rude teacher comment

Specialties School

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I had a student requesting to see me for a chronic issue. I called him out of his class once I got to his campus...last 5 minutes of the class period.

When the student got to my office he shared that his teacher gave him grief about seeing me, and also stated, "She's not a doctor". I just responded that it doesn't require a doctor to administer medication, and we both smiled. Note: this is only his 2nd visit to me so far. He's not a frequent flyer.

This is my first year as a school nurse (district has never had a nurse), and I've been very well received by the staff overall. I'm normally thick skinned, but this just rubbed me the wrong way for some reason. I assume she said this in front of the entire classroom. I know this is petty, and I won't make it a bigger issue at the school, but needed to vent to my school nurse peeps.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

So you're not a doctor...what a brilliant revelation on the teacher's part. I wonder what other Earth shattering observations she can make...consider the source and forget about it!

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Sometimes coming into an environment where the teachers acted in the nurse role gives this reaction. She may resent losing the ability to make the decision to send children she prefers not be in her class home on her own. My teachers were very happy to relinquish that, but I had one who was a little forceful in her desires to send a student home. Glad you are mature and refrained from telling her that thankfully we don't need a profressor to teach at their level.:sarcastic:

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Specializes in kids.

" No, I am not a physician, but my focused professional assessment as a nurse may well provide for accommodations and interventions that might allow the child to stay in school. Isn't increasing seat time for our children what we all want?"

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I found there were always a few teachers that simply looked down their noses at the school Nurse. I once had a student that connected with me for emotional support (we were able to help the student through a suicidal period), and a teacher told this student: "why do you need to see the Nurse? She's just 'some lady'.". LOL - it takes all kinds, I guess. Keep your chin-up, because they're not going away!

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
I found there were always a few teachers that simply looked down their noses at the school Nurse. I once had a student that connected with me for emotional support (we were able to help the student through a suicidal period), and a teacher told this student: "why do you need to see the Nurse? She's just 'some lady'.". LOL - it takes all kinds, I guess. Keep your chin-up, because they're not going away!

Another thought that really gets to the heart of it, teaching and nursing were always the careers girls were pointed to if they were career oriented. The resentment that nurses "seem" to make more is a sticking point for a lot of teachers and they see us as bedpans and band aids. This probably describes her comment the best. I have to admit, I had the opposite bias, I worked with 3 teachers turned nurses who said their ADN's were much harder than their Masters of Ed, but that changed after working with these amazing teachers. It's her, not you.

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Yeah I had a student come to the clinic and he told me that the teacher yelled out in class that she hates the school nurse. She was mad at me because mom wouldn't come pick the child up and I guess I was suppose to make mom come get the child. She is the only teacher that gives me problems because she feels all students should go home if they have to see the school's nurse. I try not to let that bother me and I just smile and keep it moving. So try not to let it bother you because you are the school's nurse and she's a teacher.

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