Am i burned out?

Guest717236 · Sep 9, 2011

Student nursing plan-

Dx: Nervousness secondary to the start of new school year

Tx: Apply band aids, instill health teaching while applying band aid

ex: Good hand washing etc

Charge magic wand daily.

Plan: Things will lighten up as student shock and disbelief that summer has ended

and school has really begun.

Nurse :nurse: care plan:

1) Dinner out tonight at fine restaurant

2) Spa day on Saturday, treatments ad lib

3) Spa treatments solve problem of worrying about small or large issues at health clinic at school.

Repeat nurse care plan prn

Flare, ASN, BSN · Sep 12, 2011

I know that feeling. I get so annoyed with the kid that "banged is finger against thier locker". Said finger almost always has absolutely no mark on it. I understand that hitting something may hurt for a moment (read: banging shin, stubbing toe) but for heaven's sakes, kid - brush it off and go back to class. It's not worth me making you an ice pack for that.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2011

I am dealing with the same over here. Tons of frequent fliers and truly ridiculous complaints. I promised myself that I would consider the non-physical discomforts with these kids, and I have, but most of them I can find no evidence of social or emotional issues either...they just want a 10 minute break from class!!!

I really think I am starting to burn out. Compassion fatigue is more like it...it is just so hard to summon any compassion for these minor complaints! It is way to early in the year to be feeling this way! This is my 4th year at this and I am the type person who needs a change of scenery every 5 years or so. I am thinking about asking for a switch to Middle or High school next year...or maybe picking up something PRN to get a foot in the door of the hospital. Or finally start working on my Master's. I don't know.

I don't think I will ever leave School Nursing totally, but I definitely think I am ready for a change.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Sep 12, 2011

Give the brats a shot every time they come to your office. That should make them think twice! :devil: :devil: :devil:

geocachingRN · Sep 12, 2011

Nurse care plan:
1) Dinner out tonight at fine restaurant
2) Spa day on Saturday, treatments ad lib
3) Spa treatments solve problem of worrying about small or large issues at health clinic at school.
Repeat nurse care plan prn

I can say this works for me! Additionally I've found a couple of overnight get-aways that are a 2-3 hour drive away. We try to go every other month. One is a rustic hot springs in the middle of nowhere. So peaceful.

Guest717236 · Sep 12, 2011

4) Overnight getaways every other month

per geocachingRN, who never leaves home without her GPS:D

Thanks for the addition to the care plan!

noreenl · Sep 13, 2011

where is that out of the way place? is it on the east coast? i need a place to recharge my batteries and i m in NYC!

geocachingRN · Sep 14, 2011

I'm in Cali, Noreenl but there must be something in upstate for you. I found my special spots by luck though they are getting more and more popular.

mustlovepoodles, RN · Sep 18, 2011

I can't decide if the kids are whinier or the TEACHERS are wimpier. :uhoh3: I get the same old stuff every day--little paper cuts, chapped lips, torn pants, scabby mosquito bites and very minor bumps and bruises. My kids are K-5, so i'm a alittle bit softer on them than i was with my middle schoolers. In middle school I had a rule that if there was no visible swelling or bruising, no ice was forthcoming. And when they did get ice, they had to sit in my clinic and listen to Mozart for no more than 10 min and NO TALKING. And c/o vomiting? If I don't see it, it didn't happen. That took care of a lot of them but i always had those kids who manipulated their teachers with complaints of nausea, headaches, and other non-quantifiable crap. And cramps or "female problems" was nearly always good for a free pass, especially with male teachers. I got so i tracked those visits and if i was getting more than one visit a month for that complaint, I made calls to parents. That usually took care of that. Only once did I uncover a legitimate problem--a girl with extremely heavy periods who showed up 4-5 days in a row. Turns out she was extremely anemic, had to be hospitalized for it. :eek:

I don't know how to get my teachers to toughen up. Most of them don't even ask the basic questions like "Did you eat breakfast? Did you go to the bathroom? Have you had ANY water today?" I have no problem with seeing kids for blood, puke, head bumps or wheezing, but come on, teachers. You can handle most of the other stuff.

geocachingRN · Sep 18, 2011

mustlovepoodles, I've noticed an increase in little stuff teachers used to take care of, too. I did a little digging and discovered that class ratios have gone up and teachers just aren't dealing with small injuries anymore. It's too hard with a classes of over 30 students.

lsvalliant · Sep 19, 2011

YAWN. I'm an agency nurse (actually working right now) and have been substitute elementary school nurse for someone on maternity leave for about a week. Out of all my experiences this has to be the most boring, monontenous, unappreciated, unfufilling nursing job I have ever had. I feel like I run around all day, yet do absolutly nothing. The teachers second guess me when they send kids who are obviously not sick down CONSTANTLY. Kudos to all the school nurses out there that love their jobs. The hours are very good and you dont have to worry about accidentally killing your patients. I am burned out after a week. Loved camp nursing tho.