Back to School Night

[RNwhohasgoats]

Hello! I am a brand new school nurse. I have worked in a school setting teaching CNA classes to high school students, but this is a whole different ballgame! 

Back to school night is coming up on Friday and Monday and I am expected to attend... and I was wondering, is this something that you all clock in/write on my timesheet for typically? Or is this supposed to be on my own time? I know every school is different but I wanted to get an idea before I asked to make sure I don't sound dumb, haha! Thanks. 

[Bulldogs, CNA, EMT-B]

My school allows me to clock in for this.  It makes the first day of school so much easier.

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

Depends on the district. I’d ask your principal, another nurse in the district, or your supervisor (other than your principal if you have one). They used to just ask us to work it but couldn’t force any staff because we weren’t being paid extra. Now they switched our hours around for that day so we all are actually getting paid. Either way it’s a good idea to attend because many parents have questions about meds, diets, shots, or some other special need their child may have and/ or they may drop off meds, orders, etc. 

[salpn]

In prior years, my contract only covered the days students were actually in the building for classes.   Last year we got them to add a few extra days to cover things like BTS night and the day immediately before and after the year (like teachers get).

 

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

I'm in a high school, so I don't go. The parents at this level are so not interested in the clinic. They just want to see the teachers and go home. I came twice and never saw a parent, so I stopped going.

[k1p1ssk, BSN, RN]

We only have a PTO sponsored ice cream social and then an open house night around a month in to school, no formal registration night or anything. My first year (which was the 18-19 SY), even though the door was wide open and I was standing in the hall right outside the door, only 1 family stopped to talk, and I suspect that was only because one of the kids had seen me earlier in the day and asked if I would be there and I told her I had some goodies to give away. The previous nurse had a similar experience, but she was also much more extroverted than I am and would just wander the halls during open house...

Its true, parents don't seem to care about the health office much until they need you. Especially now, since the pandemic, we are seen as a pain in the butt a lot of the time.