School Nurse is a Lonely job

[TaylsRN]

I am new to the school nursing field. I have spent most of my 5 years of experience in the Intensive Care Unit. I was ready for a huge change, and huge I got. I absolutely LOVE school nursing. I am in an inner city school with great hours and great students, but it's so lonely. I am in an office at the end of the hallway. I have state testing paperwork and boxes in my office so the door must remain shut. I see students and the occasional teacher but that is it. I am not included in the school meetings or aware of activities going on in school. I was not even notified of a lockdown at the school, I have no walkie talkie like the rest of the teachers/no one called me to inform me (!). I have tried to reach out to the principle about setting up a wellness week or getting more involved and it's like pulling teeth. I love my job and everything about it, I just wish it wasn't such a lonely job. Surely I am not the only one that feels this way. ������

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

I run the yearbook at my school and believe me, that helps me be pretty active in what is going on at school outside my office. I also teach our 7-12 health curriculum that I helped develop. But I am in a smaller (I manage 500 kids) charter school that does try to get everyone involved, which I appreciate. But my office is in the basement (I call it my "cave") and I have to be proactive in my involvement. It was very hard the first year I was here to break into "the circle." I was the first full time nurse. But I've stuck around and laid some groundwork and it is a bit easier. I have one additional nursing colleague managing our lower grades, which helps.

And this place is my favorite nursing station .

[Eleven011]

Could you find another place or even a locked closet to keep your files so your door could be open? I would go nuts if I couldn't see out in to the hall and watch the traffic! Also, ask the secretary or whoever is in charge, to put you on the email list of "all staff" if you aren't already. That way you will get school wide emails and be better informed of events.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

What grades do you cover? If it's with kiddos, offer to stop in and teach lice classes- that's a sure winner to put you on the map...

(I bring props.)

[TaylsRN]

I was put on the email list but they had my name spelled wrong, they have told me they would fix it but it hasn't been done yet, and I share an office with auxiliary who is only here Monday and Friday so all the testing and paperwork is hers. I try to keep the door open when I'm in the office but it is right in the lineup for the 5th graders classes and ends up being in the way when open. I have k-8th grade. The school is fairly small with about 200 students all together. that is good idea, and live education. My problem is I feel like whenever I ask for something it seems like I'm intruding, or stepping over my boundaries. The secretary has been helping out with medications and things before I came along when they didn't have a nurse and she is having a hard time letting it go. There has been times when she has called me to bring the thermometer to her because a student was sick and she wanted to check her temp. I have tried to reason with her and let her know I'm here to help but now I feel as though I need to pick my battles. The principle is great, when she's available but with her being so busy I usually don't hear anything back or she tells me she will work on it and get back to me. Maybe I will come up with a educational plan of something I think the students would benefit from and just go from there. So far I've had to just put my foot down and do what needs to be down before hearing back. I have been asking for weeks the best time for my hearing screenings and the principle has not gotten back to me so I just planned them for this week anyway. I never thought all this autonomy would be so stressful

[lvnforschool]

I feel your pain. I am LVN to a school of about 600+ high/jr kids. I am here fulltime and it is me who gets to deal with everything. Last 3 years here were very painful. But I stuck it out, and this year has been wonderful. We have a new principle, and the staff has finally excepted me. New attendance lady (she is my backup person), who generally does a good job. Only gripe this year, is that the School Nurse RN, says she isn't happy, and wants to leave. I am worried because I know they will not fill her position quickly and I am not legally able to take over her role (the district would try to make me). I am sorry you are going through this. Sometimes things get better, and sometimes they don't.

[TaylsRN]

thanks lvnforschool, It has been slowly getting better and people are starting to recognize me. I'm just hoping it continues to grow. A lot of the students have already asked if I will be here next year because, as they put it, "the nurses always leave" I may be naive but id love to make a difference in this school so I am hopeful it will continue to get better! It's nice to hear that it has gotten better as the years go on.

[OldDude]

I'm jealous, There is seldom a time throughout the day when there isn't one or multiple students in my clinic or a staff member.

[TaylsRN]

I usually have 1-2 students (or more if my door is open) in the clinic at any time throughout the day, But Thursday is Church day, which means I usually have 1.5 hours of no students (unless they are truly sick )

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

Give yourself more time to fit in. It takes a while.

Anything you need to communicate to staff about a student either tell them directly or hand deliver papers just so you can seem more personal and get to know others better.

Try to get involved. Bring brownies or something for the staff. Offer a blood pressure screening day. Ask for a calendar (or dates) of staff meetings, things going on etc.

I think many schools don't get too attached to the nurse because they aren't always there in many cases. Good luck! Even when you are accepted as part of the staff you'll still feel a little lonely because no one can relate to what we do.

[didi768]

I quit for the same reason. Isolated and very cold cold room lol.

[FloridaBeagle]

I'm jealous, There is seldom a time throughout the day when there isn't one or multiple students in my clinic or a staff member.

Ditto. My office is way too busy. I'd love to trade with you OP. As an extreme introvert, I'd love more alone time.

[debpontius]

I'm a rural nurse, the only nurse for the district of 4 schools, with no other school nurse for over 50 miles. I agree with you, I am totally on my on. The best decision I ever made was to join NASN. I then had a home, with folks to help me, policy, procedures, journals. Worth every penny!