Bad Attitude.....need support

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Hello Fellow School Nurses,

I have been off of AllNurses for quite a while. This is my 25th year as a school nurse and I think I may be on the verge of burnout. I used to love this job, but over the last few years I have very little capacity for BS from Teachers and Parents.

I am in need of some re-assurance and positive support. The kids and the work don't get to me, just the teachers and parents.

Any support you can give me is very appreciated.

Old Bat School Nurse :unsure:

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25 years is a long time! Some days I feel burnt out and I've been a school nurse for 5 years! Hugs to you! Stay strong!

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I am sure you have seen the change in parenting over the last twenty five years. With that much experience your school is blessed to have you looking over their kids. Society in general has become so sensitive that before you even speak people are offended, they wear it like armor. The parents and teachers are secondary to why you are there, focus on the joy of the kids. Will be praying for you to renew your love of it.

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I am at 10 years myself. I am not sure my patience could make it to 25 years, so kudos to you!! I feel very much like you some days. When I have really bad days, I picture myself back in the hospital setting and that reality reels me back in that school nursing is my niche. For me, it is not even the parents that are so bad but the staff that drain me dry. Everything is an emergency, they expect you to fix things you cannot fix, they cannot follow simple directions that help me in the running of my clinic, they try to do my job until they see blood or vomit. It really wears on you from day to day.

But the kids that thank me or the times I have had to advocate really hard for a student to get something taken care of are what makes it worth while. Hang in there, it may not feel like it but somebody does appreciate you. We on this site sure do.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

You remember how Luke Skywalker turned off his targeting computer, when he was flying the trench, going for the exhaust vent in the Death Star with his photon torpedoes? He reverted to his prior flying skill from bullseyeing womp rats and used the Force to hit his target. You remember how Rocky made a comeback from being lost in all the fame and fortune? "Eye of the Tiger!" He returned to the basics and foundation practice for his comeback victory. Try to "turn off" your targeting computer and return to the practice of the reason for school nursing; you're there for the kids. Sometimes dealing with staff and parents is like being stuck in traffic. You know where you want to go but they won't let you get there. So what do you do? Take a different route and avoid all the traffic. "Eye of the tiger." Back to basics. You're there for the kids. "May the Force be with you!"

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Old Dude.....YOU ROCK !! :yes:

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, School Nursing, OB.

Have you ever read "A Long Way from Henry Street" put out by MacGill? It's a collection of stories written by school nurses for school nurses. You can get them on Amazon dirt cheap. Every time I read those I feel so good about what I do. Like Old Dude said, remind yourself you're there for the kids. Yes it gets old and tiring dealing with the teachers and parents and even the frequent flyers but what job doesn't have parts that get old. However, after that many years maybe you need to mix it up a bit. Can you change schools (grade levels)? Can you start a new program of some sort that would excite you? Is there somewhere you can volunteer on the weekends or maybe start a new hobby or goal to recharge yourself? Maybe you can start planning a big trip that you have to save for so those days when you just don't want to show up you can remind yourself you're getting paid so you can put that towards your trip. Just some ideas...I've tried changing jobs as the grass is always greener but that just opened up a whole new set of challenges.

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Praiser, I'm relatively new here, but I've read some of your posts. 25 years is impressive. I'm sure you've seen huge changes in technology, lawsuits and meds. The one thing that's the same is the kids, I agree with everyone here.

Your experience is invaluable to these families.

Hang in there, and post more, please! I would love to learn from you.

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Specializes in kids.

Yup at 22 years my BS meter is on high alert......some times too high and I label the kid guilty before he proves he is innocent by yacking all over my bathroom!

Hang in there! I am SO thankful for this board, it reminds me I am not alone, and I am not crazy!!!!

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Yup at 22 years my BS meter is on high alert......some times too high and I label the kid guilty before he proves he is innocent by yacking all over my bathroom!

Hang in there! I am SO thankful for this board, it reminds me I am not alone, and I am not crazy!!!!

Amen Nutmeg. I especially love the daily reminder that I am not crazy!! :wacky:

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WOW! 25 years! I am 5 years in and I tell my husband all the time I can't work 20 as a School Nurse. I love the kids and my interactions with them make me smile every day but there are too many days where I find myself going home worrying. The expectations of School Nurses today are very high yet the world thinks we are ice pack pushers waiting for someone in need of a Band-Aid. I worry about not having what I need here in a true emergency and I worry that everyone thinks it'll all be ok no matter what because the Nurse will take care of it. I get frustrated with what gets dumped on me everyday and stressed because I NEVER have enough time to get everything done, And then...one of the little kindergarteners comes in and crawls into my lap or a 3rd grader does their hero story on me or a 2nd grader comes over to give me a hug and I'm back at zero ready to do this forever.

The is not an easy job and the people who do it are a special breed! Come hang out here often and laugh with us. Hopefully it'll help lift your spirits and allow you to continue the amazing work you do each day!

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Good to see you Praiser! You've helped me many times in the past.

I hesitate to venture in here because two weeks ago, I left my school nurse job after exactly 5 years.

My journey was probably different. I left acute care (ER, L&D) in a small rural hospital and went back to get my BSN and also started worked per diem in hospice. Was interested in public health and then this school nurse job came up. I applied and got it. I was given 5 years to get my School Nurse Credential and was granted an interim credential from my state.

As I worked as a school nurse I found that this wasn't the job for me and I didn't want to go back to school again and add another school loan at my advanced age. ;)

I loved the kids. Still do and will visit from time to time. I have a kid still in school so that makes it a bit easier for me.

The bureaucracy and the paperwork was getting to me. I spent very little time actually being a "school nurse". I ran from campus to campus doing mostly hearing and vision screenings. Sometimes I would accidentally be on one campus (remember, we have 11) and an emergency would happen and I'd get to be involved of course. But usually, the school secretaries handled those.

I had to train staff for doing what a nurse would do. That was frustrating as well.

Personally, I'm grateful to only be working hospice (not that there aren't frustrations there as well). Just got back from a conference where Ira Byock was the Keynote Speaker and it was very good.

I must say though that your story is different and so please don't take my example as a way to go.

And yes, Old Dude's post rocks. He always does.

I hope you find the right answer for your story. (((Praiser)))

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