Feeling like I'm doing everything wrong lately

Specialties School

Published

(sorry long, venting post)

Last week was awful. Had a parent upset at me because their child vomited here at school yet he wants to play outside when he got home (she called 3 times to complain about this). Among other things, I felt like parents were attacking me left and right. Found a bed bug on a student, bagged everything and all the other student belongings in class. Spoke with my admin and she says to send letter home to that one parent. (I spoke to this parent last semester about it and it did not go well, admin didn't want to talk with parent either.) I run into the teacher and shes really furious because she ended up calling all parents in her class to tell them why their child had their stuff bagged up, sooo that is all my fault for not doing that. Come to find out admin told her I did call all of the parents, yet she told me not to do that. (always miscommunicating here) I don't think this job is for me anymore. I feel like everything is dumped on me and then blamed on me. I'm still fairly new to all of this and so is the school. Trying my best to make everyone happy but cant seem to do it. Sorry for the long rant, i just need to get it off my chest before I blow up.

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I'm sorry. The worst part about this job is being alone. The second is miscommunication (read: inept) Admin. The 3rd is parents.

It sounds like you got hit with all 3.

Maybe its not the job of being a SN, but where you actually are.

Vent away. No apologies. That's why we are here.

I have no answers for you. Only you can say how bad it is.

*hugs*

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

HaHa! Good One..."trying to make everyone happy..." not gonna happen. If you weren't doing your job you wouldn't be hearing anything from anyone. Transitioning into a new school can take several years to get all the staffed "trained." Be consistent and don't waiver. It'll get better. Try to sit back and enjoy it. Watch em squirm!!

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In the future.....just bag the belongings of the student with the bed bug, not the entire class to prevent parent chaos. Get really familiar with your states guidelines regarding bed bugs in the school setting. I have mine copied and ready to go when these issues come up.

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..

So glad you came here to vent. I think it's safe to say that we have ALL felt like this, sometimes multiple times a week...or even a day. Take a deep breath. Look at each situation. See what can be done different (if any) next time. Be open, honest and consistent. BE CONFIDENT. If your not feelin it, fake it. Each time you handle a situation, you will learn and it will help you to handle it next time.

Breathe ikirk. It can be lonely. I hope you don't jump ship yet, until you are sure school nursing isn't for you. Huggs to you.

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Old Dude hit the nail on the head - if everyone is happy, you are not doing your job!!

I have someone upset with me at least once a week. Our greatest weapon like someone else said is to know your policies and procedures and don't be afraid to hand someone a written copy of them!!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

the amount of effort it takes to make everyone happy is huge -the amount of effort it takes to piss everyone off is minimal.

Do what you have to do to do your job well. You are there to serve the children and be their advocate for when they are sick. I believe it was inspiring words by Old Dude when he said that this job is one nurse who is all alone to make all the decisions with an entire school of Monday morning quarterbacks telling you how to do your job.

Don't let them get you down.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Oh yea, another thing kirk...keep in mind...guess who's gonna be the most popular person on campus when a kid is flopping around in the library in the throes of a seizure? No one is gonna remember if you called a parent about bedbugs then. You're gonna be their best friend :yes:

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

exactly! good point. I've noticed that the things that people want to nitpick are the little things like, well, nits. People usually don't question my judgement during something big like a seizure or a kid that's climbing the walls with pain due to a fracture. At the end of the day, our esteemed colleagues are generally worried about covering their own behinds and making themselves look good more than they are worried about caring for the students - despite what they may say.

I'm sorry, my cynicism is leaking out again...

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
Oh yea, another thing kirk...keep in mind...guess who's gonna be the most popular person on campus when a kid is flopping around in the library in the throes of a seizure? No one is gonna remember if you called a parent about bedbugs then. You're gonna be their best friend :yes:

Pseudo or otherwise... slowly creeps back to watch the fun.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Bed Bugs! Ug, why is pest control a school nurse issue (don't answer that!)..

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.
Bed Bugs! Ug, why is pest control a school nurse issue (don't answer that!)..

For the same reason that social worker, dentist, pharmacist, therapist, doctor, optician, shoe cobbler and fairy godmother are all school nurse issues.

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