Stupid teachers/principals (vent)!!!

Specialties School

Published

I'm so frustrated and upset right now! Lunchtime was busy and crazy as usual and I heard one of the office staff say I'm grabbing a bag of ice for a student as she reached in the freezer and took one. I figured it was probably something minor since we know how teachers are.

About 30 min later the teacher brings this student in and says he won't quit crying so I thought I'd bring him in for you to check and you can maybe calm him down because he always cries over everything but I think he's fine. The principal was standing right there and jumps in front of me and starts talking to the kid and teacher.

The teacher says he can move his arm and proceeds to twist his arm all around and the kid grabs it away and starts crying harder and says it really hurts then the principal asks him to move his fingers and lift his arm, etc so I jump in and do a quick assessment and can tell within 5 sec of just looking and feeling lightly with my hand it's probably broken.

I say it needs checked now and he needs to hold it still. The principal says well go ahead and call mom if you want and she can decide if she needs to take him to the dr. What?

Hello-does my opinion mean nothing??? So I call mom and say please come pick your son up-he's been hurt and needs checked-it may be broke. Then the principal asks what mom decided to do so I told her I recommended it be checked and she's taking him to the Dr so she says call and see if it's broken. I said they haven't been gone long enough to know anything-I'll call in a little while. Then she asked me two more times again to call mom so I went ahead so she would quit bugging me and the mom says they haven't taken him to x-ray yet but they think it's probably broke and I'll call and let you know when I find something out if school is still in.

The principal then says well give me her phone number so I can call before school is out (which was in less than a half an hour away.) Hello-I told you it was too soon but maybe being the principal they'll hurry up and find out for you! Uggh !!! Yet, no one hesitated to send down kids with sunburns, a smashed finger from a week ago, a kid whose stomach hurt while running, etc. I just needed to get that off my chest. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone.

Why constantly request a nurse at your school if you're not going to let us do our job in peace!!! I'm so glad this school year is almost up!

Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

It sounds like your principal is a serious micro-manager....but seriously unqualified in the arena of medical issues. I have had to take issue with a couple of my principals in the past, but nothing quite like your situation. Do you have any other School Nurses in your district? A united front often is the best when it comes to pointing out what the School Nurse's role is, and what the Principals role is....and where the two roles should....and should NOT intertwine. You are the medical professional...and you deserve to be treated as such. Your medical expertise is what each and every parent that has a child there relies on, to ensure their kids are safe....your principal needs a serious pow-wow about that....and the office staff needs to be instructed on the simple fact that any injured students should be seen by you, regardless how minor or harmless THEY think it might be. Unbelievable!!!!!!

Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

jenhenRN,

You are quite charitable in your opinion of the principal compared to my thoughts :) Sounds to me like he knows that he and the teacher both screwed up by downpaying the child's injury, which Nurse ABC quickly and accurately assessed. I think he is now trying to gain some capital by appearing terribly concerned to the child's parents and healthcare providers. It saddens me to type this, but I even wonder if he plans to indicate to them that he thought that Nurse ABC should have called them sooner.....I hope I'm wrong.

I don't think that his behavior indicates a management type so much as a character defect.

i have to deal with the same exact type things where i work. teachers bring kids in for bug bits, scabs, phantom stomach aches, and things they want "documented." when something really serious happens they "FORGET" or thought he "looked alright." my question is the same as yours...why does my school have me as a nurse if they are not going to utilize my services correctly??? INCREDIBLY FRUSTURATING!!!! no wonder i am looking to get out of school nursing!

Specializes in none.

That's why your the Nurse and they are not. Head banging! Come on you know you want to do it.

Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

I wonder if those teachers and principals are concerned about a parent filing a lawsuit (and the teacher being disciplined or losing their job) if the parents find out that their child was seriously injured while under the supervision of the school? Could that be the reason why they are hesitant to send children with more serious injuries? Because they know it will be documented and the parent will be called and informed about what happened?

Specializes in School Nursing.

It probably goes without saying, OP, but document the heck out of this incident. Every. Single. Detail.

As a teacher-but-soon-to-be-nursing-student, I would like to first say that I think we have a very good relationship with our school nurse. She is wonderful!

As to the conundrum of why a teacher sends the kids with sunburn but not the ones with serious issues, let me offer this for understanding purposes. This doesn't excuse anything, but possibly explain...

Every teacher knows that there are certain children who apparently give Jesus a run for his money, or at least the parents think so. They never do ANYTHING wrong! Anything they do must have been a misunderstanding. The have low grades because I didn't grade correctly. And, of course, their constitutions are so weak that they might very well fall over and die for any reason if they aren't constantly coddled. Those students I would send to the nurse for a chipped nail because I know that if it isn't documented that I did something, these parents will raise a huge stink and do everything in their power to have my license taken. And with the crazy system, you never know whether or not they will win!!

Now, there are other students who are hurt every second. And man is it the worst when they are supposed to be doing homework. (Somehow four square is the magic cure, though. Who knew?) If this kid suddenly started complaining about his hurt arm, I might be sceptical. Now that shouldn't excuse me disregarding it, but he has cried wolf so much, it's just hard to believe.

I agree with the person who said that it was obvious the principal know he had screwed up by making light of it. He should have been a big enough person to apologize instead of trying to make up for his lack of concern by being overly concerned.

One word......Document

Specializes in ER.

Agree with Ashely, picu rn. The principal knew she done wrong by that kid. The guilt was killing her. As the mother of a drama king/ big time cry baby, I know how easy it easy to just sigh the next time he starts crying but as nurse, I also know every injury needs assessment. I admire school nurses. Seems to pioneering to be the only licensed provider in the building with a huge diverse population to care for.

Modern parents are GOOFY! I always went to the school RN, if I was sick, honestly, about once a year. If I would have been a cry/whiny baby in school, my RN mom would have had a talk with me. In my school, the Nurse was the one to make medical judgements, the school and teachers wanted to avoid those issues.

Specializes in ICU.
jenhenRN,

You are quite charitable in your opinion of the principal compared to my thoughts :) Sounds to me like he knows that he and the teacher both screwed up by downpaying the child's injury, which Nurse ABC quickly and accurately assessed. I think he is now trying to gain some capital by appearing terribly concerned to the child's parents and healthcare providers. It saddens me to type this, but I even wonder if he plans to indicate to them that he thought that Nurse ABC should have called them sooner.....I hope I'm wrong.

I don't think that his behavior indicates a management type so much as a character defect.

I think your spot on. Poor kid.

+ Add a Comment