Need Help QUICK .Are you responsible for getting sub coverage

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Hi All. I am really hoping for feedback before I meet with administration and HR tomorrow. I work as the Lead nurse for a Collaborative. We have medically fragile, autistic spectrum and behavioral students. I have over 10 years of school nursing in public and Collaborative school. I have been at this job 10 weeks and already feel my mental health as well as my license are in jeopardy. Administration is very adversarial and challenging me when I inform them of our state laws regarding many issues. Anyways..I digress. I was just informed that I am expected to be responsible for finding and arranging substitute coverage for our schools. Are any of you required to do this? Also I was told I need to arrange coverage for "transportation" bus nurse. I point blank refused.There is no time. I pass 25-30 meds a day while dealing with all the "usual" medically fragile,seizure, behavioral issues.

Any feedback would be really appreciated.

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I have to call my own subs. It's been a bone of contention as the teachers don't have to call their own subs, but i do. I don't call out often. When I do, it's usually scheduled and when I broke my arm last year I did it on a weekend and was able to find coverage. I haven't left early when sick, as some of my teacher counter parts have, though my superintendent has seen me looking ill and has asked me if i was going to go home. I am not sure of what his plan would be for meds and inhalers - but he doesn't seem worried.

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I do and I think it is ridiculous. The first time I needed a sub was a day that I had to leave to pick up my own sick kid from school and I was told to start calling subs before I left. And if I wake up sick or one of my kids is sick, I need to call subs at 6am while I have a raging headache or am trying to comfort a vomiting 7 year old. I have brought it up and just been told "That's how it's always been done"

A subfinder program was just piloted here this year for teacher subs and the hope if that next year they will add on more staff. So I would call in there instead and then automated phone calls go out to subs. I always feel guilty if I can't find a sub.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

it's a regular occurance that i can't get one of my regular subs in. At the very least, i have convinced my district that having a call in agency as a back up plan is a good contingency plan, albeit expensive. They don't like it, but the children get their trips covered and should the day come that i'm puking at 3 am, i have someone i can call that will send a "warm body with a RN" to fill my spot.

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it's a regular occurance that i can't get one of my regular subs in. At the very least, i have convinced my district that having a call in agency as a back up plan is a good contingency plan, albeit expensive. They don't like it, but the children get their trips covered and should the day come that i'm puking at 3 am, i have someone i can call that will send a "warm body with a RN" to fill my spot.

Moi aussi. This is what my situation is like, too.

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We have to call our own subs. Pretty easy to get when needing a pre-arranged day off but usually does not work for last minute illness and such. It is rare I call in sick, but front office is trained to give medication and handle traffic in my absence. It is annoying that all other staff can just enter their absence in a computer and it is up to the school to make sure it is covered while we are flapping in the wind. Honestly, if I am so sick I do not go to work, I am probably not feeling like making 20 phone calls either.....

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Specializes in ICU, Adventures in school nursing.

This year we have a nurse leader (Yay!!!) and she has been great about finding coverage. Previously, administration would find coverage. I guess I should consider myself lucky that this responsibility is not one of mine.

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Specializes in School nurse.

We have a computerized sub service that I log into and set myself up as being out or if there is a trip. The note goes out electronically to all subs on the list and when no one checks their email a live person from the service starts making phone calls. The process is the same for teachers. If no sub is available then a service is used or a nurse from another school in the district covers meds. Let us know how you make out.

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I am the only sub in my district but it is not my job to find a sub for myself. If I know I need to be out I will call my regular sub and see when she's available and schedule for a day she's free if possible but if I'm sick I just call in like the teachers.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Hospice,Med-Surg.

I have to find my own subs even if I'm dying. I've called subs from an ER bed and gotten all "no, I'm too busy" from all of them before. Very discouraging.

I've added a new sub this year that I think will be more available but I still try to never miss because it's just too much of a pain to call around and beg. I hate being put in that position.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I have to find my own subs as well. Like others have said, if it is a prearranged day, it usually isn't a problem, but any last minute thing is pretty tough. I was calling around a couple of years ago with strep and a fever on a Sunday and couldn't find anyone...another nurse had to give up her sub (we can't leave our buildings unattended). I also couldn't find a sub the day of my father's funeral...those were fun phone calls to make. I'm always frustrated that the teachers can just call out and expect a sub to be found (or at the very least their class would be covered), but I guess it is what it is.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Telemetry.

We really only have one active sub. Technically, I don't think I'm responsible for arranging for my own sub and I don't do it if I'm calling in sick (short-notice). But, if I am taking a personal day and it's a pre-arranged thing, I will call our one sub and see if she can cover for me. If not, the other nurse/nurses will just be on-call for my schools. Secretaries are trained to administer medications and the nurse is generally on call for emergencies only.

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Specializes in kids.

What is the name of that service? It sounds pretty cool.

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