Getting bored.

[DON2084182]

Hello,

I recently started at a k-8 school in August of this year. Even though I haven't even made it through October yet, I find myself, well... getting bored of it already, and a bit frustrated. My Mondays start out with 50 kids, abd. pain, bloody noses, "wet" accidents, a-z of minor things, most of which teachers really can take care of in their classrooms. It can be very overwhelming from time to time, especially considering I'm riding solo through this mess.I'm watching myself becoming one of those mean nurses, especially when I'm going down the line of frequent flyers/fakers throughout the day. I also notice this same attitude with the other techs working at the school.

Also, I find myself getting bored. It's very routine, and almost too routine, I don't have a lot of down time most days, but, when I do I find myself at a loss of what to do. I graduated from a paramedic program and this was my first job offer(had a little bit of a mix up with the ambulance company).

Just need advice, maybe words of encouragement to get me through these next 6 months. I'm wondering if this is just the first year blues, or what...and I'm kind of just ranting, it's been one of those days. Thanks guys !

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

This is my umpteenth year and it has been a wicked morning!!!

I have already seen 20 + kids for a variety of complaints...most seem to be from the PE class where they are doing some conditioning....headaches, nausea, "I almost vomited", migraines, tracking 2 students post concussion return to play paperwork, a parent asking me about the scabies outbreak -"say what?", kids calling to dismiss themselves...I go to get ice from the weight room ice machine and the PE teacher send a student after me to ask for cough drops-like I carry them with me?!?!

blahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK off my box and I feel better. thanks for listening!

[Tina, RN]

This is my third year of school nursing, in a k-6 elementary school.

In my first year, right around November, I was completely fed up! For all of the same reasons OP listed, I was totally disgusted. I nearly quit. But, I'm glad I didn't. School nursing pays horribly, is isolating, frustrating, demanding, and busier than I ever imagined it would be. But, ultimately, I love it! As far as nursing jobs go, I think it is one of the better ones to have.

Hang in there!

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

well, admittedly, this is a bit more mundane then hopping off a rig into action and adventure with every unknown call. But after a hearty career eeked out and my now 4th school i can tell you this much. Your first year in a school is the hardest - not just in school nursing - in a school. The students test the waters. The staff has an automatic expectation that you will do things the exact way that the nurse befor you did, despite the fact that you may not know that nurse or how they did things. They will complain if you try to change things and yes, they will try to test you too.

Just know that just as in any job, there are good days and bad. We can only hope that the good days out number the bad. but in school nursing, as in life - some days you are the fire hydrant and some days you are the dog. The best way to get through the bad days is to vent.

And the second year does get a little better... and the third year a little better beyond that...

[DON2084182]

Yeah, I think I'll just use this as a stepping stone to get into the ER or something more. I am just trying to survive the rest of the year, and it does make me feel better that I am not the only one who is frustrated in the first year coming off. Thanks guys for listening ! :) Glad to know it can get easier down the road.

[lvansick]

I'm sure there are many other opportunities for you out there. You have to explore different options to find out what you actually like. I am a firefighter who is a nursing student. I like the emergency response, which is why I think that I would like the ER after I graduate. Find out different options for yourself, and don't just settle for the first job that comes about. Every person I talk to says that a nurse can find work anywhere. With the paramedic certification, you could work on an ambulance or in the ER as a start. If you don't like that, try finding something else. It's never too late to switch jobs! You can go anywhere!

[Nurse ABC]

So are you a paramedic then and not a nurse? The reason I ask is because if you're a paramedic, yes you're gonna be bored out of your mind. I really like being a school nurse but I like the whole aspect of it-checking and putting immunizations in the computer, screenings, classroom teachings, care plans, etc. I know I'm crazy but I like a variety of tasks and a challenge and if all I did was see student after student with silly little complaints (like I did when I subbed) I'd be bored as well.

When I started at these schools this year the kids were coming down for anything and everything with no passes all day long and I was like there is no way I'm going to be able to get all the state required things done with this happening. I don't mind seeing kids there for legitimate issues but silly things I get annoyed fast. I started requiring all my kids to have passes. If the teachers have to stop and fill out a pass they think twice. Second every time a kid visits me I send a note home. I just send a carbonated copy of the pass but you could make little slips out if need be. I figured if parents know how much their kids are leaving class they may put a stop to some of it. Third, we said unless the kids are running a fever, vomiting, having diarrhea (that we verify through hyperactive bowl sounds), pink eye, etc they don't go home. This stopped a lot from trying when they realized we were enforcing that. If I hear "well the other nurse would let me go home" I won't even let them go home for the night! (Not really-but then I know that's why they're in my office.) I've learned to say-sorry I can't do anything about that-go back to class. It's helped cut down on visits A LOT!

Also, accidents-Uggh! Kids are required to be potty trained. If my kids have accidents I call the parents to come and clean them up and bring a change of clothes. If kid already has clothes at school I make them clean themselves up and will only help if they are little like pre-k or kg only. I figure if parents get inconvienced enough they'll figure out the problem a lot quicker.

If you don't think you're going to want to keep doing this then start looking for something different. Just know you'll be most likely working shift work which you might not mind. I've never heard of a paramedic in a school before. It's not like you're getting very many true emergencies and if that type of thing appeals to you then I can see how you're bored!

[DON2084182]

When I had to call 9-1-1 for a seizure earlier in the year, the fire dept. care. They asked me what I was certified in and I told them I was a medic, they just kind of gave me a funny look and asked me why I worked here, and I get that A LOT. First thing that comes out of people's mouth is "Are you a nurse?" and when I explain to them that I am a paramedic, they look at me like I'm the step child of the community, haha. I do feel like the black sheep of the community a bit.The reason why I am here is because I didn't get in with the ambulance company out here. ( long story)...and I came out of medic school with very little job experience, and no hospital work experience, so getting in with a hospital had slim to none chances, and I applied at every hospital within a 50 mile radius of where I lived for many different positions..I would love to get something more "hands on" but, it's hard to find hospital jobs out here(AZ).

Thanks for the advice, I do call home on a lot of kids, and I literally get mad at my frequent flyers when they walk in my door. I say "WHY ARE YOU HERE?!" instead of a "what's wrong?" kind of greet. It's hard convincing the teachers not to send me their kids, they have little to no medical knowledge, and panic at the smallest site of blood...but, I'm trying to work on that.