Just a small vent...

[Nurse_JackieVA]

Let's just say there's a crazy parent trying to get me fired for doing my job. She went straight to medical services department and made up a bunch of lies and crazy nonsense. Luckily my documentation is on-effing-point.

Wow, never in all my years as a nurse has something like this ever happened. Now I have to defend my decision because I don't have the right things as my disposal in my clinic filled with magic ice packs and bandaids to protect your child. I don't work in an ICU or even a med/surg where I have suction and O2. All I have are all my years of experience to back up my critical thinking and knowledge - hoping that you will trust me when I call you and say I need you to pick up your child, I don't think she's doing well - you're now going to turn around and do this nonsense to me.

Sorry I'm just irrtated and probably a little hurt, lol. She jumped the chain of command and went for the top dog - the doctor. I'm not in trouble but it's creating a lot of fuss when there doesn't need to be any. I'm a lowkey type of person and this is definately not lowkey. Boo!

[Kind-hearted]

That can be soooo disheartening. A few years a parent caught me out in the hallway, in a crowd of course, and chewed me out me with a screaming tirade ( head lice drama ) - it was awful. But I tried to take it in stride ( vented in private! ) and tried to "kill her with kindness" - a few years down the road SHE called ME for my input. Her son had been seen in ER, she felt they blew off his symptoms and if anything he was worse now. I told her to trust her mother's instinct & take him back. Later that day, she called to let me know he'd had an emergency appendectomy!

We as nurses go from sinner to saint and back again with parents! Try not to let it get ya down!

[Nurse_JackieVA, BSN, RN]

So just to update my vent - we had an interdisciplinary meeting. We needed the meeting so we can get all the necessary consents, med orders, and everything clarified.

My supervisors couldn't make the meeting so I was alone - no one from medical services was there. I was brought in 20 min after the meeting started and had no idea what they had discussed.

I thought we were going to discuss the med orders and SZ action plan. Nope she decided to rip me a new one about the day I sent the student home, how her breathing was fine and how I don't know what SZ look like, etc... I stayed quiet because if I had engaged, she would have shut the meeting down and that would have done nothing good for the student which has been out of school since the incident approx 2 wks ago.

I think the biggest let down of this whole situation was I felt ganged up on and totally unprepared. I had no idea she was angry about a few very specific points that could have been easily taken care of had I had known them prior but to address them in that arena would have provoked an angrier response from her. She's right and I'm wrong no matter what I did or did not do.

She still has to provide all the things we need to properly take care of the student in the school but I'm still the evil nurse that doesn't know respiratory distress and what a "real" SZ looks like.

My take away: I'm on my own.

[dec2007]

So just to update my vent - we had an interdisciplinary meeting. We needed the meeting so we can get all the necessary consents, med orders, and everything clarified.

My supervisors couldn't make the meeting so I was alone - no one from medical services was there. I was brought in 20 min after the meeting started and had no idea what they had discussed.

I thought we were going to discuss the med orders and SZ action plan. Nope she decided to rip me a new one about the day I sent the student home, how her breathing was fine and how I don't know what SZ look like, etc... I stayed quiet because if I had engaged, she would have shut the meeting down and that would have done nothing good for the student which has been out of school since the incident approx 2 wks ago.

I think the biggest let down of this whole situation was I felt ganged up on and totally unprepared. I had no idea she was angry about a few very specific points that could have been easily taken care of had I had known them prior but to address them in that arena would have provoked an angrier response from her. She's right and I'm wrong no matter what I did or did not do.

She still has to provide all the things we need to properly take care of the student in the school but I'm still the evil nurse that doesn't know respiratory distress and what a "real" SZ looks like.

My take away: I'm on my own.

So if your supervisors weren't there, who were the other disciplines represented? Is this the parent that thinks you don't know what a seizure looks like? It sounds like you were ambushed! And I suppose it's just like at my hospital where the"customer" is always right, even when they aren't. If it was a co-worker who ambushed you, they should be asked, with witnessses and in front of management, to be more professional and discuss matters in private, not in front is a parent and other staff members. Just my two cents, but I'm really sorry this happened till you!

[Nurse_JackieVA, BSN, RN]

So if your supervisors weren't there, who were the other disciplines represented? Is this the parent that thinks you don't know what a seizure looks like? It sounds like you were ambushed! And I suppose it's just like at my hospital where the"customer" is always right, even when they aren't. If it was a co-worker who ambushed you, they should be asked, with witnessses and in front of management, to be more professional and discuss matters in private, not in front is a parent and other staff members. Just my two cents, but I'm really sorry this happened till you!

School Psychologist

Guidance Counselor

VP

Director of Special ED

Student's Teacher

Mom of the Student

and someone else I'm not sure who she was because she was from another school.

It's the parent that thinks I don't know what a SZ looks like. Honestly I didn't feel like going through my resume with anyone at that meeting but I know what a SZ looks like and it was documented in my charting.

I think I need a new job.

[dec2007]

I hope your colleagues supported you at the meeting! Sadly, I doubt they did.

If it were me, I would probably have to start looking elsewhere for a job. I don't think

I could have stayed as calm and professional as you did. This situation sounds like

it escalated to a ridiculous level because no one is willing to stand up to the parent.

You are in a very stressful occupation. Best of luck to you!!! Keep us posted.

[Nurse_JackieVA, BSN, RN]

Yes there is background that I can't discuss. I was told there was media involved but that has nothing to do with me but I can understand why this school district is scared but that teachers mistake has nothing to do with me. Unfortunately I'm used to being abused by crazy people - all work related of course but usually I have backup. My old coworkers were the best. This place...yeah not so much. Love the schedule and the non-stress of not having to worry about people dying but damn...

Is it Christmas break yet?!?

[Cattz, ADN]

Jackie- My heart is breaking for you. I hope you can find a new school nurse job, soon.

I love my job, but if I had to start my school nurse practice and learn to survive in the school environment in this day of legalistic society. I am not sure how on earth I would survive that. Stay close, we got your back even if no one else does.

Hugggs2U.

[100kids, BSN, RN]

I am so sorry you are dealing with all of this. Being ganged up on is awful and just not right.