Throwing myself a pity party today:cry:....nurse supervisor called first thing this morning and ruined my day. The same person that was resistant to me starting a project is now upset I didn't do it after not answering any of my emails for weeks. I do not have the support I was expecting for this project, so I canned it. I feel like I have no one in my corner.....No support from admin, other health staff, etc. To the teachers and students, I am "nurse." I am left out of all the fun stuff they do for the staff, like gift exchanges for Christmas last year( I was at a nurse meeting when they discussed it, apparently.) All kinds of teacher appreciation, boss day, secretary day, but no nurse day....They had my birthday party last year when I wasn't even there. (They combine the ones for the month). There is no nurse at the high school this year, so I split my day between the two schools. I am also in charge of supervising the other 3 schools, so 5 total! About 3,000 kids they want health plans for, vision and hearing, etc. Twice they have called me from another school while at a 504 meeting to come change diapers at my school because "no one" else can help! I don't know how any of their children survived, since apparently it takes a college degree to change a diaper. I've been really stressed because the pay is WAY worse than I thought. This is the easiest job I've ever had, with a great schedule. But I've just about had it. This school went through three nurses in the year before I started-now I know why! I REALLY miss my coworkers at my old job, cause even when it stunk, someone acted like they understood. I wish I could find another job with this kind of schedule. I loved night shift, but someone has to be home with the kids at night, and my husband works an alternating schedule. Sorry for the rant, but I spent the last half-hour crying and thinking about going home "sick". Of course, who would change the diapers then?!
Hugs to you! I agree with the above advice and we understand what you're going through. School nursing can be a shock. It's always a shock teachers think they can tell you what to do. Just say no. Act like a teacher. If you don't like something refuse to do it until they give you "extra duty pay" for it or find someone else to do that particular job (like changing diapers, not your school nurse job). If the school system allows kids in diapers to attend then they have to provide an aide or assign that as a teacher duty. They should not expect you to drive to their school to do it because it's not in the best interest of the child to have to sit in a dirty diaper contributing to diaper rash until you're free and can get there. I'd take that to the principal and find out whose job that really is and if they say it's yours then you need to be at only one school full time and you will file a grievance if need be. (Just say that.) I bet they would rather pay an aide that then put a nurse in each school. Remember the teachers are not your boss.
You will feel left out until you start getting to know the teachers better. Attend PTO meetings and events if that's important to you. Get to know people. Ask to be involved and to be invited to holiday parties, otlucks, etc. Tell your principal or secretary to please let you know. You're new and not there a lot so it's going to take time. Teacher appreciation week usually includes all staff members. Cooks, counselors, custodians, and aides don't get their own day either. We're just used to it because we were recognized on that day in medical places. This is a school so when a kid gives me a hug that's all the appreciation I need.
Oh boy does this post resonate with me!!! I have also wanted to quit and go back to my hospital job multiple times. This is my first year doing school nursing. I do not feel like a nurse most of the time and I really miss being surrounded by nursing colleagues.
I stay because the schedule is much better for my family and because the culture at the hospital had gotten very bad and I was miserable for the last several months I was there. I have signed with a staffing agency to pick up the occasional shift at the hospital I used to work at just to remember what it's like to actually do nurse things and to be surrounded by other nurses.
This board has been extremely supportive! Just knowing you aren't alone helps. :)
I am procrastinating on turning in my resignation letter.....I just can't afford to stay in this position$$. I hate to leave, though, because of the hours and time off!
SouthernBelle85
97 Posts
Diapers? What diapers are you changing? Is it like special needs kids?