Privacy and Clinic Access

[Maria MA]

This is long, so basically I lock my clinic door when I leave, security and admin have a key to my office, they unlock if I run upstairs real quick for a student who most of the time have acute thinks, like a bloody nose. They can't use anything in there because My supplies and medicines are always locked up because it can be a sketchy school I have my personal belongings in there too (not locked up because lack of room) Security stays with the student but they don't need my room. They are 6th 7th and 8th graders so its not like they are children and need assistant, also I don't trust the staff or security (i feel like they have it out for me) If you want to read more about rude people and their smelly bowel movements read Below... but this part is just a summary since it is so long. (sorry for that)

From my previous post some of you may know the many issues I face at my middle school....

I want to know what other school health staff do with their clinic when they leave and who has access to it. First let me start out with the location of my clinic. I am located in the busiest, loudest hallway corner, by stairs and the girls restroom is across the hallway. (I do have a private restroom). It is where students line up to go to lunch, and these students are LOUD! My room is not sound proof and it is so hard to get screenings done. (Plus the bathroom in my clinic has a very old rickety fan that is so loud. When you are in the bathroom you can't hear anything, not the bell or a knock) My Clinic is tiny, one cot, two chairs and this old massive wooden desk that takes up so much room. The bathroom door opens and hits the cot, that is how small. (I have tried to rearrange and nothing works).

Anyway all that aside some of the teaching staff will use my restroom, however some will use it and blow it up, and it doesn't smell like roses (let me tell you). Some of them come in my bathroom just to defecate in my bathroom instead of the staff bathrooms, but use the other bathrooms to pee. (I think it is so rude) And the fact that I have to sit there with it smelling and the sick kids do to. I usually don't mind but it has become a problem, and there is one female staff member who does it all the time. Of course this is a staff member that is not my boss since I work for a contracted company but is the one that is in charge of me @ the school. I will have my door closed and locked because no one knows or respects the students privacy and just helps their self and walks right in. But she has a key and lets herself in when I am either talking privately to a student or worse trying to do hearing test. And when she sees I am doing the test she doesn't care and goes into the bathroom and turns on the loud fan and smells up the entire office. I have a sign too on my door that says where I am at or what I am doing and still, no respect. Also many times if I run out of the room to help a teacher or make a copy and I come back and security unlocks my room has a student in there for something like a bloody nose. They do this often, and I even complained to security about them unlocking my room because I have medicine and personal belongings. I know it is security and they do stay in there until I come but first of all why do you need to unlock my office? They can go into the bathroom. And above all else I do not trust this school staff at all. They gossip and spread rumors very badly. (Its like high school all over again) and we all know we medical assistants, nurses ect who works in schools don't get to leave our office to make friends. Sorry this is so long. But need advice on privacy, and obviously many other problems.

[OldDude]

Maria, it doesn't matter what others do in their clinic. It sounds like you have some real concerns about your workplace. I would recommend you print this post and sit down with your direct supervisor and go over your concerns - in writing - and see if those concerns can be addressed. If not, move on to plan B which would be the campus principal. Best of luck to you.

[Maria MA]

I'm afriad the principal is one of the abusers! I will say the administration has no idea what my job dirties are or anything about healthcare which I blame my company for. But they are scared to loose school contracts.

[aprilmoss]

I am fortunate enough to have an inner office that doesn't tend to get barged in on when the door is shut. All the supplies are locked up so the outer clinic doors are typically not locked at all once I get there in the morning.

Perhaps a "Patient Consultation in Progress" or something sign would dissuade the barging in.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

I don't have much to add except all my empathy for you. I love the idea of a "nurse working" sign. What I think you're telling me is that even when the door is closed, people are barging in with their keys?

For the poopers: A very loud "A kid just puked ALL OVER the restroom, you probably don't want to go in there" might help?

[tining, BSN, RN]

Some come and use mine; but for emergencies only, I do tell them if it is polluted before they go in.

For unwanted guests I would get some apple juice and sprinkle on the seat.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

Some come and use mine; but for emergencies only, I do tell them if it is polluted before they go in.

For unwanted guests I would get some apple juice and sprinkle on the seat.

Tining, I just spewed tea down my front. YES!

[WineRN]

I would focus on what you can control. Since you are hired via an agency, I would ask to be assigned to a new school for next year if possible. You are in a toxic environment for not just yourself but for the students. I reread your other post about not having gloves and that just makes me mad.

Since you can't leave yet, and staff isn't being respectful to you, I would make new rules for the nurse's office.

1. Sign on door that explicitly says "Do not enter, student evaluations being done" And then calling out people who unlock the door and asking them to leave

2. Sign on bathroom that says students only. Can you lock that door?

3. A sit down conversation with your admin letting them know that student privacy comes first and that they need to respect that. And a detailed email to your agency explaining the situation at the school. Someone needs to back you up.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

If you are in a private consultation with a student behind a closed door and someone keys in - you need to call them out on it right away. Something as simple as "I'm sorry, this is a confidential visit, you'll have to return when the office is open." Should suffice. If you get some line about only using the bathroom or whatever, push and cite student privacy. The sign on the door is a great idea too as well as locking the bathroom and having you unlock it. Or close / lock the door and say "Sorry, occupied - and i'm in a private consult with a student"

[Maria MA]

Haha! I actually have been doing that lately! I even made a kid go in there and stay in there until I gave her the all clear to come out so I could tell the person it's occupied.

Security and administrator have keys to all the rooms (understandably). Initially security would unlock the door for staff before I got there and after I would leave for the day so the staff could use the bathroom. (And they have a staff bathroom too!) So I asked head of security them know to stop doing it because it makes me uncomfortable because I am responsible for what is in there. (Yes all meds and most supplies are locked up) but the cabinet is old and could be easily broken into. (My controlled meds are in a double locked cabinet that only I have a key too, so that is ok). The sad thing is, the administrator that unlocks it without a care of what I am doing is the supervisor of me for the school (special education department) and lets my companies boss know of any concerns. And asking for supplies is like pulling teeth (the district nurse puts in orders right away and she has to send it To the special education department to approve, then order) so needless to say it's impossble to get anything let alone a bigger/better locked cabinet. I was out of gloves for like 2 1/2 months and had to keep borrowing boxes from staff.

[Maria MA]

I like the private consult with a patient idea! I send out emails too when I'm doing my screenings as a reminder too.

[Maria MA]

It only locks on the inside of the bathroom door