at this time. I don't like the sound of this. You are THE NURSE, not the secretary or the office aide. I would RUN......from this job. It's great when you are all a TEAM, but you are held to a higher standard with regards to the health and welfare of the students during the school day. You have a license to protect too. Hope you can get this worked out. :cautious:

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I am at an Elementary school with 800+ kids - there would be no way for me to do that. Once lunches & recess start (9:45a - 1:30p) I have a steady stream of kids coming in/out. In my school I am part of the office team but I am not required to cover them for lunches or breaks - we have a front desk receptionist, principal secretary and a data clerk - the 3 of them work out covering the front desk during lunch/absences.

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Being that you said it's a large school I can't imagine how this would work. I am asked to do all sorts of stuff but I am in a very small school so we make it work. Make sure there's a back up plan for if you have an emergency you need to handle.

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Specializes in Peids.

Like Praise said...RUN...It may start out that you are working the front for 30mins but before you know it that will lead to you helping with paper work and working more and more in the front. Then if something happens to a child and you are away from the nurses office... its your license, not that admins. You will take the fall for being away. Ask for a copy of your districts job details to know what you can and cannot do per district. keep a copy of that on you and in your office. That way if you are asked to do something different you can fall back on it. But remember you answer to your school admin, school district and your board of nursing. Only one of them can and will take you license away from you. This is an area of nursing where its hard to please two things at once sometimes. But I am sure that you did not work your butt off in school to have it taking away. The school admins love to say that its a team work thing. That's great as long as your not a nurse. My admin know that I will not work anywhere outside of my office. I have put my foot down from day one. I did tell them way and they understood it then. Just be carful.

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Absolutely not.

I am the nurse in a small school district which has 11 campuses and there is no way I would answer the phone for the school secretary. There is a paraprofessional in the office and they take turns with breaks.

Just say no! As others have mentioned, what about a school emergency?

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