Overwhelmed new school nurse

[geminiwanderlust]

I've been working as a school nurse for a little over three weeks at my local district. I am juggling four schools. My previous experience is limited--I was a substitute school nurse one day a week for six months at a larger well organized district. I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. I am wondering if I made the biggest mistake of my life. One of the schools is a small private school and I literally stare at the wall while I am there because I have no students visiting the clinic and no idea what else I should be doing. I have been given limited resources, no protocols or policy/procedure. Subbing was very different--the clinics were very busy, lots of meds and diabetics, even a tube feed. All the charting was electronic which I excel at and I was primarily at the same school. I loved it.

Now I feel idle and that paperwork is the only thing I will ever be doing. And I don't know how to handle so many situations. I forgot to send a head injury form home with a student (because I really hadn't even been briefed on the subject) and got nicely talked to by my supervisor because the parent was upset.

[geminiwanderlust]

Ok this made me feel a lot better!

[T-ROD, LPN]

This is only my second year. I will tell you that it was wayyyy better than my first. The nurse that I replaced did little to no training with me and basically I was left to learn it on my own. I run two buildings with roughly 850 kids. I have actually loved this year!! I have gotten into a routine and was able to really get in and figure things out my own way. Yep, there are days that are boring or crazy busy I never sit down, but for the most part I enjoy each day. If you like it hang in there a bit longer. It does get better!!