I know that a lot of the times as School Nurse's we feel isolated and cast aside in our building. I often feel used and taken for granted. I have been doing this for a long time now, but that empty feeling never goes away.
We work solo, for the most part and we are not educators (although we do a lot of teaching). We are constantly under fire from the teachers who disagree with our point of view and by parents who quite often just don't give a dang about their sick child.
It is disheartening and we bear it all each day, keeping quiet and doing our best.
I would like to start a post that encourages each one of us. Please join me !
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT, LOVE AND LAUGHS THAT YOU EACH SUPPLY ME EACH DAY ! SOME DAY'S YOU ARE THE ONLY BRIGHT SPOT IN MY DAY !
...Ditto what everyone else said. I'm still struggling with my school/staff, I honestly just don't think I'm a "good fit" here...
That was the hardest part for me; being the only medical authority around. I'd be challenged all the time by one particular principal who unfortunately had a very irritating personality and could be a bit of a bully to her staff.
I stuck it out for 5 years. Kudos to those who are still school nurses. I don't want to negate any of the great things you all do by whining a bit myself.
I don't know what I would do without this board, especially as my school continues to grow like crazy. I have so many more fragile kids this year, and SO many first year teachers who I have to justify myself to almost on a daily basis. You guys definitely keep me coming back every day!
Indeed, one of the hardest parts or leaving the hospital setting was not having the lifeline of other nurses to work with. This forum has been such an amazing help. It's nice to know we can come here and share ideas as well as give and get support.
My friend works as a floor nurse and she told me she doesn't understand how I could be comfortable being alone in my room having no outside resources. I can call up my nurse supervisor if I have any questions but I wouldn't trade this job for floor nursing.
My friend works as a floor nurse and she told me she doesn't understand how I could be comfortable being alone in my room having no outside resources. I can call up my nurse supervisor if I have any questions but I wouldn't trade this job for floor nursing.
You have a nurse supervisor??? Wow.
As mentioned, I was the ONLY medical authority for 11 campuses . . . would have loved to have someone else to back me up.
I felt kind of "looked down upon" by my ER co-workers when I left the ER to take this job. All I can say is they have NO IDEA what it's like to be a school nurse. No. Idea.
And I appreciate you people on a daily basis. I'd say lets have a group hug, but I fear (hope?) some of us might get a little "handsy" in the pile-up. You know who you are.
You guys are the jelly to my peanut butter! you add that something sweet to my day. Sometimes you're the only bright spot in my day. The staff can be needy, the kids can be daunting. People that aren't in the know have no idea what we do. Nursing school doesn't prepare you for much of what we do, and there are days that i feel like browsing through the classifieds for a new job or running off to join an artists colony - yet i still show up here every day.
I am SOOOOOOOOOOO over the top frustrated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once again, there are children wandering this building, (they are homeschoolers who take an occasional class) that I have NO knowledge of; no Imms, no emergency contact info and health hx with important stuff, like history and allergies!!! I was promised it would not happen again, yet here we are.
The guidance dept is TOTALLY shut to others. I needed to know how many PE credits a kid had (dealing with a concussion) and was asked "Why do you need to know?" by the secretary. "Um, because I managing a health issue and am considering whether or not we should think about pulling him from PE".
Another kid is back in school after a lengthy rehab because I identified that he was impaired- would have been nice to know he was doing before he showed up into my office (for a non related issue) but #whiskeytangofoxtrot?
And now I am getting another 504 that is academically based because they (guidance) are no longer case managing them??????? He has academic issues related to a birth injury, has had an IEP (that I never have a part of) but now am responsible for tracking and case managing.
Thank Goodness some people in this world understand, and that is you all!!!!
Ditto what everyone else said. I'm still struggling with my school/staff, I honestly just don't think I'm a "good fit" here. I come home many days wishing I didn't have to go back. I do not feel like part of the team. I can't count the number of times I've said to my husband, "I try to be so nice to everyone, I try so hard to accommodate them however I can, but sometimes they're just so mean." I know that sounds whiny and childish, but I don't have very thick skin, never have, never will. Work has become my cross to carry. Pretty much the only positives I find at work are the kids (mostly) and a very small handful of adults.
I'm over sharing, but all this to say: I'm VERY thankful for this group. I come here for new ideas, for laughs, for answers from SNs more experienced than I am, and just to be reminded that I'm not alone.
I've been there, but you can always transfer to another school. Don't spend your days bearing a cross at work
You guys are the jelly to my peanut butter! you add that something sweet to my day. Sometimes you're the only bright spot in my day. The staff can be needy, the kids can be daunting. People that aren't in the know have no idea what we do. Nursing school doesn't prepare you for much of what we do, and there are days that i feel like browsing through the classifieds for a new job or running off to join an artists colony - yet i still show up here every day.
Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN
11,305 Posts
That was the hardest part for me; being the only medical authority around. I'd be challenged all the time by one particular principal who unfortunately had a very irritating personality and could be a bit of a bully to her staff.
I stuck it out for 5 years. Kudos to those who are still school nurses. I don't want to negate any of the great things you all do by whining a bit myself.