frustrated school RN being called an assistant

jjjoy, LPN · May 22, 2008

It does sound like your union isn't serving you well. It's there for the unlicensed staff - the teaching aides and secretaries and you guys just ended up lumped in there. That other staff doesn't face the same issues as the nurses. They likely can't easily find other work in their field for a lot more money, like you nurses can.

And yet they are still able to find nurses like you, willing to work for so little, because it IS great hours and a job that many people enjoy.

The ideal solution would be to become certified and come back on that higher pay scale! I'm sure you would've done that, though, if it were that simple. Would you need to earn a BSN in addition to the certification? I'd imagine there's not much turnover in the certified nurses and that there's strong competition if a position does open up. Sigh!!!

Fiona59 · May 22, 2008

Even when you belong to unions that don't name your profession in a specific manner they are obligated to bargain in their members best interest. That's why I'm saying document, document. If there are suffienct numbers they can set up their own bargaining unit within the union.

mitzi · May 23, 2008

The union issue is touchy and frustrating. We talked to our reps the whole way thru this last contract negotiations but there are only 4 of us in the district. They feel that they DID speak on our behalf and were baffled when we expressed our disappointment with our increase. They felt we were unappreciative. I think the solution may be to try to get input from gals in other districts in my area to see how they fair. As far as going back to school goes...that's really not an option I'd consider at my age...59. I appreciate all the input and advice....please keep it coming.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Jul 29, 2008

Mitzi,

I know this thread is a couple months old, but I just saw it. I worked as an "aid" in a school district for 5 years. Pay was low-around $15/hr. NO benefits, but did have to pay union dues. Was in the same unioln as the custodians, etc because I was non-professional even though you needed to be and RN to hold the position.

It's not fair, but as long as they can get people like me(it worked with my kids schedule) to do it, the school districts won't stop. While I worked as an "aid" I was able to go back to school and get my BSN and School Nurse Certification and have since gotten a "real nurse" job. I'm still making about 1/2 as much as I would in the hospital but it's worth it.

I do understand where you're coming from, after a while it became very demeaning to be called an aid and do all the nurse did. The union rep was the worst to us.

bergren · Aug 2, 2008

In some states only certified school nurses can legally use the title school nurse. However, under no circumstances should an RN be given or accept a job title that misconstues and undermines the registered nurse license. An RN is never an assistant or aide and always works independently under the RN licensure. Not only should you calmly and firmly insist that this job title be changed, but so should every RN who works for the district, certified or not. Involve the state school nurse association. Suggest an alternative title. In the meantime, add RN and any degrees in prominent letters to your name badge.

Some titles I have seen in school districts when an RN cannot use the title school nurse due to state code:

Registered Nurse (how revolutionary!)

Health Services Nurse

What acceptable titles have others seen?

sChOOLRN48 · Aug 13, 2008

No Weekends No Holidays & Summer VACATION!!!!!!

I took my job for those reasons. I am in the same union as the janitor and secretaries and am proud to be included with such great people (at least the people I work with). I do wish that I had a TRS and the some of the other benefits the teachers have, but with my life as it is now...I don't want to work in the hospital. I would be upset if I was called an assistant though. I sent my name plaque back 3 times because they got my credential incorrect! I earned every letter behind my name!!!!!!

I say ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE! Be proud of what you have earned! And all of your continuing education! Tell the teachers you have completed an athsma management class, a nutritional advisement class and so on...you will be suprised at how much more respect you will recieve! When I did this I recieved a lot of questions about mom and dad's heart history and surgical questions as well as womens health questions...I used to be a ED RN...jack of all trades master of none! (please don't take offense! to this...we do it all , but I swear I could have been there forever and never quite learned it all!!!)

Good Luck!

Don't compare yourself to others...its tempting but we are all here for different reasons...mine is supposed to be in bed, but up playing with her Daddy!!! totally worth every struggle!

Wishinonastar, BSN · Aug 17, 2008

This is common practice in PA. If they don't have to hire a certified school nurse they will hire you as an aide for low wages. It is a shame, but I can see both points of view. Before I went back to school for my school nurse certification I thought I would do the same job as the certified nurses for less money if they would just give me a chance. I thought I could do everything they do. I subbed as a nurse for many years. Now I am certified and I realize that there was a lot I didn't know. The school nurse has to develop all of her own polices and forms, and understand a lot about legal issues in schools and child devevlopment. It is not just a matter of being a nurse. It is a management role. I understand why a more than a BSN is required now. That being said, I am not in a certified school nurse position, I am a school nurse at a Vo-Tech school and they do not require that I be certified. I also do attendance and am treated like a secretary. You think you have it bad? I handle all kinds of student emergencies alone and am only recognized on secretary's day. Yet I have a master's degree. I only get paid on the secretary wage scale so I work a second job. But it is a nice job, and hopefully it will lead to something better. The bottom line is they do not respect nurses in public schools.