"quit asking so many questions"

[geocachingRN]

Hello all:

I'm a little bewildered and unsure what I can do. As you know school nurses work pretty independently, and I'm mostly working as a 1:1 nurse about 50% of the time while I learn the job. The rest of my time, I write IEP's and do follow up vision and hearing screenings. I'm a new grad and a new school nurse.

Today, my nurse team lead told me that one of the other nurses complained that I ask too many questions. I'm afraid I didn't handle it very well because what did I do? Asked yet more questions! I wanted to know who I offended and if I needed to apologize to them. She wouldn't tell me who stating that it would affect the relationship. So instead I don't know who on the team is upset with me and I can't ask any of them. Other than not asking anymore questions and try and find the answer out somewhere else, I don't know what to do.

I like this job and I'd like to keep it and eventually work into a full school nurse role so I'd ge grateful for any any suggestions on how to handle this.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I can't imagine being a new grad and working in such an independent environment. It's really easy to have a lot of questions and i can see how some of the other nurses could get irritated by the "young pup" that is always "hassling" them. Unfortunately nursing is a learning process. I've been doing this for quite a few years now and I still sometimes call some of my colleagues with questions and conversely i get called by my colleagues frequently too.

Do your best to pay attention to what is being taught to you. Also, try not to aske the same questions over and over. When I had to take a colleague through how to input a sports physical for the umpteenth time I could feel myself getting annoyed.

Finally, never underestimate the power of buying forgiveness with a box of coffee and some doughnuts

[bergren]

I am fuming. What an irresponsible thing to say to any nurse. What do they want you to do? Guess? Does she want you to call just the lead nurse?

Joke about it, bring treats to meetings, but don't apologize and DO NOT STOP ASKING QUESTIONS!!!

To lighten the load on your co-workers, hook up wth your state association and ask for a mentor. Buy the School Nurse Textbook, subscribe to the Journals, etc etc, BUT DO NOT STOP ASKING QUESTIONS.

I taught for about 15 years in BSN programs and I always told the students the only way to keep a child safe is to ask questions, don't try to get by.

[geocachingRN]

Thanks for the support :redbeathe Sometimes it's enough to know someone is on your side.

I just bought the NASN School Nursing Textbook (Wow, I wish it came in a binder so I could carry around small chunks to read at a time :)

I'm a member of NASN and asking for mentor outside my district is an excellent idea and I won't quit asking questions but with email, people can just ignore me and claim to be too busy. Then I will go here or the NASN listserv.

Kindness and sugar go far, I know. My favorite cookie recipe is pretty good and I'll bring some to the next staff meeting.:redbeathe

[Nurse_Ziba]

I've encountered the same thing back when I was still a new nurse. No orientation or what so ever was given to me - Not even a clinic handbook that I could read. :smackingf I guess we all go through this at one point. It's Ironic when people tells you to ask question especially when you are in doubt and when you actually do they condemn you for doing so. And If you don't ask any question they'll think you're being too confident.

Frankly the lead nurse should have said something to the other nurses instead of just telling you that there have been complains. Especially since at this point you need to ask questions. I agree with the others - never stop asking questions. "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.-Albert Einstein"

Optimistically, think of it this way. Maybe she's just telling you to try to solve things on your own (make use of your problem solving skills) before asking for help from the other nurses.

Worst case scenario, you can always ask questions in this forum.