Feeling burnt out

[kidzcare]

I am lamenting my job these days... I am feeling so fed up with these kids and their arbitrary complaints.

Last week I had a girl in pretending to have visual/auditory hallucinations. Of course I can't say that I think she is faking it, but my experience and the convenient on/off quality of the hallucinations raise enough suspicion that I wanted to tell the girl to quit it and buck up. Meanwhile, I can't do anything else in my office or even really treat other kids because WHAT IF?? What if she isn't faking? What if she is experiencing an episode of psychosis? What if I ignore it? What if she leaves my office and hurts herself? What if.... argg!!!!!

Kid after kid crying about a belly ache and begging to have me call home for something that they never should have even left the classroom for.

I know I will stay because I am not giving up this schedule/pension. But I am so salty about it all for the whole last week. I need a vacation....

Edit to add- I am also fully aware that this is a stressful time in my personal life with holidays, graduate classes, single mom life, etc.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I am so happy I am not the only one feeling this way. This is my 11th year as a school nurse, mostly at the middle school level and the drama of it all is about to do me in. Out of 1300 kids, I see about 100 of the same faces rotating through weekly (or daily in some cases).

And the parents and the staff baby them so bad that who am I to tell them they can't have ant ice pack for a microscopic scratch??? That mean nurse, she actually thinks we should be in class!

And we have so many that are just too anxious to go to class so they hang out with the counselors all day until they get tired of babysitting and then they send them to me to babysit. Yet, I see them in the hall after school laughing and skipping down the hallway. And here is the deal, if you are anxious about going to class, sitting out for days on end is not going to cure it! Face your fears and get an education people!!!

Not only does it make our jobs so hard but I worry about the future of our society. These kids will be running the country someday. Oh my, the government will have to shut down for every sniffle, sneeze and hangnail!

THIS!

The whole thing.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Some days!!! Last year it was faculty who drove me insane...this fall it has been parents!

The kids are a breeze in comparison!!

[nyy2]

I thought it was just me feeling this way! I am so over this job right now! Especially the day after Halloween - I've had so many upset bellies. Well if you eat a pound of candy, duh you won't feel good! Today all the upset bellies are getting a temp check and going back to class - unless they look sick.

I have felt burnt out this year and it's only my 3rd full year! So tired of the high maintenance teachers, crazy parents, and whiny kids with nothing wrong. I try to remember it may be due to their home life - but some of them are just plain babies! I told the secretaries I want to get a big poster that says SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP! One can only wish.... I keep trying to think of the perks to the job to avoid pulling my hair out!

Hang in there everyone!

[BeckyESRN]

I told the secretaries I want to get a big poster that says SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP! One can only wish.... I keep trying to think of the perks to the job to avoid pulling my hair out!

Hang in there everyone!

I bought a necklace online that says "Suck it up, Buttercup" I wear it all the time!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You've been working for 2 months now,that must be brutal:sarcastic:. You will get a week off in November, 2 weeks off in December, that should count as a vacation.

Perhaps you should stop focusing on the daily first aid, start some health care teaching and try to help a child that is so screwed up , they are faking hallucinations.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

You've been working for 2 months now,that must be brutal:sarcastic:. You will get a week off in November, 2 weeks off in December, that should count as a vacation.

Perhaps you should stop focusing on the daily first aid, start some health care teaching and try to help a child that is so screwed up , they are faking hallucinations.

I read your bio, this is one place you haven't been or done. Possibly, just possibly, this is one of the few areas where your advice may fall short. Thanks

[NanaPoo]

I had a 5th grader come in today crying because he ate spicy chips then touched his eyes. Seriously, kids. I told him he was already treating himself by crying.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I read your bio, this is one place you haven't been or done. Possibly, just possibly, this is one of the few areas where your advice may fall short. Thanks

Nope,haven't been a school nurse or a peds nurse.I do have 35 years of experience with compassion and empathy though,especially for helpless patients.

[Cattz, ADN]

Nope,haven't been a school nurse or a peds nurse.I do have 35 years of experience with compassion and empathy though,especially for helpless patients.

Which brings this as my first thought after reading your reply. Part of our job, as school nurses, is to help shape and raise students to become strong, healthy, contributing adults in society...not helpless, needy adults. And, sometimes, just sometimes, this necessitates a tough love approach.

On the flip side, I scooped up one of my young elementary autistic students, who came walking to school, crying tears big and deep enough to float a ship, into my arms. I rocked and talked to the student until the student could function, then I walked to student to breakfast and helped the student get their tray. That is just a drop in the bucket of what we do. EVERYDAY ALL DAY.

Sometimes it takes tough love and sometimes it takes a "Granny" to take a student in our arms and love them like I would want someone to love my own if they needed it.

The education system, is. like. no. other. for. a. nurse. to. work. in. But, one has to truly be in the education system to really "get' it.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I get that if you're a parent you think that you've walked a mile in our shoes. But unless you've spent a morning one moment dodging punches from a child that just came to this country and doesn't speak the language to filing the workers comp report for the person that wasn't so quick to sitting on the floor holding the same child while they are a tearful albeit combative mess, well, you might not know what out day is actually like. Meanwhile, because you are one of the few that is trained to handle these situations your meds are backing up and the kids with the minor complaints are being turned away. Some won't come back, but most will. This just means two walks out of class for them.

[Buyer beware, BSN]

Feeling burnt out...not feelin' too good myself...

[jjdomo]

So- long time lurker here. This post was so on for me today. I've been feeling exactly the same way!

One of the hardest things I find about being a school nurse, is all the psych complaints. I feel torn-I don't want to minimize true issues but I also don't want to encourage the dramatics and fakers ( I work in middle school)....

Anyways, thanks for all the great posts and commiserating. I feel like this is my "nurse's station":shy: