I feel like I'm losing.

Specialties School

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  • by Amethya
    Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

It feels like no matter what I do, is wrong. I been getting complaints from parents becaus I failed to call them on incidents, but I did call them. One of them was because the student was playing a kicking each other game and ended up getting kicked in the groin and I called but mom never answered, so I called grandmother. She stated I never called her when I did. The other one was ina post I put because her daughter got a fever at the end of the day and I didn't catch it. Each of these incidents were reported to my admin and I'm getting in trouble for it and I'm trying hard to please them and do my job right but I'm not sure how anymore. I'm literally feeling like I'm not cut out for my job anymore because of this and scared I'll get fired because of all the complaints I getting. I don't know what to do and I'm even scared to call parents because what ever I say will get me in trouble anyway.

amoLucia

7,736 Posts

Specializes in retired LTC.

(((Amethya)))

You just seem to keep getting beat up and beat up and beat up.

I'm not sure. Are you a licensed nurse or not? I think I've read you're CMA.

I sense that you're being asked to practice beyond your level of preparation. Really check out your job description. Maybe you need to remind others that you're NOT at the NURSE level. It's one thing that they perceive you as having strong qualities, but you sound like being out of your comfort zone, educationally and experientially.

Check out that job description. And don't let them keep giving you chunks of responsibilities that are too big for you to chew. I think that's the problem.

Just my observation. Good luck.

Flare, ASN, BSN

4,431 Posts

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Piggybacking on amoLucia's comment, what is the care structure in your school? Is there an RN / LPN that is ultimately calling the shots?

Beyond that, document document, document!! I make a note in my charting about contacting the parent. If they come by and still gripe because they didn't answer, then I not only have it in my charting, but we have the type of phones that keep a call log. I can only recall one time that I had a parent challenge me and run to admin. I simply showed my charting (which was enough for my admin) but also backed it up with the outgoing call log showing I called that parent's number at the time I said. If you don't have that type of phone, document time called and no answer or left message or whatever happened. if your paperwork is consistent with doing that it will give your word that you called more weight.

Farawyn

12,646 Posts

What Flare said.

Who is the nurse you report to?

Go to lunch. Talk to her/him about your role, what are your limits, etc.

That being said, you must call the parents back, and the call log is a great idea.

Best of luck, A.

Amethya

1,821 Posts

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I'm honestly all by myself. I'm only a CMA, but that doesn't stop me from doing my job. The problem I'm having is that they want me to call for everything, and some of the calls are not in my job description. We have 3 APs, one is for the students, when ever there's discipline issues or behavioral, she handles it. But that the same time she's in charge of me in a way, and anything that parents are complaining about they tell her, recently were these students and she said that some parents are complaining about me not calling them (Not true, I have it documented I called them) or that I tell them it's her responsibility to take care of it, because I get some kids that are discipline wise and no injuries, but they plop them in my office. That's not my responsibility to call for behavioral things, but I do I need to call parents? That's what I'm getting confused on, because other students I do call for, especially for everything, but things like that? If there's fights and all, she said to just email her the situation and make them write incident reports and that she'll call parents and issue discipline, but the other things? That's what I'm confused on that.

Flare, ASN, BSN

4,431 Posts

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Are you in a public school? I was under the impression that TX requires at minimum an RN for a school. I know that some schools skirt that requirement by employing a "head nurse". Surely one of the TX school nurses will know more than this Yankee, though! ;)

Amethya

1,821 Posts

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Are you in a public school? I was under the impression that TX requires at minimum an RN for a school. I know that some schools skirt that requirement by employing a "head nurse". Surely one of the TX school nurses will know more than this Yankee, though! ;)
I'm in a charter school, so they kinda try to skim on that. There is a school health manager that we can call and ask questions to about things, but I tend to try to not call her because she tends to get angry on me because I'm suppose to know what to do at this point and asking her now would look bad.

Farawyn

12,646 Posts

We need OD.

MHDNURSE

701 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

At this point I would schedule a meeting with the administration and ask for clarification of exactly what types of incidents you are supposed to call parents about and give them examples like you did for us and ask why you are still getting complaints. It sounds like a breakdown in communication somewhere. You need to meet and make sure moving forward that everyone is on the same page. And from now on, call every single time and document the time you called and the number you called. If you leave a paper trail, they have nothing to stand on.

OldDude

1 Article; 4,787 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Texas Education Code doesn't require public schools to have a school nurse. If they do employ a school nurse the person has to be a RN to hold that title and they are considered an educator and in alignment with the teacher salary scale, etc.. A a school nurse (RN) takes on the responsibility of student health. If a Texas public school hires anyone other than a RN to tend to student health they can't "legally" refer to that person as a school nurse and the campus principal is responsible for student health.

Some districts hire a RN and several LVNs/CMAs. The RN takes on responsibility for the LVN/CMA actions but those guys can't legally be referred to as school nurses...just the RN; according the the Texas Education Code.

Farawyn

12,646 Posts

I'll bet everyone refers to them as The Nurse, though.

PROBLEM!

Amethya

1,821 Posts

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
At this point I would schedule a meeting with the administration and ask for clarification of exactly what types of incidents you are supposed to call parents about and give them examples like you did for us and ask why you are still getting complaints. It sounds like a breakdown in communication somewhere. You need to meet and make sure moving forward that everyone is on the same page. And from now on, call every single time and document the time you called and the number you called. If you leave a paper trail, they have nothing to stand on.
That's what the admin said to me, she said I'm not in trouble or anything, so I need to stop to thinking of it as if I am. That we just need to work together and I shouldn't feel bad to ask questions because this is my first year as a nurse and I just need practice.
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