Need Your Input School Nurses

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

I need to draw from your experience with teachers. What are some ways that I can collaborate with, befriend, and show support for the teachers in my school this year ?

I have not always had the best relationship with them, as some are always questioning my judgement and think they know better about all things medical than me.

I want to have a more cohesive working relationship with them. Any suggestions that you can add are welcomed !

:)

[3peas]

First I always start the year off with a mini presentation from "the nurse" to the entire staff about do and don'ts. I emphasize my rationale for things is district policy or state mandates not my policy-that takes the pressure off of me and it keeps the principal out of trouble. When you let your principal know you go by the book and most of us nurses do, that creates trust, which hopefully trickles down to the teachers. By the way I am a former teacher, so I have inside on this:cheeky:

Second, I try to do nice things for the teachers (when possible) to let them know I am on their side. I'm elementary, so walking a pre-k student back to class, making a difficult phone call when I can tell the teacher is nervous about, checking on a staff member who doesn't feel well, things like that.

Third, I try to be as flexible as possible with the teachers and respect their schedule. When I'm doing screenings or whatever I ASK them when is a convenient time. If I have a kid in the clinic for an extended period of time, I will email the teacher to let them know what's going on. I just try to show professional curtesy.

Fourth, I'm consistent. I don't play favorites with my teachers and I set strong boundaries. I've had a few teachers I've had to have meetings with regarding issues and I resolve as soon as possible. When a teacher questions me I quickly remind them who the medical professional is and what district policy says and I am there to protect student and staff and if they would like to make medical decisions against my judgement they take their license into their own hands. I DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT! That normally solves those issues. I had a teacher using OTC medication in her room-fixed that. I had a teacher sending home students from his cell phone-fixed that. That's district money every time a child goes home. I have a policy if I don't see them I don't sign it. My principal can't make me sign something and I won't.

I'm blessed to have a great relationship with my principal and 99% of my staff. There will always be an outlier, I have one staff member who will not call parents and expects me to (in non medical related issues. I refuse and my goal this year is to assist her in maturing and calling/speaking to parents at pick up.

[OldDude]

3peas pretty much covered it...especially remaining consistent and inflexible when it comes to the important stuff. Just keep in mind some people are never going to be happy until you agree with their point of view. Don't put much effort into those guys.

[diamondee777]

Thank you !!!! Excellent advise

I am a new school nurse and nervous coming behind the former nurse of 10 years .... This is my first RN position

So glad I found this thread

Thank you

[smudges.blips]

No assumptions is important. Never assume that the student is acting the same in the classroom as in your office; lots of times I have a child who has been teary in class but comes down to the office and is shy enough that there really quiet and don't seem to be in that much distress. Never assume the know the difference between communicable illness symptoms and non-contagious things like reflux: to them vomiting is vomiting. If they're willing take the time to explain and teach as you would a parent. Usually simple communication is the issue.

When I have a particularly difficult teacher who continues to send me a student or fights me on something I will take the time to call a parent, explain the situation and my assessment, and let them make the call of how the issue should be handled (unless it's completely ridiculous). If the parent says that the student with the headache or who sleepy or whatever needs to stay in school then ase closed and you're no longer responsible and the student knows they canno longer come down, if they pick them up then no more visits and you build some trust with the teacher.

[WineRN]

Feed them and they will like you.

But liking you and respecting your judgment are too different things. I came into a rocky environment between staff and nurses, so it took time for the staff to really trust that I know what I'm doing.

And to echo previous posters, ALWAYS go by the book and document EVERYTHING and you will be fine.