at my limit

[jesserpie]

Just exhausted....No nurse at the high school next door and No other nurse in our small town. So I take care of my school(the middle school), the high school, and supervise a preschool, and two elementary schools. The closest other nurse is miles away in another small town. It wasn't like this last year. There was a nurse at the high school that supervised two of the other schools. On top of this, I'm getting pulled into having to help change diapers of students at the high school and middle school on top of cathing a student at the middle school twice a day! I do not feel that changing diapers is a nursing issue. I'm not getting a lunch or even bathroom breaks at this point and am about ready to quit. I'm so far behind in everything at work and have been a month behind on my mortgage all summer. I just don't know if I can go back to the horrible schedule I had before..... I hope this is a temporary issue and they hire someone quick! Just had to vent to someone..This is what happens when you don't get your coffee in the morning:confused:

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

Is there not a trained aide to change diapers? If not there needs to be. Take your lunch. Go to the bathroom. The schools are NOT like the hospital where someone may die if they don't get treatment right away (for 99% of things). Train your staff on what is a true emergency and what is not.Give them a schedule of where you'll be and when and stick to it. Train them on how to handle minor things. Tell them you will no longer be rushing over for non emergencies.They will walk all over you if you let them.

Sorry about your mortgage. You kind of randomly threw that in there. I'm sure that's causing more stress too. Hang in there!

[guest83140]

Why can't the para or aide be trained to change diapers? This district has a big shortage of help that is not safe for you. You may need to give them a timeframe of a demand in writing. Is a job posted for the high school position? I would start looking before the bottom falls out. Protect your license is number one!

[nursetlm, ADN]

That does sound stressful. Make sure they are in the process of hiring someone, that will eventually bring relief. We have special ed assistants who work one on one with the kiddos who have diaper/changing needs. I hope you can find some help. Hang in there!