katscan

How one reads a post and interprets it is individual. To me, she was not insulting or presumptious. Naive maybe? Inexperienced? Therefor, I don't say that I answered in a "cut and dry " fashion. People are free to make comments according to their inner responses. Not everyone on this board had your perception. If she did come across as a know it all to some, I honestly don't think this was her intent. After all, who wants to get on a board and be cut down as she has been? To her credit, she did answer almost all of the posts directed to her, both good and bad.

I just read this whole thread and am saddened at the pokes and jabs directed to the original poster when she(I am using she for convenience) was only asking a question /expressing her opinion. From her standpoint, her thoughts are her reality. To make comments to her to "grow up" is unfair. This same kind of attitude was directed to one of our beginning school nurses and she was really discouraged. Some of the older nurses took her remarks as being ignorant and idealistic. They laughed at her and cut her down behind her back. Let face it folks, we ALL make idealistic or ignorant comments at times--No matter what age or degree of experience we have. I tried to support her and encourage her. As I am doing now. Things can be bad in nursing in "the real world" as we know. Who knows, maybe NP2Be will be one of the ones to help promote change.I hope so. Also, I have been a nurse since '73 and am 53 years old, in case anyone wants to challenge my age and/and or experience.

With my junior high, I gather the student(s) that need instruction and some who don't and have a "mini class" on hygiene during which I go over the needed info. The students are then asked to judge my class content, ability to understand the info, etc. I want their opinions about how the class will go over with their peers, in their opinion. I present the info and give them opportunities to ask questions. I even ask "review questions" of them verbally to see how much they have retained. Finally,I give a gift of deodorant, tooth brushes or soap depending on the need. I thank them for their input. After all, numerous ad agencies gather info this way and it really works. I am hesitant to confront a student boldly, unless I REALLY have to. No one like to be told they stink-especially if they have no control. Other times, I have called the parent and stated that I-or the teacher-has noticed an odor about their child. As this may be a medical problem, I suggest a physical. Anyway, it alerts the mother to the problem. Sometimes she will volunteer info such as "she wets the bed" etc, and them I can use that teachable moment to ask HER questions about clothing, washing etc. If the child is getting teased, I call for the mother's help in stopping the teasing. I do not want her child to have to go through being "different". This helps elicit info also-especially if the mother works, and the child SAYS she is bathing or changing her soiled clothing, but is not really doing it.

Personally, I don't care what the nurse looks like-or "is" as long as the person is competent when they care for me-or any patient. This student doesn't THINK with that male appendage-which will probably be lost in the near future anyway. The person utilizes their brain. If they have the qualifications to earn the RN after their name-what should it matter? The poor person has enough to worry about without being judged.

I'm 52 and have been told by students and administrators during my 21 year career that I relate to kids very well. I have k-12 experience. And I would love to implement more wellness programs. Obesity interests me. I was wellness coordinator for the past 7 years in my district. So, age doesn't really have a thing to do with relating to kids. I do know from past experience that you are probably right about having someone picked out before. Many schools hire internally, but not necessarily nurses. The job has to be posted and they are required to conduct interviews for a certain number of hours before the posting is officiallly closed. But word has gotten out probably that the job was opening up and others may have beaten a path to your administrator's door. In my community a school nurse job is "to die for". Every nurse wants to be one-but must have the qualifications before even being considered. Sorry you missed out-try again. There will be other openings. Also, volunteeer to be a substitute in the clinic when the nurse is sick or uses her personal days. Volunteer to help with screening. It cant hurt, and may help you immensely. If you get to know the nurse, she may be able to put out a friendly word for you if another school in the district or in the neighboring districts opens up. She may even give you advance warning so you can get in there quickly.We school nurses meet and chat amoungst ourselves. People-(volunteers, parents, aides, nurse wanna bees and teachers) are all discussed. So are administrators and job situations. So get out there and be recognized as a poerson who would love to be a school nurse! Good luck!

I'm a school nurse on salary. I am expected to stay after if a meeting on a student is called, but otherwise I work 7 hrs per day and have 1/2 hr for lunch. It's lunch I don't always get. I am on call all day for everything. But I have been doing this for 21 years, so it works for me!

After a long hard day, I sat down last eve with the latest Newsweek. I did not need to read that letter from that resident. To make such sweeping statements, and lump all nurses together...His narrow mind will get him in trouble long before he becomes a "real doctor".This kind of narrowmindedness will not go away, and will get him in trouble sometime, somewhere with his patients. It's just a matter of time...

The way you asked the question, it sounds like you are researching the topic. Are you working on a Master's thesis? Just wondering.....

This is amazing! And management require nurses to work double shifts! What about them?? No talk about patient safety there-only insubordination if you don't. I sincerly doubt that you would have endangered your patients, you DID get some sleep. Those double shift nurses are the endangering ones yet this practice is still allowed! Why doesn't she cut to the chase and tell you that you will probably be mandated to work in that fashion. Like she really cares...Yeah, it sounds like she does not like you. Good luck.

Nursing is not all about dealing with the "yuckies". besides, everyone is different. And the incident passes. You may feel queasy until the task is finished, but then you move on to different things. Maybe the dissection thing is the only thing that would make you queasy. I have a very strong stomach, but the thing that almost put me over the edge was carrying a sloshing bowl of emesis(green) across the room slowly so that is would not spill, until I could dump it. Oh my, I thought I would not stop gagging. I worked on human cadavers without a problem, but it was the emesis thing I remember most. I am now a certified school nurse, and have to deal with kids throwing up on ME! Which has happened! Having kids of my own helped, but I NEVER will forget that incident in the hospital as a student! Don't stop nursing because of this incident. As one of the other posters said, we need you!

Congrats! Hapoy for you!

Rotten Nurse-that was a mean and totally untrue statement! Unit clerks are part of the team too-they accomplish alot. How would you like to be "minimized " like that. Andre, I respect what you do, please don't think we all feel the way Rotten Nurse does!

This MUST be shared with others! Too good to pass... So many others are going through this too, every day. Your insight provides courage and hope, as well as demonstrating the humanness of all of us. Bravo, VERY well done.

You paint the most beautiful pictures with words, even sad ones.The depth of your feeling is something one can't manufacture unless you have felt that way. You have a gift-a great one. Please continue to share with us. For a minute, I was by his bedside with you, and found myself tearing up again. You must be a magnificant nurse. Thank you

I love reading your works. Your love for others shows through all you write. Some of your poems made me mist up here at school...You seem to be a wonderful person . Lucky are those who know you personally

SmilingBluEyes said it best when she asks you to tell us the "hows" of communication so that we can be heard and the "what" to say so that it is effective. The same stuff keeps getting bantered around and no one suggests concretly how we can move beyond this stage. I know you mean well and it sounds like you are sensitive and caring. So.......I am also waiting. I want to see nursing unified before I die.

Wow! That was like a shot in the arm! Thanks

Jamiers, why do you say things like "a person like yourself" etc and then to then say "foolish people point out foolish things" to Nooney. That again was hurtful. Her post was insightful. I feel you'd better clean up your postings to sound nicer or you are not going to make many friends. What makes you think that legitimate questions to you are grounds for personal attacks? I too was confused with what you had posted before-adding to my reasons for posting my first post. You reactions are a bit confusing-it sounds like you are argumentative-and you think this is chaos??? I think not, just an honest attempt to find out facts.

Welcome Mylissa! You will find alot of help and friendship here. Don't worry too much-just take it a day at a time and concentrate on learning all you can.Best of luck!

No Jamiers, I did not see your post-I read some and came back to this . My mistake. SORRY-Then you are not young and inexperienced. I stand corrected, but I think your response was overly harsh and punitive. You did not have to cut me down like that and say such hurtful things. I did not say anything that others did not say before me. . I have a lot to say-you can see I am a senior member.You are a new one. Your words were hurtful.. I should have gone back and read the posts more recently. Yes I made a mistake in not doing that, but your response was nasty and mean. I did not personally cut you down-I honestly thought you sounded very young. I won't want to be comunicating with someone who responds in the fashion you did. Yes, I am experienced-2O years of nursing.

Yes I think it is very worthy. How many nurses bother to put -or have time to put-their feelings in writing. This would make a nice addition to our otherwise "dry" journals. Do it....

You paint a very poetic picture of a major loss. The mind picture of the beach and the ocean after the "busy season" as day goes into night is very effective-I felt your aloneness......and loss........

Sorry Jaimers, but you sound young and inexperienced. If you took a job ANYWHERE you will hear complaints about the co-workers, conditions, pay, etc etc etc. This goes on in business, technology, management, sales and in just about any other profession. This is very evident where members are allowed to vent on their boards. We just happen to be on the nursing board, so the other professionals' complaints and not here. You have to be sure nursing is for you and base it on legitimate concerns, not on just what you have read here. And you don't think gossiping, pessisism, and negativity goes on in other fields? If you do, I have a bridge I can sell you.............

I'm glad I am a school nurse because it is my chance to have an impact on the young lives I encounter. There is no better feeling than seeing a student you had in the clinic years ago and having her tell you that the reason she is in nursing school today is because of YOU! Also great is running into past students who remember you, greet you, and tell you the things they remember about you, the school clinic, or the experiences they had there. In my 20 years I know many of the young adults in my town, having had them in my school in much earlier years. Sure I feel old at times, but then at others, I feel like I will never grow old as long as I have my kids around! My best memory is of a student now in the military, who had been involved in drugs , came from a broken home, and was messed up, and now is on his way to a college degree. I told him once that I believed in him and told him he COULD do what he planned to do, even though his father cursed him and his mother was not there for him. We had several long talks during which he poured out his troubles to me. I told him that he had great potential and that to take it a day at a time and that anything was possible as long as he wanted it enough to work for the goal. He credits me for the achievement-he kept telling himself that his nurse believed in him and it kept him strong. I never would have believed that if he had not come to my door, and told me face to face in his military uniform- smiling from ear to ear. . Was I ever humbled!!! So fellow nurses, never discount the encounters you have in life. They occur for a reason. We all are students, we all are teachers.

Wow. I am awestruck. Such wonderful insight and powerful challenges. Thanks Aintz for putting into words my feelings exactly. When you threw out the topic of a professional nurse that has been debated here so much, I thought here we go again.. we'll become defensive and protective of our special corner in the profession. BUT>>> You have explained why we are where we are and why. We all need to read your post and then reread it again. You have painted a realistic picture of the system and it's language as well as suggested possible ways we as a profession can cope and change. You did not only state the problem, but gave possible solutions, and I respect that highly. I agree that we as a profession are on our collective way out if we don't adapt to the reality of today. (And we DO have to have an educational entry point into the profession-EVERYONE else does, unless you are paid hourly. Professionals as they are defined by society do NOT get paid hourly. Now, note I stated "as they are defined by the reality of today's society... Your post is superb..BRAVO!!!!!