Am I getting too old for the job or is it just harder to be a School Nurse?

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2015

\ People say to me all the time "you must love your job putting bandaids on boo boos".

Those people need to be smacked and then spend a day in your office.

But OP, it is true about some changes. I'm on year 3 at my school and this year is harder. You can see it in the staff's faces. The percentage of students on IEPs or 504s and with complex mental and physical health needs is growing - or at least it feels like that on my end. Anxiety and pressure are growing as well. Hang in there!

Flare, ASN, BSN · Oct 2, 2015

people have no idea what our job entails. I've had times when people have spent some time in my office sitting with a student or for whatever reason and i will continue to work. They will always remark about how busy my office is as I have this child come in for this complaint, then this child come in for that complaint. then the phone rings, then a child comes in for a medication, then one of my diabetic students comes in for a check, then someone comes in to follow up about a field trip.... and so on...... i usually just smile and say "this is just a glimpse - imagine the rest of the day"

100kids, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2015

Those people need to be smacked and then spend a day in your office.
!

I couldn't like this comment more!!! My mother in law loves to tell me how easy my job is and how lucky I am. I love my job but seriously woman????

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Oct 2, 2015

Truth....I have seen easily 40+ kids every day since school started, 6 different concussions, vial meningitis, kids coming in from another school (they do HS here) without 2nd Vz or Tdap....so I am doing the follow up, kids whose parents cannot or will not fill out appropriate emergency forms, kids going home and bald faced lying about a conversation we had in here (and mom is a little nutty as well so went straight to principal instead of talking to me), parents lying about kids symptoms....blah..blah...blah...More Epi pens than ever!!!

TGIF!!

OldDude · Oct 2, 2015

I can relate to all of the above. It is harder...but I'm not sure it's because I'm getting too old for the job or it's what you guys are talking about. Seems there are so many individual issues, problems, conditions, special considerations, crying, extreme behaviors, 504, special ed, etc., etc., etc. The nurse I replaced was about 163 years old but I know she didn't have the daily grind we face now. I still think it's a good trade for the time we get off...so far

SnowyJ, RN · Oct 2, 2015

We are seeing more students than ever before. One thing I have started doing is sending home a quick checklist note if the issue isn't serious enough to warrant a phone call, but may be a concern. I only call maybe 3-4 parents a day aside from the ones I have to send home. Things that warrant a call would be when a child bumps their head, a bad nosebleed, etc. Other than that, a note should suffice. For minor issues like scrapes, I don't notify a parent unless it is a bad scrape or cut. Basically I triage it in my mind, and only notify if it is significant.

Calling 25 parents seems excessive and a huge time drain. Maybe you can transition your parents away from this?

I feel your pain with regard to all the data entry and tracking of immunizations, physicals, etc. It feels like I am pulling teeth to get compliance!

We have 610 students here, K-5

kidzcare · Oct 2, 2015

I think it is a harder job than it was years ago just because kids have more going on, medically. More kids than ever have DM or severe food allergies. There are more state reports than years ago and simply a larger population.

LMTCBnurse · Oct 3, 2015

thanks for the words. Being the only nurse in the building means no one to talk to about the pace and work. It's just my normal day. Having confirmation that it is a lot of work makes it better. And it is Friday too (that really helps).

mc3, ASN, RN · Oct 3, 2015

I couldn't agree more! I have 950 kids, and I think my biggest problem is the parental expectations. They complain if I don't call home for something, they complain that I called too much! They put allergies to peanuts and bee stings on medical info sheets, then get annoyed or ignore me when I call and see if meds are needed. They complain the school is giving their children lice, but don't bother to treat their own kids who, guess what, have the most lice. They knowingly send their child sick to school, and now "I don't have any way I can pick them up. Why can't you keep them?"

Don't get me wrong, it's not every single parent that thinks this way, but the majority of the ones I encounter do. I think it's due to the sense that everyone should take responsibility for their child except themselves.

And yes, it does make me tired.

I try really hard to focus on the "fun stuff". The hugs and candy brought to me with sticky hands. The pictures drawn for my office, and the best Nurses Day cards ever.

It does, though, seems to get much harder every year, for me, and I've been there 6+ years.

mc3:nurse:

SchoolNurseTXstyle · Oct 5, 2015

Kids have more going on medically but they are also less equipped to handle normal everyday mild symptoms. And lord, if you don't cure their chapped lips with one visit clinic - they see you 4 times daily for a week. This is waht wears me down. And teachers being so afraid of parents that they bombard you with silly stuff.

This year - my SPED department wearing me down, they will bring me kids with a tiny drop of water on their shirt when I don't even have clothes - but they do in the kids backpack. I have one kid in there that will burp a little and maybe gag once in a while. It is a combo of reflux and when allergy season is swing, postnasal drip. He never throws up, he is not contagious - yet they will keep bringing hime every 10 minutes no matter how many times I tell them he is ok!! He has been at school 1.5 hours and been here 3 times. I called mom and put the decision on her. She decided to pick up but really???

CampNurse10 · Oct 6, 2015

This is my 2nd year in and I'm struggling with the same. I feel lonely and isolated (although I'm not the only nurse, its so busy, no socialization whatsoever, so different from the hospital). The parents drive me nuts. Everything seems like its a dire emergency, like we are an urgent care clinic (and yes sometimes there are REAL emergencies!). The amount of allergies, asthma, behaviors, medications, etc etc is astounding. I love working with the kiddos but I'm not sure I can stay in this job until retirement, but struggle with that bc the benefits are the best in the nursing world (I think).