Lonely in the office

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Specializes in education, school nursing, med-surg, urgent care.

So I'm liking my new job as a middle school nurse, but it's a little lonely. Access to the health office is through the main office so I can't really go hang out in the hallway and interact with people. Most teachers are in other buildings. I eat lunch alone because I wait until the 3 lunch periods are finished since that is the busy time. The various administrative staff is nice but they're working too...Any suggestions to be more sociable so I don't get claustrophobic here in the clinic all day? :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Enjoy it before they find you!

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

I started to walk to the front to ask people questions instead of emailing or calling. That assumes you have an aide or you can shut your clinic for a minute.

Good luck! Old Dude is right. They will find you and ask about their hangnails and their angina. Or really serious stuff, too.

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Talk to us here. That's what we do. We wuuuuuuuuuuuv each other.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Welcome to the fun world of school nursing!

Yes, it is a lonely and boring job sometimes. I've tried applying at other jobs just to realize my best deal is staying where I am. Chat with us as much as possible to help those days go by quicker.

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Some days I go on a "walkabout" to get out of my office when it is slow - I will walk to cafe, get something to drink, visit with lunch ladies or walk thru office and visit. If the teachers I am friends with outside of school are in their planning period and I know they are not in meetings etc I will go and visit with them too. Usually I cant stay gone long just 10-15 minutes if that but just long enough to make time go by faster and not feel so isolated.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Emergency Room, School Nurse.

I too am new school nurse but on the high school level. I still don't get to many students that come in which is fine I am really enjoying the break!

Since I am new to the school not many students will come in to see me.

I did find however since they have not had an actual nurse in almost 10 years more of the staff come to visit then the students.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

I have music on all day, I use I heart radio usually, sometimes Pandora. It helps me not feel so alone, and has some background noise.

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Specializes in kids.
Some days I go on a "walkabout" to get out of my office when it is slow - I will walk to cafe, get something to drink, visit with lunch ladies or walk thru office and visit. If the teachers I am friends with outside of school are in their planning period and I know they are not in meetings etc I will go and visit with them too. Usually I cant stay gone long just 10-15 minutes if that but just long enough to make time go by faster and not feel so isolated.

10-15 minutes?!?!?! Holy Cow!! I can barely get down the hall and someone is yakking at me on the radio!

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I found it a huge transition from acute care. You are seen as an adjunct, not really staff, but you sure are loved when you are needed. Good luck in your transition.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Emergency Room, School Nurse.

I feel you on the 10-15 minutes?!?! Since this is a private school and a small one at that (249 students) they all go to lunch at the sametime I try to get to the cafe to get my lunch and I hear my name getting called over the intercom to report back to the clinic a student is waiting.

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Specializes in NCSN.

I am a part of a few of the groups in the school (environmental group, leader in me, trauma informed care) and that helped me get to know my staff a little more. I also try to seek staff out at the start of the day to talk about my frequent fliers.

For students, I stand outside my office and wave to everyone as they come in, but I'm in the middle of the school. Maybe you can be a door greeter or help at the bus stop so then the kids will get to see you more.

But as old dude said, it's a trade off. When I started everyone was nice and polite, now some of my teachers are comfortable enough stripping down in front of me to check a mole on their back. And I've mentioned before, I have a LOT of hypochondriacs, so I check a lot of staff temps and do health education with them daily lol

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