Just a pill pusher...

[smudges.blips]

At least, that's what my Admin team thinks I am. We have new administration this year and there is no support of any health and wellness activities. Our grades 3-6 have gym class once every three days and I've even been banned from sending out newsletters on topics like Signs of Depression in Children. UGH!

I LOVE the kids (and the hours ), but I have a hard time just sitting here day after day and only handing out pills and inhalers. I tried talking to Admin respectfully but was told that I was being "condescending" and that they "know all this already, after all they have been doing this for nearly 20 years...)". Our RN is a contract only employee so her involvement is very little.

Is it time to move on or do you have tips for affecting change without having to involve admin?

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

I am sorry that you don't feel you're valued. We serve at the discretion of administration (at least in my district). There are years when I was actively a part of the management team and there are years when nobody notices me until a really bad asthma flare (or a kid faints during a dissection lab!)

So if you've been rebuffed by the administration, you could:

See if the counselor(s) need any help or want to work on a project;

Pick other topics that are less hot button (I'm with you on why identifying depression is important but they plainly don't want that) - like handwashing, the flu, or lice, and do some fliers or other kinds of education;

Ask the nurse supervisor if s/he has anything s/he wants help with; OR

just know that we have 23 (ish) weeks left in the year. You could begin looking after winter break.

I know how it feels to want to help but to be told we don't want that kind of help. Hang in there!

[OldDude]

Don't worry about...you'll be the most popular person in the building when a kid starts seizing in the library or some kid's arm looks like a "Z" on the playground.