question about time off/vacation

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This is my first year as the school's first ever nurse, so they're figuring things out as I am.

I'm the ONLY nurse, so scared to take time off when the students are in class, as I don't want someone to make a mistake (give a wrong med, not do clean Cath with proper hygiene, etc.)

The teachers do 187 days. I do 197 days. I don't understand professional development. I've not really been required to attend anything other than a 3 day class we did on "being positive". It was really good. So, I worked my full 10 days prior to the start of the school year, because I had to set up two complete health offices on two campuses. I've not taken any vacation, but don't want to lose it. There are 2-3 days left where the students will not be on campus before Summer. I'm planning to ask for these 3 days as vacation days, but don't understand what professional development is, or how it works. Oh, and I'm going to a week long course in the Summer about school security/safety. Does that count towards my 197 days, or professional development? I'm feeling clueless.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

The policy for what counts towards your contract days is something that's going to be determined by your district. You should have a frank discussion with them. In addition, you should discuss just what the coverage is when you need to take a day off (either personally or for professional development) when students are present.

I can tell you how our district handles it, but it's likely not to be much use to you (unless you're in my county).

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If you are doing the summer training on your own then I would say that does not count as PD. If the school registered and paid for you to go, then that should be part of your extra 10 days. I would not recommend asking for vacation days for essentially a 10 month position of employment. However if you have sick or personal time as part of your contract , I would use in that way. The 10 extra days, are they assigned or just 10 random days? If they are not assigned I would just do the 10 days that work best for you and your vacation schedule.

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

I have about 10 more days than the teachers but I come in early in the year to get care plans, etc. loaded in the system & stay after to tie up loose ends and do reports. Can you not do that with your extra days? You need to be OK taking time off. If you delegate, train, and reevaluate properly there should be no reason for you to be scared to take a day off if you want to.

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Take your vacation days! Don't burn yourself out.

You said that you're in charge of 2 campuses (I am too-I feel your pain). What happens when you're not at one campus? Train, document who/what you've trained and try not to focus on the what-ifs. Saltine is right, if you have trained properly then there should be no reason for you to not take a day off. You deserve it just as much as the other staff who have NO issues with taking days off.

Training during the summer typically does not count towards PD days (at least not in my district).

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As a 10 month employee, I don't get any vacation days so I can't help there.

Are you paid on the teacher pay scale? If so, you should ask that those 10 extra days be paid per diem in addition to your salary.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

Yay! Firsts are great. Second year is better.

Look at your contract. If you're paid for 197 days, you do all those days.

If it's 187 - then you have some ammo. There should be a compensatory mechanism if you've actually worked 10 extra days.

You might need to talk to HR. Those professional development days should be used by you (the nurse) to up your skills, not sit and listen to chat about differentiating instruction. See if the children's hospital offers a school nurse update (flex those days - they're usually in the summer).

Best of luck!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

how are your days off labeled? are they labeled as vacation days? are they use it or lose it days? if they are sick days, they typically roll over, vacation days usually roll over too to a point, but everywhere is different. I've worked in places with family sick days that didn't carry over so you were best to burn those days and places with personal days that converted to sick days that carried over so it didn't matter -you could save those for a rainy day. It's not common for a 10-month position to have "vacation days" but everywhere is different.

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No matter what the verbiage, if you have vacation days/personal days/Paid Time Off days/days where you can use to not come into work and do whatever you please, use it. DO NOT feel guilty and DO NOT worry! ❤️

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