No Respect

Published

Specializes in School Nursing.

Hi School Nurses,

I have been here on AN for a long time and was locked out for a while, but now back and able to post here.

I've been doing school nursing for a long time. I have loved this job and pretty much dedicated my entire nursing career to working as a SN in a public school system.

I am seeing a disturbing trend with teachers and I am just having a hard time adjusting to this new waved of younger teachers who show no professional respect to my position.

In the earlier years, I never had this problem. Teachers treated me as an equal, with mutual appreciation for the jobs that we all do. Respect was a normal way we treated each other.

But the growing trend that I am seeing is the older teachers are just over and done with teaching and when they get their 30 yrs. in, then they are OUT !

The new, younger teachers (22-30) have that air about them that they are superior to anything that I represent to the school and they are quite obnoxious with me. (not all, but most).

They are demanding and expect me to follow thru with whatever they want me to do for them. I have explained that I have a certain scope of nursing practice and that I will make the final decisions on medical matters.

I have explained to them that I am held to my nursing license and trust me, I will not do anything to jeopardize that. I have talked to my Administration about this and not a whole lot is changing. I realize that I am medical and they are education, but I have never seen anything like it, and it's only in the last five years or so.

Maybe it's time to move on. I would hate to do that, but every day is like I'm fighting a losing battle. So tired of never getting any kudo's or respect for the job I do.

Any feedback or positive vibes would be appreciated !

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I have seen a similar attitude with new NURSES in the hospital. They come out acting as though they are anointed by God and can do no wrong, they are going to change the world and they have never heard no. Amazing, there is a great video that explains Millennials problem with this on Facebook. I can't get the link to share, sorry, but they have this attitude that they are the only ones able to change the world.

Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

Millennial here :cat: Before lumping us all in a stereotypical group, please remember what generation raised us :yes:

Any who, this is where you appeal to the educators need to educate. Ask to sit down with teachers before the school starts and do an in-service on what you can and cannot do. Educate the educators is the best solution for most of our problems. Also, give them a quiz. Enforce the no cellphone or talking rules while you talk to them. Give them a power-point and a hand out. Also, keep track of theses teachers and what specifically they aren't getting about your position. Let them know they run the classroom and you run the nursing office.

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Just don't engage. Remind them they are required to adhere to a curriculum; just like you. They have the latitude to make judgments and decisions to ensure compliance with their teaching curriculum; just like you. Don't let them occupy space in your mind, rent free.

But most of all Praiser, remember, not receiving kudos, in and of itself, is reflective of the professional and top notch job you are doing as a school nurse. Otherwise you'd hear the complaints. We are like transformers cruising the streets of the school, unnoticed, unappreciated. But when the "fit hits the shan" see who the first person those little chickie poos run to...none other than "Praiserimus Prime!" Forget about them...Praiserimus Prime - I like that :yes:

Specializes in School Nursing.

Thank you OldDude ! Your encouragement means a lot to me. You cut straight through the crap and I like that ! I will take your advise and consider it very sound advice. :up:

Specializes in School Nursing.

I'm curious what kind of things these newer teachers are expecting of you? In what ways are they disrespectful? There are a lot of young teachers at my school and I find most of them to be very respectful and friendly with me. The older teachers too.. it's the ones in their middle of their careers I have the most issues with. ;)

Specializes in kids.
But when the "fit hits the shan" see who the first person those little chickie poos run to...none other than "Praiserimus Prime!" Forget about them...Praiserimus Prime - I like that :yes:

New tee shirt slogan!!!! I wanna be part of the fan club!!

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i find with the fresh outta the box teachers, their biggest issue is the staunch inability to curb their student's attempts to flee class for the minorest of issues. So I have novice teachers sending kids out for the twisted ankle from "last week" that they are walking completely fine on or the assessment of the the bruise from so long ago that the child can no longer remember how or when it happened and it's now faded and yellowed. I bought packets of lip balm and the kids blew through 300 of them in less than 2 months. Some kids trying to come more than twice a day. Seriously! I'm not putting any more out until we're really into winter right now. I have students that will come into my office 5 minutes before the dismissal bell for lotion for their dry skin. These are things that the teachers should be policing. My thought is that they're already here- take the blob of lotion and get ye back to class.

I think there is some sort of fear factor, whether taught in college or by mentors to the new teachers that the parents will sue for every little thing. I am pretty sure that no child has ever suffered long term damage from having to wait until they got home to put some Jergens on their dry skin.

Specializes in School Nurse.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
i find with the fresh outta the box teachers, their biggest issue is the staunch inability to curb their student's attempts to flee class for the minorest of issues. So I have novice teachers sending kids out for the twisted ankle from "last week" that they are walking completely fine on or the assessment of the the bruise from so long ago that the child can no longer remember how or when it happened and it's now faded and yellowed. I bought packets of lip balm and the kids blew through 300 of them in less than 2 months. Some kids trying to come more than twice a day. Seriously! I'm not putting any more out until we're really into winter right now. I have students that will come into my office 5 minutes before the dismissal bell for lotion for their dry skin. These are things that the teachers should be policing. My thought is that they're already here- take the blob of lotion and get ye back to class.

I think there is some sort of fear factor, whether taught in college or by mentors to the new teachers that the parents will sue for every little thing. I am pretty sure that no child has ever suffered long term damage from having to wait until they got home to put some Jergens on their dry skin.

How about just not giving out free stuff of any kind? That should cut down on the traffic.

Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.
How about just not giving out free stuff of any kind? That should cut down on the traffic.

Because without students coming to the office requesting one of the free packets of lip balm, Flare would instead be fielding just as many visits from kids wielding notes from teachers saying "chapped lips" asking for Vaseline.

Because without students coming to the office requesting one of the free packets of lip balm, Flare would instead be fielding just as many visits from kids wielding notes from teachers saying "chapped lips" asking for Vaseline.

For this reason, I give each teacher a tube of vaseline and a packet of cotton swabs. Not that it eliminates visits for chapped lips, but I like to think it helps some... But they all act as if chapped lips are some sort of emergency

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