We've all been venting

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

... and I am no exception.

I have been mentioning we have a new principal who I am not crazy about in a few threads and yesterday it all came to a boiling point.

I haven't seen or spoken to the principal in over 2 weeks. Honestly, have not laid eyes on the man. He is rarely in his office and I haven't needed anything from him so I haven't been seeking him out. Trust me, I am not shy about asking for help when I need it.

Yesterday I got an e-mail, CC'd to my nursing supervisor, requesting a meeting with me to discuss "some concerns" he has. Among them

1) Why haven't I been filing more risk management accident reports (Um, because we haven't been having accidents. This is a good thing)

2) Why haven't I been "periodically touching base" with him regarding "common school illnesses" I've been seeing. (First of all, I was never informed I was required to tell the principal about every detail of my job and second of all, I hardly think the principal needs to know that I have been seeing a lot of colds. It's November. Colds happen)

There were a few other things but those were the basics. I met with him yesterday afternoon and here is what we discussed. He was asking why I have been keeping the door to my office closed. The real reason is because the secretary he hired is so incredibly loud that my kids were complaining that it was making their headaches worse when they were trying to rest. I told him "It's just been very loud in the office lately with all these parents registering their kids, it's more peaceful this way" and he replied that I should have "run my decision by him" before closing the door.

I need permission to close my office door.

He also said "I'm not sure why you haven't been communicating with me on a regular basis. Maybe you're too preoccupied with planning your wedding."

I was so offended I almost screamed. I said "Excuse me, when I am here it's to WORK. My wedding is the furthest thing from my mind and, as a professional, I can tell you I never put my personal life before work when I am here."

He also mentioned the risk mgmt accident reports. I explained to him that risk management had given us an inservice in the beginning of the year detailing what requires a report and what doesn't. I have been filling them out according to those guidelines. He then told me 'I'm not concerned about what risk management wants. I am the manager of this school and I'm not going to lose my job because a parent sued over you not filling out an accident report. I want to see more of them being filed."

Every time he listed something I am supposed to be doing, he finished with "I am involved in your evaluation so it's important that these things get done the way I ask" which started to sound like a threat against my job. Who knows. What I do know is I am not meeting with him alone again. If he wants to schedule another meeting with me I am having the nursing supervisor (who is 100% on my side, thank goodness) present.

I'm still so angry. I hate feeling like this.

Specializes in School Nursing.

I am SO sorry. He sounds like a nightmare to work for. I wouldn't meet with him alone either!

He also said "I'm not sure why you haven't been communicating with me on a regular basis. Maybe you're too preoccupied with planning your wedding."

I was so offended I almost screamed. I said "Excuse me, when I am here it's to WORK. My wedding is the furthest thing from my mind and, as a professional, I can tell you I never put my personal life before work when I am here."

This is so infuriating. Would he have said this to a man??

The whole thing is infuriating. The district I work for now finally insisted that the nurse's evaluations be done by the nursing supervisor. No one else knows what we do! How can they evaluate us?? In my last district, one of my principals literally asked me to fill out my own evaluation so she could sign it. Uh, thanks for the feedback?

Specializes in kids.

Wow...just wow...

I would bury him in reports of every little thing; paper cuts, blisters and splinters yada yada yada

# of telephone calls

# of emails

3 of BS visits

Oye...good luck!

Wow. I'm so sorry. Sounds like a major micro-manager who is concerned for himself only.

Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.
This is so infuriating. Would he have said this to a man??

I said the same thing to my fiance. You know, since all I can think about is my wedding.

Yikes, Jersey! I know what crazy at the top looks like too… Definitely Never meet with him alone again! Hugs to you!!!

WOW! I can't believe what I am reading! That is absolutely ridiculous - so incredibly rude and unprofessional! As you said, I would definitely not meet alone with him again. If you have a supportive supervisor, I would have a talk with them. If that treatment by the principal continued, I would be gone!!!

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Good Lord, I am so sorry. Congrats on your upcoming wedding!

Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

Thanks for the support, you guys are wonderful.

I really love my job. I love the kids, I love helping parents. But yesterday was the first day where I was thinking that I might not want to stay here. I really didn't like my previous job and when I found this school, I was SO grateful and relieved to be out of the terrible environment from which I came. But it was so short lived because now I am dealing with incompetent management all over again! It's so sad.

Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.
Good Lord, I am so sorry. Congrats on your upcoming wedding!

Thank you. I am ignoring some sick children to talk about it with you right now :sarcastic:

Specializes in School Nurse.

WOW...just...WOW! So sorry this is happening to you. You could always tell him that you keep your door closed because it is a HIPPA violation for other staff members to know who is in the clinic. That HIPPA violation could also apply to him wanting to know about "common school illnesses." Unless there is a major outbreak that affects the whole school, he does not need to know what goes on in the clinic. I am glad the nurse supervisor is on your side. You are right, never meet with him alone. CC or forward every email to your nurse supervisor, create paper trails, and...document every conversation that occurs between the two of you. Hang tough!!!

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