I feel like I'm losing.

[Amethya]

It feels like no matter what I do, is wrong. I been getting complaints from parents becaus I failed to call them on incidents, but I did call them. One of them was because the student was playing a kicking each other game and ended up getting kicked in the groin and I called but mom never answered, so I called grandmother. She stated I never called her when I did. The other one was ina post I put because her daughter got a fever at the end of the day and I didn't catch it. Each of these incidents were reported to my admin and I'm getting in trouble for it and I'm trying hard to please them and do my job right but I'm not sure how anymore. I'm literally feeling like I'm not cut out for my job anymore because of this and scared I'll get fired because of all the complaints I getting. I don't know what to do and I'm even scared to call parents because what ever I say will get me in trouble anyway.

[Amethya]

You have ADHD, right? There's a thing called rejection sensitive dysphoria, it's pretty unique to ADHD and sometimes bipolar patients. You do one thing wrong, or one person says something or does something even slightly critical, and you go on this downward spiral. Been there myself...sounds like you are getting a bit of criticism and then spiralling. Try to give yourself some grace. This job is tough, and there's a learning curve. Also, sometimes people are going to be angry NO MATTER WHAT you do.

I looked this up... it totally makes sense on what I go through sometimes.

[Amethya]

Okay, I think I need to address this. I personally think it's me taking criticism too harshly, because of my past experiences. In my old job, I was in a bad place. No matter what I did, I was always in trouble and made me on edge and super stressed. I seriously hated my old job because I felt no matter what I did, it was wrong. No one will tell me what I did wrong, but I would get written up about something and then I would be called to the office manager's office and she would write me up because I said or did something wrong that I wasn't aware it was wrong. Instead of talking to me, just write ups and scoldings. I hated it.

So when I took this job up, I was on edge all the time, because I learned that no job is permanent here and if I do something bad, I can be dismissed easily. So when I get these issues, the past comes back and makes me feel like I did something extremely wrong and I'll get in huge trouble. But that's not the case, everyone here is super laid back, and they just tell me to ignore the calls and do my job correctly and that's it. Parents will complain and there's nothing we can do. They told me it's my first year, I'm going to make mistakes, so it's okay. I'll do better next year.

It's something more psychological than it's suppose to be and it's mostly me because no one is really angry at me or frustrated.

[OldDude]

Sounds like you nailed it...so in the words of Timon and Pumba, Hakuna Matata!...no worries for the rest of your days.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I would still advise you to see what your scope of practice really is in your state. Your license is your livelihood and goes beyond this position. It also gives you points to let you have the upper hand when administrators expect things outside of that scope. Good luck.

[Amethya]

I would still advise you to see what your scope of practice really is in your state. Your license is your livelihood and goes beyond this position. It also gives you points to let you have the upper hand when administrators expect things outside of that scope. Good luck.

"As in many states, the official authority to delegate medical care responsibilities in Texas rests with licensed physicians and nurse practitioners. Sec. 157.001 of the Texas Occupations Code loosely defines appropriate tasks for MAs as, Any medical act that a reasonable and prudent physician would find within the scope of sound medical judgement to delegate.” Physicians must be certain, however, with each task delegated that:

• Patient care is safely and properly performed
  
• The physician remains responsible for the medical task assigned and the MA performing it
  
• The decision to delegate does not stand against any existing statute and would be upheld in the event of a medical board review"
  

In other words, under a nurse practitioner or a physician, I can do anything a nurse can do in Texas.

I'll keep this in mind when they ask me to go beyond the scope of practice, which so far it hasn't. The only thing that I have an issue with is parents getting so pissy, but I'll take care of it in the future so I won't have an issue with them.

[tining, BSN, RN]

Is there an MD or NP in charge?

[Amethya]

Is there an MD or NP in charge?

At school no. But at our Central office, yes. The only thing I can do as the CMA is do first aid things and ice packs. Other things is out of my scope of practice and that's all I do. My issue is some parents get very angry because I had to deal with another child and forgot to call the parent on something, so I end up getting in trouble. I'm suppose to call ALL parents, and I am but on some like paper cuts and bandaids, or ice packs, are not needed to be called for. Then some kids don't explain more on what they feeling, just "I have a headache". So they just lay down, and then never come back. They go see parents and then FEVER! That's when I get in trouble, because I'm apparently suppose to know when they have a fever.

[vikivail26]

The one thing I hate about my job is when parents complain because they did not get a call. I think I use good judgement about calling parents. Parents these days baby their kids. If you are not throwing up, have a fever, coughing your brains out, or having an allergic reactions then go back to class and deal with it. It is called life.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

"As in many states, the official authority to delegate medical care responsibilities in Texas rests with licensed physicians and nurse practitioners. Sec. 157.001 of the Texas Occupations Code loosely defines appropriate tasks for MAs as, Any medical act that a reasonable and prudent physician would find within the scope of sound medical judgement to delegate.” Physicians must be certain, however, with each task delegated that:

• Patient care is safely and properly performed
  
• The physician remains responsible for the medical task assigned and the MA performing it
  
• The decision to delegate does not stand against any existing statute and would be upheld in the event of a medical board review"
  

In other words, under a nurse practitioner or a physician, I can do anything a nurse can do in Texas.

I'll keep this in mind when they ask me to go beyond the scope of practice, which so far it hasn't. The only thing that I have an issue with is parents getting so pissy, but I'll take care of it in the future so I won't have an issue with them.

With all due respect, I think you are in way over your head.

[Amethya]

With all due respect, I think you are in way over your head.

I may be, but I know I can do this. I haven't gotten in trouble for anything that is beyond the scope of practice, most of the things I done are mostly first aid junk, so I'm not technically worried. I'm just tired of parents complaining for things that should not be complained about but that's life I guess.

What bothers me is that they keep sending me kids and they got into a fight and such, and that's when I'm stumped, because do I call mom and explain situation or do I wait until thing is solved by AP and then call? Because sometimes these injuries are minor but I have to call parents so they can know that their child came to my office for an incident but they are fine. I'm just not sure what to say to them, because then they start asking me what happened and can they talk to their kid.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

I may be, but I know I can do this. I haven't gotten in trouble for anything that is beyond the scope of practice, most of the things I done are mostly first aid junk, so I'm not technically worried. I'm just tired of parents complaining for things that should not be complained about but that's life I guess.

I am not trying to dump on you, but I don't think you see the gravity of the situation you are in.

[Amethya]

I am not trying to dump on you, but I don't think you see the gravity of the situation you are in.

So then tell me what do you want me to do about my job then? Just resign? Because in all honestly, I'm not the only CMA in our district, almost all of our schools have these medical aides. I do understand what you are coming from, and I'm not trying to be defensive, but I really like my job and I'm getting paid more than a normal place would pay. I am working on being an RN, but for now I'm with a CMA certification and I plan to use it to the fullest. As well, in Texas we are allowed to work anywhere as long as there's a NP or a physician who knows what we are doing, and we do have one overseeing us.

I am not representing myself as a Nurse, as I tell every parent I am a medical aide, and everyone knows it. There's a ton of charter schools here that do not have nurses, but medical aides. And I know for other nurses out of state worry about the legal part of it, but my school district has been in business for years, and all they had is Medical Aides, and they know how to protect them selves this way too. Every year have two meetings for the medical aides, and we talk about what we can do and what not do as medical aides.

The reason why I didn't get this meeting was because I was hired late, so I had to wait to go to the second meeting to get the gist of things.