Just Amazed

SchoolNurseTXstyle · Apr 14, 2012

You did not hear the OP refer to anyone by a derogatory name. Neither did anyone else, because those words were never uttered. You came to a discussion board intended for school nurses and read a post in which she vented about a particularly frustrating situation in which educational staff members failed to recognize or acknowledge the life-threatening nature of a student's condition. You then proceeded to chastize her for expressing said frustration to her fellow school nurses on the BB in a way that you do not like.If the OP had indeed remarked out loud about a student's peepee pants, you wouldn't need to "have her job," it would already be long gone, and rightfully so. But that is not what happened, so such threats are out of place.I am not aware of any participants here who rely on "comebacks." We post here to vent and share ideas, not rip each other, because we understand the frustrations, working conditions and situations that we all share. We also recognize that the use of edgy language and imagery here is a means of blowing off steam, and does not reflect any of our actual habits in professional practice.Any and all are welcome on this board, students included. But when students or the uninitiated choose to criticize rather than ask questions, they run the risk of exposing their own lack of knowledge, experience and understanding. Your harsh commentary would tend to indicate that you have no better understanding of the initial situation than the staff members who complained about the inattention to wet britches and broken glasses as another student struggled to breathe. A lost opportunity to learn about cooperation, prioritization and emergency care.

Thank you so much Jolie for your support and UNDERSTANDING as a licensed and experienced school nurse. To the holier than thou nursing students : When did I ever state that I called these children peepee pants to their face? It was a " description" in a post! I have no problem with sharing thoughts and info with students, this site is for everyone! However, you have to give respect to get it! I am a campus nurse, I mentor new school nurses, I have a lot of school nurse friends. All of us use the term peepee pants "amongst ourselves." Our lives our dedicated to caring for these children, none of us would ever treat them with anything but with TLC because that's what school nurses do. I remember being on these boards when I was a student and thinking some posts sounded harsh. Now, I have what you guys just don't have yet! Real live independent nursing experience and that brings a different understanding to the table. You'll see!

PatMac10,RN, RN · Apr 14, 2012

Like I stated earlier, I was positive that you didn't say this during the situation. We all must vent, but we also all have an opinion that we ate entitled to state whenever we please? Which can really cause a lot trouble. I also stared that it was sad you had a lack of support and that having that lack can make you understandably frustrated. So if anything I personally said, was holier than thou, then send me my halo and wings and call it a day.

Baubo516, RN · Apr 14, 2012

It sounds like the teachers at your school could use some training in dealing with non-emergency situations! Also - training in treating a fellow staff member with respect. I see a topic for a future in-service. Sorry you had to deal with this!

PatMac10,RN, RN · Apr 15, 2012

I agree that I have said much, much, much worse things about people and patients in generals hole venting, does it make it acceptable for me to say and do such things, no its not, according to my personal values. I guess I'm mores sensitive with children, they are naive and helpless in many ways. Perhaps your right that my opinion will change, I highly doubt it because I've always been one to be open-minded, yet hard to deter from my beliefs, and that can be a good and a bad thing. I aimed not to judge the op, because as a CNA now I have night where I am the only CNA on a 17 pt critical care unit and I get frustrated that many nurses are pulling at me to go do 20 different things. I can't be totally upset with them though, because I know, as a student nurse that there are times when you truly need an sides help.

I appreciate your approach to your comment though. You were very civil about it.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Apr 15, 2012

I think some of us need to play nice and understand that this is a confidential place to vent....we should not be passing judgment on others, especially when we have not walked in their shoes. The point was being made regarding having to juggle a multitude of SICK kids and a very selfish teacher wants a piece of her then, for real?????

Sometimes I understand how and why nurses eat their young..... :banghead:

Merlyn · Apr 15, 2012

I can't believe how rude teachers / staff are. I had 13 kids in my clinic. An asthma attack, 2 head injuries, a fever, 2 peepee pants etc, etc. STANDING ROOM ONLY!! One staff member comes in wanting me to check her blood pressure because she is just curious to know (no complaints at all). Another teacher questions why I told the kid with broken glasses to come back later. Ughhhhh, do you not see the kid in the corner turning blue around the lips? That's why! Another teacher comes demanding to know why I am keeping the peepe pants kid so long because he is missing a test. Well, blue lips in the corner over there and I ran out of all clothes 2 months ago. Seriously I am one person! Somebody is going to have to wait. Why do people at school think everything should be done t the drop of a hat? I am waiting for the day when I am performing CPR and somebody tells me I need to stop because there is a kid with a paper cut who desperately needs my immediate attention. Ok, vent over! Thanks for listening.

Get use to it, kid, this is nursing. People are not going to look if you need help , you have to tell them. Every nurse when working is in their own little would by that I mean they have their own work to do. You have to be more forceful. Your going to have to put up with people like this throughout your career.

ChristineAdrianaRN, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2012

The fact that you would ask means it would be a waste of time to explain it to you. It sounds exactly like what another student would call one who has had an "accident" to make fun of or tease them.
Never mind, moving on, because some times you have to cut your losses and realize "you can't fix stupid".

Um, wow. Pretty sure she was referring to the pants having peepee on them, and not the students themselves. And even if she as referring to the student, she clearly would not say it to a student or wherever they would hear.

I agree that it's pretty clear you either aren't a nurse, or you haven't been one for very long. Just wait, girlie. You're going to have days when you need to vent, too. Though it's very likely you won't make it very far if your oversensitivity and rigid attitude are any indication. Also, calling me stupid is incredibly out of line and your rudeness is going to bite you in the ass sooner rather than later. I would absolutely never want you to be my or my loved one's nurse. Grow up.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Apr 17, 2012

One of the more fascinating aspects of the job of a school nurse is the sense of immediacy that every situation presents with. Students start blurting out their litany of complaints to me before they are even in the room. Can't tell you how many times i've had students and staff burst into my office, pay no regard that i'm already on the telephone handling another issue, and get annoyed because i'll quietly hold up the "one second" hand motion. You go to your primary doc, you may wait 20 to 30 minutes just to get into a treatment room. Go to an ER - could get seen in 5 minutes, could be 3 hours - depends on what else comes through the door.

Sure a school health clinic is a far cry from an urban ER - but the same principles of prioritizing in nursing exist no matter where you go. I try to remind my staff and my students of that concept from time to time.

As far as using terms that some people object to - well... you should hear the things that run through my mind and get filtered out before i speak to my students/staff/parents. Forums like these are a chance to let the filter have a bit of a rest within reason. Although it seems sometimes, the longer you've been doing this, the worse your filter works.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2012

Amen, Flare. I hadn't responded to this one yet because my words failed me, and then there you are putting my thoughts into a perfect post :)

I can usually forgive the students for their urgency, because what doesn't seem like an emergency to a little one, but it is the adults who I get cranky about. Surely any grownup with a lick of common sense should realize that life threatening or urgent medical conditions take precedence over other matters, but sadly they do not. I was recently reamed by my principal for not leaving a student who I was assessing for a playground injury (rule out head injury, as well as bleeding wounds covered in dirt, etc) so I could answer the office phone. Um, no.

nursebooboo · Apr 17, 2012

ok..... if she called any child by name - that would be against the law... so yes of course we come up with little nicknames to tell a story to protect the privacy of PEE PEE PANTS.

Merlyn · Apr 17, 2012

ok..... if she called any child by name - that would be against the law... so yes of course we come up with little nicknames to tell a story to protect the privacy of PEE PEE PANTS.

The Nuns that I had in Catholic School uses to call us names all of the time. Of course it was a different time and most of the Nuns I had are rotting in Hell now.

nightie-night nurse · Apr 17, 2012

I just assumed she was describing the problem. There was no outcry for saying she had multiple head injuries in the clinic. Peepee pants was a quick way to type it.

As far as using terms that some people object to - well... you should hear the things that run through my mind and get filtered out before i speak to my students/staff/parents. Forums like these are a chance to let the filter have a bit of a rest within reason. Although it seems sometimes, the longer you've been doing this, the worse your filter works.

That was my first thought, I am glad no one hears what runs through my mind sometimes.