Teacher Contract?

[ASandRN]

So I just started this job 2 weeks ago... I am the district nurse.

I oversee 5 schools and 4 LPNs. It is a BIG job and a lot of responsibility.

The hiring committee had me sign a teacher contract - which didn't seem fitting for my position, but I wasn't going to argue at that point.

But now as I am starting the job and living the reality of what is all entailed... I think I should be on an Administration contract... not only for the pay (as right now I am making what a first year teacher does)... but to reflect the responsibility and fully fit the position.

The district has had a lot of turnover in this position and now I can see why... if I were fully money focused I could easily see that I could make more working part-time as an RN in another facility. I can't complain I love the hours and school year timeline... but I think my contract should still be changed.

The school board votes to accept my contract in 2 weeks. Do you think it is worth a try to change my contract? I could bring it up to our new Superintendent (I think he would at least hear me out... he is new and really great)... What do you think?

Any advice? suggestions? been in a similar situation?

[tencat]

Usually the best they can do for nurses is a teacher pay scale. School districts don't see nurses as administration, though in your case I think they should as you are responsible for so much. It might be worth a try to see if they would be open to that possibility, but with money as tight as it is now, I'd be fairly certain they will say "Um....No."

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Personally, I do not see my position as administrative, even though a lot of what I do is administrative in nature. I see my position as a support services to the teachers. I think that by asking to elevate yourself above the teachers in pay and status, when the main goal of the organization is education, not healthcare, you are asking for trouble and there may be a lot of resentment about your request. I am really not trying to be ugly, but just to share what seems to be a common attitude in the world of education and how others might perceive your request.

[bergren]

There is a school nurse administrators listserv with NASN - http://www.nasn.org

I think this would be a good question for that group. I do think that going to HR now and asking for the definition of an administrator role and then a justification of why this one is not would be reasonable.

[Allie911]

They couldn't figure out where to put me when I started here either. I was told that it would be best if I did not have a contract! So I have no contract! They didn't want to put me on the teacher's contract because I don't fit well there, and there was no mention of an administrator contract. I've wondered how smart it is to work without a contract, they have just had a school nurse in this district for 4 years and I am the 4th nurse, there are a few bugs that need worked out )

Good luck, hope you can get an administrator contract. Let me know if you do, because maybe I need to be talking to the school board too.

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

If you get a teacher's contract, you are one of the lucky ones. Unless you are responsible for the evaluations of the Lpn's you oversee, you are probably not "administrator" category. It is also likely to cause a lot of unrest if you get an admin contract and work with the teachers.

[geocachingRN]

On a teachers contract, you can provide proof of your years of experience and education to bump you up the column and steps. Same on Administration. But to be on that path requires even more education in CA. Between the School Nurse credential (4 yrs, part-time). Preliminary Admin Credential (4 yrs part-time) Full Credential program (another 4 yrs part-time). I would never recoop the cost let alone finish before I retire!