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

[LMTCBnurse]

I have been working as a School Nurse for the past 9 years. It seems like every year it gets harder. More students (850 Pre-K and kindergarten) more health issues (asthma, peanut allergy, bee allergy, diabetes, seizure disorders, ADHD) more that are not potty trained, and demanding parents that want a phone call every time their child gets a scratch. I see 40-60 kids a day and on average call about 20-25 parents. Everything needs to be charted and every child needs to have a physical and immunizations by Oct 15. People say to me all the time "you must love your job putting bandaids on boo boos". I do like my job, but don't know how long I can keep going at this pace. Yes, it has been a difficult week. Maybe I need some ideas on how to make this job easier.

[Rubor]

The isolation is tough! The other nurses in my district hardly ever communicate. Blows my mind as I am the opposite! I enjoy the knowledge and experience of others! I a part time this year so I only have about 650 and there for 3 days. But the work load is still high

I am happy with what I do and see myself doing it the rest of my working years. I have kids so it makes it worth while!

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

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).

Join your state association, NASN...there are great resources there. Can you network with local area nurses? Hang in there!

[guest83140]

I just left an elementary school this year and switched to a high school because I felt I too was getting older (57) and that it was too demanding. Well,...I feel much better with the bigger kids. I had 700 and with the same conditions and issues. I heard 4 years before me that the nurse had a nurse aide for 3 days out of every week to help. (I don't know why the aide was eliminated, well yeah money I suppose). That aide could put in visits, do screenings, etc. I feel some schools like yours need an extra person. If this can't happen, I would send out preprinted letters of boo boos versus calling if is isn't serious. Request a parent volunteer to help in the clinic, I did the first year.

[Farawyn]

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???

This is exactly what wears me down.

[SnowyJ, RN]

Yep, it's the nonsense stuff that chaps my hide. Teachers are so afraid of repercussions from parents and downright fearful of a drop of blood. Tired of putting band aids on a picked zit.