"Can you do something about this?"

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I'm in my second year of school nursing. I initially really loved it, but lately I've been feeling really burnt out by being made to feel like everything is my responsibility to fix.

A kid is acting out in the classroom, happens to have ADHD but is no longer receiving ADHD medication at school d/t a new treatment plan.... "nurse, can you do something about his behavior?"

A student sleeps in their first class of the day because he's tired in the morning, "nurse, can he come take a nap in the clinic?"

A student has severe social anxiety and hides in stairwells instead of going to class, "we need the nurse in the hallway now!!"

A parent is sending her kid to school with a "helmet" because he has seizures and doesn't want him to hurt his head if he falls, "nurse, can you call the doctor to get a note so we aren't liable in an adverse event?"

A kid has body odor, "nurse, I'm going to send my student because he reeks!!"

Almost never do the teachers or other adults in the building attempt to talk to the parents or their administrators before coming to me. Is this something you guys deal with too? And if so, how do you respectfully set boundaries so you're not losing your mind at the end of every day? I try to be a team player and help out when I can, but it feels like every day there's something else on my plate.

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
19 hours ago, Flare said:

I would probably mention to mom that I was going to have the Dr re-send a new seizure action plan addressing when the helmet is needed during the school day. (all day, while playing on playground, during PE only, etc.) It's a litle passive aggressive on my part, but I'd want to Dr to know this was something the parent felt he needed as well as having a more formal guideline. If the parent forgets to send it or the child takes it off because he is hot, I wouldn't want it to come back on me.

YAAAASSS!

I love all these responses. Don't feel that you are the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything, my darling. Just do what you can!

Specializes in School Nursing.
22 hours ago, Flare said:

If the parent forgets to send it or the child takes it off because he is hot, I wouldn't want it to come back on me.

This! This is why I would make sure I had doctor's documentation on the helmet!

Especially if your staff are to take on on/adjust/manipulate it in any way.

Specializes in School Nursing.
On 2/26/2020 at 12:14 PM, Mavnurse17 said:

I'm in my second year of school nursing. I initially really loved it, but lately I've been feeling really burnt out by being made to feel like everything is my responsibility to fix.

A kid is acting out in the classroom, happens to have ADHD but is no longer receiving ADHD medication at school d/t a new treatment plan.... "nurse, can you do something about his behavior?"

A student sleeps in their first class of the day because he's tired in the morning, "nurse, can he come take a nap in the clinic?"

A student has severe social anxiety and hides in stairwells instead of going to class, "we need the nurse in the hallway now!!"

A parent is sending her kid to school with a "helmet" because he has seizures and doesn't want him to hurt his head if he falls, "nurse, can you call the doctor to get a note so we aren't liable in an adverse event?"

A kid has body odor, "nurse, I'm going to send my student because he reeks!!"

Almost never do the teachers or other adults in the building attempt to talk to the parents or their administrators before coming to me. Is this something you guys deal with too? And if so, how do you respectfully set boundaries so you're not losing your mind at the end of every day? I try to be a team player and help out when I can, but it feels like every day there's something else on my plate.

Yes and much more at times. I feel as though I need to have a meeting with the teachers at least 3 times a year to remind them what my duties are. I do not mind being a team player and stepping into other roles at times but that can cause me to become a big rug that gets walked on.

Specializes in School Nursing.
3 hours ago, ruby_jane said:

YAAAASSS!

I love all these responses. Don't feel that you are the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything, my darling. Just do what you can!

AMEN!!!

Specializes in school nursing/ maternal/child hospital based.

Please know that you are not alone in this. It's so frustrating and can be isolating too! I finally found my voice in year 4, but trust me when I say I made no friends. Daily I am shocked at what comes to the office... A 1st grader that cant get the knot in his athletic pants undone, the wet pants legs d/t playing in the puddles, the kids who are wearing coats but the teacher or instructional assistants dont think they are heavy enough or come to school with parents being aware they are not wearing coats and are fine with it, but the teachers are not (136 visits so far this year) the emergency visit for wetting their pants and get called out of a meeting to handle it, dry hands( its Winter in Indiana) dirty fingernails, hair isn't brushed , mismatched clothing etc etc etc. Last year I let the teachers and IA's know just how many visits I had in my office 7,333 total in a school with 448 k-5. Trying to explain that while I'm trying to untie a pair of athletic pants I may also have an Asthmatic who is having trouble breathing, a kid who seriously whacked their head on the playground, giving out daily meds and the phone is ringing off the hook. I'm not sure how to explain to staff what is essential and what isn't. I've been in tears more this year than I ever have, it feels like we go round and round. My motto is " sometimes doing nothing is doing something" Its just falling on deaf ears.

Virtual hugs sent to you and all of my fellow school nurses. ❤️

Specializes in School Nurse.

I would bounce those little darlin's back to the teacher.

"Can't help, currently have sick kids/emergency/diabetics whatever the case. This does not require a nurse." Stand your ground! Fill these out ahead of time and hand them to the student.

Specializes in Community health.

I’m not a school nurse but boy can I relate to this in my FQHC— being the go-to person for absolutely anything.

“This patient needs a bariatric walker but Medicare won’t pay for it. Can you look into how he can get one? Are there charities or something?”

”This patient says that a nurse, or maybe it’s an aide, come to his house sometimes to check on him. He says her name is Susan. That’s all he knows. Can you figure out what’s going on?”

There’s no saying No, because people NEED what they need, and if it’s not me, it’s nobody. It is super super annoying but basically I just roll with it.

17 hours ago, tining said:

Fill these out ahead of time and hand them to the student.

Great idea!

Specializes in School Nursing.

OMG we are in the same position. This is my second year as well. At first I was like you trying to help and be a team player but quickly I found out it's just to walk all over you. I am trying to be more strict and reinforce with student, staff and parents. (I am a people pleasure). I definitely would write your unnecessary events and reinforce what SaltQueen noted.

Specializes in NICU, School Nursing.

This is my first year as a school nurse, coming from a busy level 3 NICU it's quite a different environment being at a school. Many of the things that come to me are common sense, but its a bit funny to me to see the panicked look on the staff who brings in a kid because they slipped and fell on their butt on the ice during recess. It's like well, kids fall all the time while playing, the kid is walking just fine, they're not crying, and I'm not about to exam the area so go back to recess. Sometimes just a good ol' just walk it off kiddo you'll be fine is suffice! With that being said you guys have been a blessing, I read these posts all the time and they've been so helpful in surviving my first year in this new position.

On 2/28/2020 at 8:53 AM, EnnieMinnie said:

This is my first year as a school nurse, coming from a busy level 3 NICU it's quite a different environment being at a school. Many of the things that come to me are common sense, but its a bit funny to me to see the panicked look on the staff who brings in a kid because they slipped and fell on their butt on the ice during recess. It's like well, kids fall all the time while playing, the kid is walking just fine, they're not crying, and I'm not about to exam the area so go back to recess. Sometimes just a good ol' just walk it off kiddo you'll be fine is suffice! With that being said you guys have been a blessing, I read these posts all the time and they've been so helpful in surviving my first year in this new position.

I had a student that fell out of his chair in class last week. I was called to the scene because "he can't move." When I got there, I assessed his head/neck/ back - all normal. I asked him if he could get up and he says "sure, I am fine."

Took him back to clinic, he had 1 red area on an arm. Teachers were SHOCKED I didn't at least send him home. He was fine, he talked to mom and we told her he was fine.

And we wonder why the kids are so whiney???? Nobody asked him if he was OK or could get up - they just panicked and called me.

I just want to yell over the PA "kids are not as fragile as they appear."

3 minutes ago, EnoughWithTheIce said:

I asked him if he could get up and he says "sure, I am fine."

Ahh yes, this sort of happened to me as well. I was *urgently* called to bring a wheelchair to the bathroom because a boy was "on the floor and hurting!!" I get there and the kid is sitting on the floor but looks just fine. I ask him what happened, he tells me he felt nauseated so he wanted to sit down. I asked him if he could get up and walk (in front of the administrators and teachers that were horrified I wasn't on the ground with him taking vitals and administering aid), and the kid says yes!

Imagine their faces when he got up and walked next to me while I wheeled the empty chair back to the clinic with me.

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