Not sure this is the right place for me after all...

Specialties School

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I'm not sure what I'm looking for other than to vent and maybe see if others have felt this way and eventually felt better.

A little background...I'm a new school nurse in an elementary and middle school (about 1600 kids). Prior to this school year I was a bedside nurse for nearly 3 years in a Level III NICU and, although I loved it at first, eventually I grew more frustrated with the schedule (rotating day/night 12 hours; every 3rd weekend; every freaking holiday!), the terrible staffing ratios, the lack of support from our management, the emotional burnout, etc. I never wanted to be one of those people that dreads going to work and that is what eventually happened. I thought school nursing would be great because it would keep me in pediatrics (my passion!) and be a "normal" schedule that would be more family friendly.

Well 2 months in and I'm not sure this is for me either. I do virtually no direct care anymore because I have 2 full time health aides. It feels like the majority of my job is case management, reviewing health records, doing hearing and vision screening and writing reports for Special Education evaluations. I sit at a desk on the computer all day. :banghead: It's also very hard not being surrounded by other nursing colleagues. I knew going in that this job can be very isolating but thought I'd do ok anyway. I do like the autonomy and the short work day but not the job itself.

Part of me wants to just suck it up and stick it out for the family friendly schedule alone! Part of me wonders if I should go back to school and become a PNP (a goal I have had for a long time). Part of me wonders if I should try to find a clinic job. I also have the option of picking up shifts in my old NICU once in a while so I thought maybe that'd be a good balance for me. A shift a month in the hospital and full time at school.

Advice? Experiences? Reassurances? Thanks for "listening."

Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
The kids coming through the door mostly do come in for minor complaints and nit picky things.

Haha...nice one Flare :)

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Hey, k.

I feel the way you do. The pay is horrible, and there are no other medical people. This is why this board has become so important to many of us- we are literally each other's co-workers.

That being said, my Kid is a senior here, so I will NOT be leaving before he graduates.

The kids??? I LOVE THEM. I love making a difference I can see. This is my community. It means a lot to me.

But yea, not enough nursey for me, either.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I have the luxury of working 24 hrs/ wk in the hospital and 32 hours in the school. I don't have that disconnect, but understand how one could feel it.

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By nursey, I mean tasks. I'm not demeaning us. I know we are nurses.

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

I am the only nurse here. No one above me to do the paperwork, no one working under me to do the hands on, so I get it all. And its a good mix, I get a bit of everything and I like it that way. Just enough office work/just enough patient care. And you can't beat the perks! OP - like other suggested, maybe you can look for another school position with more patient contact?

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I am the only nurse here. No one above me to do the paperwork, no one working under me to do the hands on, so I get it all. And its a good mix, I get a bit of everything and I like it that way. Just enough office work/just enough patient care. And you can't beat the perks! OP - like other suggested, maybe you can look for another school position with more patient contact?

...and Hammy.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i will say though - my biggest complaint - and i'm really feeling it this week as i sit here so uncomfortable - i have an ear ache and there is no one, i mean no one that can look in my ear :bored:

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

These feelings might come and go throughout the school year. I am in my second year and I remember feeling sort of like I was thrown to the wolves my first few months. It was a brand new school and they hired me after school had already been in session a couple weeks. They hadn't had a nurse before since they were new so I had no one to really guide me through. I bought a few books, did a LOT of on line research (wish I had known about this site last year), and basically figured it out as I went along. A supportive administration is HUGE. They trusted that I was a good nurse and let me make my own decisions about things which really helped. It did (and still does) feel lonely sometimes. I am a total introvert, but even so, sometimes being in that office on a quiet day, I miss the camaraderie of the busy nurse's station. At my school we get a letter in February asking us back for the following school year. We have to sign the contract/offer letter and return it in March. Last year I knew I was coming back but I am trying to figure out Fall 2017. I have kids who will be in 4th and 6th grade and have not been involved in their school at all last year or this year because I am here. The school where they are is HUGE on parent involvement and welcomes parents to join for lunch, volunteer in the classroom, etc. I am contemplating working as a substitute school nurse in my home district and the towns right next door so I can work when I want and be more available for my kids. But then I think about the current job I have which is mostly pretty comfy, only 4.5 hours a day and I know I am super lucky to have it...

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Specializes in Sub-Acute, School Nursing, Dialysis.

I get this. But my issue is kind of the opposite. I worked in a sub acute rehab at night before I did school nursing. I was a new nurse and took whatever position I could get. But unfortunately I don't feel like I gained a lot of experience or got to use a lot of my skills or even learned much. There was a lot of paperwork at nights. I was desperate to get out because it truly depressed me which affected my family life too.

I picked up side jobs as a substitute nurse and loved it. I had always wanted to be a teacher so this was the next best thing. Then I got hired where I work now. I did school nursing during the week and worked per diem in the rehab on the weekends for four months but had to drop the rehab. It was too much for me. But I wanted to keep up the skills and nursing part. I do feel like at times that I am missing out on all that nursing has to offer. But nothing beats the schedule or the adorable children I get to work with. Good luck!!

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

I agree with others. Give it some time. Wait for those holiday breaks or the snow days where you can stay safely at home. It would be hard to just do paperwork, though. I don't have health aides so I get lots of nurse work. Best of luck!

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Specializes in Peds, Neuro, Orthopedics.

Are you still hanging in there kschenz? How did the rest of your year go?

You can have my old job. The LPN was a total drama queen and never showed up for work because she always had some crisis or another at home, so I got to do a lot of double duty. :sarcastic: (Substitutes? What substitutes???) Be careful what you wish for!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

Yes, wondering how the rest of your first year went and what you decided. In my response to you I mentioned I was trying to figure out if I was going to come back this Fall and here I am! I increased my hours so I am here an extra 5 hours per week. I am actually looking forward to this school year now and feel like 6 months ago I would never have said that.

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