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Discussion

Dealing with Admin

This has been my first year as a school nurse and I'm at a middle school (6th-8th). For the most part, I don't interact with the principal much. There have been a couple times though that I've made a call he has disagreed with (even once saying 911 wouldn't have been called if he had been on campus) and it's kinda come to a tipping point. Most recently, he refused to send my Unlicensed Diabetic Care Assistant on a field trip with our type 1 diabetic student and she ended up getting the wrong dose of insulin. Fortunately, I was able to talk to the student via phone right away and have the issue resolved, but it was exactly the kind of thing I was afraid of happening. I notified him of the incident and that this was an example of why we need a trained staff member on field trips with this student. He ended up getting pretty frustrated with me, stating that it seemed like I "had to be right" and that I was being disrespectful (when I said I wouldn't accept his decisions on matters if he was putting my students at risk), and that I was subversive because I went over his head emailing my DON and the Asst. Superintendent when he initially refused to send the UDCA. My DON is very supportive of me and the decisions I've made this year, but she's not the greatest manager and I'm not sure how effective she is going to be at communicating with my principal that I'm actually doing my job correctly.

Any suggestions for how to get it across to him that my judgment on medical related decisions should be listened to and followed? I'm getting the impression that he is glad to have me here when emergencies happen, but doesn't get that one of my chief responsibilities as a nurse is to PREVENT emergencies. Should I try to make it work, or should I do what I think might be the best plan to prevent an AE from happening on my watch and just transfer to another school? (Elementary school position in my district is opening up next year.)

After I thought about it, I realized that he's right... I DO have to be right. In my profession, lives depend on me being right.

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    If you don't have a burning desire to work at that grade level go ahead and transfer to another campus and forget about it. Otherwise, keep in mind the principal is the king of the kingdom and has the last word on everything that occurs on his campus. So, if you want to stay I would suggest you communicate by email with him with what you recommend for such instances. If he overrides your recommendation then the evidence is forever preserved and he will have to answer for any negative outcomes.

    Good Luck.

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    I agree with OD - paper trail is the way to go. Document everything matter of factly and if you see that he is leading you or one of your students down a dangerous path, send a memo with your concerns to him. You have a duty to keep the children safe and a medical license to protect. If he can't understand these concepts, then it may be wise to raise your concerns to your director - again, in writing. If you don't think she is effectively communicating, then i would continue to reach out to the asst superintendent. Children's safety is on the line. That should be getting someone's attention.

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    I agree with them ^^. Paper trail, then take that job at elementary. I mean, the principal there could be just as bad or even worse, but I can't really see how.

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    Print out your state regulations on what is appropriate.

    For example, in NYS, Diazapam cannot be administered by anyone "less than" an RN.

    I used this when I fought for extra hours for after school programs, and to secure a sub RN for trips. Even if there is no such regulations, explain to your educated Principal what "best practice" means.

    Yes, the Principal is the boss, but this is your license, and you have a right, a duty, to protect both it, and your students.

    Good luck.

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    I have dealt with that before, an admin trying to out wit the nurse, but he was an Assistant and the head Principal was totally opposite of him. He eventually was voted to transfer elsewhere when the principal was going to retire and he tried to apply for it. In other words, they all knew his personality. Now when its the head person, I would try to meet with him a few minutes to chat myself to get a feel of whether I am able to turn his confrontations around. I would also weigh my choices but make sure the other school had no similar boss. Hope this helps.

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    Your DON needs to take a stronger stand. In my district, our DON is awesome, and will "fight" for us with principals, and has said on many occasions to the principal, "you are not the medical adviser in the building, what the nurse says goes medical wise".

    I agree with the others, document this, and move onto another school. Also, what did the parent say? They must have been upset!

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