New year, new worries

Specialties School

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Greetings to another school year. I wasn't sure I would be back, but here I am. I hear the 2nd year is quite a bit better than the 1st. Did you all find this to be true? I just have so many issues last year with an asthma related death (not at school), anaphylaxis, intoxicated student, EMS called 5x!!!

Now I find myself constantly worried about an emergency. I wasn't this bad last year. But I just feel so liable this year and worried about what is next. Is this normal? I've gotten used to the hours M-F and I like going in at 8am instead of 6am in the hospital, but I feel stressed even more about being the only medical person. Anyway...any tips or words from you wise ones appreciated!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I think everyone puts on a little cloak of anxiety when they walk into school; especially after you get enough experience to realize you are it, no nurses to call, no charge nurse, no doctors, no code team, no nothin. But as we know, worrying about what you may encounter isn't going to change the course of your day. You have enough experience and assessment skills to identify and intervene in an emergency - in the capacity of a school nurse - not in the capacity of a fully stocked ambulance and team of paramedics. You keep em alive until advanced life support takes then for medical care. So channel that energy on reviewing your emergency life support interventions and convincing yourself of your readiness; not on fretting about what you may encounter today.

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Holken 99 I felt the exact same way my second year. Lots of anxiety that I never had in the OR. After having a few years under my belt I still feel vulnerable at times. Mostly because on top of the stress of doing your job, nurses are never informed of important info yet the first to blame if something were to happen. Not sure its worth having summers off for the responsibility at times. However, all you can do is prepare for a situation and hope it never happens. I'm not so sure this is reassuring to you though. All I can say is that I understand and over time you may feel more comfortable.

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Mostly because on top of the stress of doing your job, nurses are never informed of important info yet the first to blame if something were to happen.

Amen!

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Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

It does get better with experience. You will become more comfortable handling emergencies. It is hard to be the only medical person in the building but if you have a good network of school nurses in your district to bounce things off of you will be fine!

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I was just looking back at this and wondering how you are feeling now that the school year is almost finished?

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