What "hats" do you wear at work?

Specialties School

Published

Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

I am starting my second year as a school nurse in a small charter school that opened last Fall. We currently have 220 kids, all either K or First grade. Aside from my nursing duties, I set up for lunch, hand out school lunch, cover the front desk, help translate documents into Spanish for the teachers and the list goes on. Last year, I wasn't super busy with specific "nursing duties" as our school does not have a play ground so there were never the regular recess injuries, etc. We also only had 120 kids last year. This year I am a LOT busier with kids, have twice the paper work, plus more higher needs kids medically speaking, so I am not as available to do the other stuff. While I was more than happy to help last year, I am realizing that now it is almost an expectation that I continue to do these other non-nursing jobs and I have had to tell staff as they ask that I can no longer continue to help. It's been a hard adjustment for them :chicken: but I am sure they will get over it!

So whaat jobs aside from "nursing" duties do you (or have you done?) at your school?

Nursing duties are my priority...staff & admin are aware of that. Every now and then I am asked to assist in cafe during lunch, set up chairs for events, outdoor morning duty - assisting kids getting out of the cars etc - key word is "assist" - I don't mind helping but it is never my sole responsibility to do these extra things - so if I become busy with kids I am able to leave and take care of them.

Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

I don't get asked to do alot of covering for lunch, recess, etc. because I am the only one in the office, and they want me here in case I'm needed. I am however, keeper of all the extra clothes, coats, hats, gloves, snowpants and boots. So when winter hits, I constantly have kids in my office needing stuff they forgot.

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I do attendance as well as my nursing duties. Feel attendance does kind of fall under nursing, trending absences, seeing why kids are out. I am now looking for pink eye in one class because I got an absence note, no breakdown in communication. Last year I was front office; phones, door and reception. This year I have been given my own little corner of the world, and I think they realize what I give to the school, peace of mind.

Luckily, I just have to be nurse and mommy! I help with the kids coming in in the morning and I help at dismissal, but only if my office isn't full of little people! I usually volunteer to do bulletin boards because I can make them in my office (also because I LOVE playing arts and crafts at work) and hang them up when it's not crazy. I help out in the office, die cuts, supply requests, lamination, but only when I'm free.

OP, I couldn't imagine being expected to do all of that on top of all of your actual nursing stuff! Hopefully everyone realizes that you are there for the health and safety of the students first and foremost.

Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

Vaccine coordinator, mental health crisis, IT (I guess being a millennial makes me more tech savy), Evil monster (when I send sick kids home against their will), kitty wrangler (long story), Spa (dance teacher sent a student for a foot soak after they removed a splinter from the student's foot), DJ (Pandora keeps me productive), Dispatcher (I must listen to the radio at all times for emergencies on campus), and cafe manager ("Nurse can I have a granola bar?" "Do you have ginger ale?")

It's a big list here, as is often the case in small schools. I am in charge of attendance, dismissal and any changes, teaching Health classes, missing/forgotten lunches and anything else, database administration, graduation, community outreach, social work, there's more I'm just blocking out right now. LOL This is why each day I leave here wondering where the day went. Wearing all these hats really helps me to know all of the students and their families and I love that! My first priority is the health and safety of the kids and everyone knows it, the other stuff has to wait if I have an emergency. Somehow we have made it work.

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