My front office staff is made up of 6 ppl plus they count me and counselors as part of the front office staff, so whenever there are holidays, celebrations, birthdays, random special occasions, I'm supposed to participate with them in parties, gift exchanges, whatever. So this week we had a few things going on: we were supposed to make some kind of basket for the PTA to raffle off so I was assigned to bring an item for the basket. It was also administrative workers day so I was asked to bring an item for each of the three secretaries as well as a few dollars to contribute to buying them lunch. It was also the counselor's birthday today so we were having a bday celebration for her and once again contributed a couple of bucks for that. I heard nothing today about the party so around 1 I asked if we did something for her today after all and was told "Oh yeah we got food from blahblah restaurant"... no one bothered to let me know this was going on when it did... no one bothered to ask me if I wanted to eat or grab a slice a cake or mingle at the party... and my clinic is in the front office where I'm in plain view. Funny, there's no issue when it came to asking me to contribute to everything this week plus all other occasions. They've told me before that we all contribute to these things but it's all good because they'll do something special on my birthday too, but my birthday's in the summer so, no... you won't. Maybe I'm overreacting but I'm almost always left out of these parties but yet have contributed whenever asked, so I guess I'm just frustrated and saying I'm absolutely done contributing. Thanks for listening...4 more weeks! :)
I worked in schools for a few years so I know EXACTLY what you are saying. 4 more weeks! When they ask for contributions again, I would look them right in the eye and say "I put in $$$ several times but was never included in the actual party or when we ordered lunch, so please don't be offended, but I just don't feel right about it. I'm sure you can understand." No way I would keep putting in money if they weren't going to include me in the festivities.
I am asked to contribute to those but I am included in the gifting. I always get something nice, and they remember me on Nurse's Day. I do get invited to contribute to potlucks but I don't contribute since I don't get a lunch break.
THIS!! I recently received an email from the "activities committee" regarding "donating" my $15 for the year to cover milestone birthdays, recognition days, BABY SHOWERS, etc..
Apparently the pregnant school nurse was never noticed waddling around the school, because I never was given a baby shower. Baby was born in January. I've been sent invites to THREE teacher baby showers.
I'm hanging onto my $15. I'll use it to buy diapers.
Nursing Office just isn't in the cliques I guess..
My problem is that most of our events fall during the teachers normal lunch breaks, and I am the last person to get lunch coverage so everything is usually packed away by the time I get there.
Lunch coverage?! That's a thing?? I quit fighting it. Apparently snowflake's upset tummy without vomiting is an emergency worth interrupting my lunch period.
Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.
Volun-told. So true!
I am often hidden in plain sight. I have windows to the main office and a busy hallway on either side of my health room. People have no trouble remembering where I am located when they need Tylenol or for me to look at their rash or when someone may have lice. But in the beginning of this year there was a big BBQ with lots of staff members that I heard nothing about -__-
I try not to dwell on it but sometimes my feelings get hurt. I like to remind myself that I was not really excluded but forgotten.
My problem is that most of our events fall during the teachers normal lunch breaks, and I am the last person to get lunch coverage so everything is usually packed away by the time I get there.
But I will admit we had a chocolate buffet day that I made time to escape the office for so I could grab a piece of cake and scurry back into the chaos.
Would you (or you, OP, or anyone else who feels maltreated re: these matters) ever consider taking the initiative and telling the person(s) running the event to make sure he or she calls me when the food arrives or put aside a plate for me or somehow taking the initiative?
Well, my 2 cents is, at the past elementary school I got more gifts from parents and a few teachers on Nurse Day. On my birthday day we drew names and decorated each person's room the night before. The secretary made sure I was given a gift by the principal for Nurse Day. But I had to stay in cool with them, sometimes no lunch, answer their phones, etc. At my current high school, I get nothing from nobody. I am celebrated with the teachers. My nurse supv and nurse co-workers has a birthday list but say no one usually utters a sound. It's all good, my family and outside true friends are there for me. So people WILL be people. There are the good and the bad and the in between.
Would you (or you, OP, or anyone else who feels maltreated re: these matters) ever consider taking the initiative and telling the person(s) running the event to make sure he or she calls me when the food arrives or put aside a plate for me or somehow taking the initiative?
In my case they do usually tell me when food is out or about to get here, there just is no escaping my office 99% of the time (but I do raid the fridge when it's something extra good).
I'm in the back end of the school, so I would forgive my admins for forgetting to get me but
I think in OPs case, if they can remember to ask her for money all of the time, they should be able to ask her to participate. Especially since she is in the front office area and very accessible to them.
Would you (or you, OP, or anyone else who feels maltreated re: these matters) ever consider taking the initiative and telling the person(s) running the event to make sure he or she calls me when the food arrives or put aside a plate for me or somehow taking the initiative?
I have. And still gotten forgotten or have a plate of cold food waiting because I was still sent a parade of stomachache (a.k.a I need to poop) kiddos. On the rare occasion, food may be brought my way, but usually by another very overworked admin who can sometimes be in the same boat as me.
I get celebrated with teachers, but much of their celebration is during lunch and after school meetings I'm not a part of. I try my best to drop in, but it depends on the traffic in my office. I'm used to it. I have my cave as I call it and I knew it when I took this job. Everyone loves you when they need you, but what can make it frustrating more than working on the floor is that you don't have another nurse who understands it with you at work.
But...some kiddos will remember me when they bring in birthday cupcakes and drop by my office at lunch with a cupcake for me to celebrate their day. And that makes me smile more than any staff celebration. I hope some kiddos bring you a surprise, OP!
Would you (or you, OP, or anyone else who feels maltreated re: these matters) ever consider taking the initiative and telling the person(s) running the event to make sure he or she calls me when the food arrives or put aside a plate for me or somehow taking the initiative?
You do have a point. I think I can speak for most of us when I say we are able to stand up and speak up for ourselves. The issue is probably more that when the food arrives, or the festivities start, there is not time for us to participate. Typically we do not have coverage for lunch, and although I am supposed to close my office for lunch (which is way after the lunches happen), I can't most days. The flow of "tummyaches" and nonsense visits continues, and nothing I do to advocate for myself seems to work. There is not a single person in the building who can stand in for me, and these are young kids, after all--I can't necessarily ask them to schedule their concerns before my lunch. If they even knew what time it was, they would still come in. So I have to ask that the adults in the building manage the flow of kids, and limit it to the 7 hours a day I am not trying to eat lunch. They either can't or won't. Even (especially?) when there are special occasions to which I have contributed.
I'm sure to other nurses it sounds like we school nurses are whining and not doing what it takes to advocate for ourselves. I'm sure most of us are doing what we can but the reality is so much more complicated than just asking for lunch coverage. I'm sure the other nursing specialties will excuse us as we vent about our circumstances.
For what it's worth, I do have a parking spot (right between the secretary and the guidance counselor!) and I do get a carnation on school nurse's day!
I can't close my office during the lunch period; it's when I get the highest volume of visitors. Plus, my students with diabetes check in with me for insulin dosing prior to eating lunch. I usually eat my lunch outside of the our actual lunch period.
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MrNurse(x2), ADN
2,558 Posts
Hey Dixiegirl, welcome to AN SN forum. Thought you could just sneak in unnoticed, eh?