Planning Periods

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Do you get a planning period? The nurse I replaced said that I should make sure I get mine because I'm entitled to one. But, we have blocks which means that it would be almost 2 hours per day where I wouldn't be seeing students (including my lunch). While that would be glorious to get paperwork and phone calls done, it doesn't seem practical. Plus, unless it was the first block of the day there's no way I wouldn't have students in my office already.

I am tempted to take the last block as my planning period however as it's shorter, and I don't feel as bad saying no to headaches and tummy-aches in the last 30 minutes of the day.

I know a lot of the nurses here don't even get lunches, but, do you get a planning period? Was it even offered?

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A planning period would be sweet but we don't get those in my school system.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

I try to use mine the last hour of the day. I let teachers know that I want to only see emergencies during that time. If a student has a stomach ache or a headache with no other symptoms, they can wait until they get home.

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Specializes in School Nurse, professor, OBGYN.

I just get a 30 minute duty free lunch.

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

I almost always get lunch, but don't get any type of planning period. I guess school is dismissed at 3:20/3:26 and I stay until 4, so I get a bit of time without kids.

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

I have a teacher's contract, and according to the contract I should get a planning period, plus a duty free lunch. Our blocks are 80 minutes long. Lunches are supposed to be 20 minutes long, plus a 60 minute planning period (I think- I've never done such a thing, so I'm not sure of the exact time allotments.)

I suppose if I wanted to, I could fight for it. Some days I could really use it, other days I can get done what needs to be done (including personal phone calls) in between seeing students. I think it all balances out in the end.

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I have a teacher's contract, and according to the contract I should get a planning period, plus a duty free lunch. Our blocks are 80 minutes long. Lunches are supposed to be 20 minutes long, plus a 60 minute planning period (I think- I've never done such a thing, so I'm not sure of the exact time allotments.)

I suppose if I wanted to, I could fight for it. Some days I could really use it, other days I can get done what needs to be done (including personal phone calls) in between seeing students. I think it all balances out in the end.

I'm wondering how this will work once I am certified as a school nurse and put on the teacher contract. They have many certified nurses in my new district, so I'm sure it has since been addressed.

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.

No planning period.. Lunch is between students being seen. No "duty free " lunch for me.

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Specializes in School Nurse, professor, OBGYN.
No planning period.. Lunch is between students being seen. No "duty free " lunch for me.

How many hours are you paid for? if you are docked 30 minutes in your check, you better demand a duty free lunch, or they should pay you for a lunch not taken.

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How many hours are you paid for? if you are docked 30 minutes in your check, you better demand a duty free lunch, or they should pay you for a lunch not taken.

Even if it's a paid lunch, it is illegal for you not to have a break if you are working over 5 hours.

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.

Txbootsy and Kizcare

I work 7.25 hours. 30 minute unpaid lunch is suppose to happen. It's kind of my choice not to take it. We don't have a staff lounge so there's no where to go. I'm not supposed to leave the grounds in case of an emergency. If I do try to take a walk around campus I'm always called for something. With my 30 regular meds scattered through out the day there is really not a 30 minute period where someone doesn't come for their med. So I basically stay in my office, eat in between visits. I do however schedule any appointments I may have toward the end of the day, and leave a little early when I need to. Kind of flex time :)

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Specializes in School nurse.

We are on the teachers contract as well; however, since we no longer teach health (as in a designated time everyday in the classroom) we don't get a prep.

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