Anyone Else have to Sub in classrooms??

nursekoll, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2018

I am only a part-time school nurse. I have been asked to substitute teach on my days off, but I had the choice to say NO. I don't want to blur the lines of my professional status at school, so I always say no. They have other substitutes they can call. If I'm asked to accompany a field trip, I seek specification on if it is as a parent/volunteer/chaperone or a paid nurse. They decide and I CHOOSE to accept or not. I make it clear that if I'm there as a parent, I will not bring any medical supplies and don't expect to be asked to provide medical care unless it's an emergency.

KeeperOfTheIceRN, ADN · Sep 24, 2018

Oh gosh. This sounds awful. I'm not teacher material either and this gives me all kinds of anxiety! Who do they expect to watch your clinic while you're being a teacher? Med passes? Emergencies? Not to mention the privacy violations like mentioned above. This situation has a whole bunch of "NOPE" written all over it for me. I'd also be a little worried what job description they present to you now that you've asked for it. They may edit it before they give it to you to reflect subbing as part of your job. You might consider telling them you're either one or the other, but not both. Maybe remind them if you don't do your own job, i.e.: required screenings, maintaining immunizations....your school could be at risk of being noncompliant. Which could lead to being in trouble with your state. If these 2 jobs were truly interchangeable, there would be no reason for districts to have substitutes on wait. They could all just pull their nurses or health aides to sub.

aprilmoss · Sep 24, 2018

Subs don't require teaching degrees in our county. They don't even require a college degree (just 48 credits or a passing grade on Praxis).

bsyrn, ASN, RN · Sep 24, 2018

I have on occasion covered for a teacher caught in traffic, emergency at home, ETC. This is only till they could find someone to cover. NEVER for a full day. That is awful

Guests · Sep 24, 2018

Oh HEck no, I would be out of there so fast, LOL. There is a reason I am nurse and not an elementary school teacher.

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2018

How often is the principal and/or assistant principal substituting for a class...?

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Sep 24, 2018

Do you mean you are actually subbing as a teacher? If so, how is that even legal? I would assume somebody expected to teach would actually have a degree and the required credentials to teach. Maybe you were a teacher in your former career and kept your credentials current? If not, I would be demanding a meeting with the school board to clarify this practice before agreeing to do it again.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 24, 2018

Do you actually try to teach them on those days? Perhaps you should stop trying to teach and let them have recess or do crafts or watch movies, etc. If you need some help planning activities ... maybe ask the other teachers and/or the administrators for some suggestions about fun stuff do to. Maybe suggest that some of the children might like to go home those days since they are not going to be learning anything in the classroom. If asked, just remind them that you are not a teacher and never learned how to teach a class.

"Do you really have so little respect for teachers that you think someone with no education in that field can do the job?"

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Sep 24, 2018

How can you possibly see to the emergent health care needs of your school population??? You CANNOT. This has lawsuit written allover it. If Here is a medical emergency and you need to leave a classroom unattended... and something goes down in that classroom....the caca is gonna hit the fan!!!

KatiejonD, RN · Sep 24, 2018

First - I'm super sorry that you are put into that position. Second - I would refuse to do this. If other staff are not expected to 'fill-in' in the Nurse's office, then we should not be expected to abandon our jobs (and honestly, what a BIG job school nurses have!). My philosophy was to minimize unnecessary interruptions/visits so that 1) the students learned independence and coping, and 2) so that I was 100% on top of ALL medical issues and concerns & ready to 'hit the floor running' when my acute kids went into crisis (which happened so much more than I ever thought happened at a school!). But because I was doing MY job, and not a teacher's job, I was always ready to keep the kids as safe as humanly possible! Best of luck to you!

TriciaJ, RN · Sep 25, 2018

What happens when YOU'RE sick? Does the custodian have to play nurse? If the custodian is absent, does the principal clean the bathrooms? Are all the occupations interchangeable or just yours?

rnknsn · Sep 25, 2018

Thank you all for your concerns and replies! This has helped me so much, our subs are not required to have a degree or any education other than a good reference and background check! I did teach and did real work with them, but if I ever have to do it again I will do more free time things because...well, my nerves. I found a job description in the file cabinet from 2007 haha and it does not state at all for me to sub or fill in classrooms other than teaching on a health subject. I will bring this to my supervisors attention today. I do believe the situation has worked itself out and it is quite humerus. I don't have subs for my position at all, so when I am out the secretary has to do my job. Yesterday tons of kids got into ants and she had to deal with them all afternoon with their little ant bites. She told the principal yesterday to get a sub for the class because she never wants to do my job again! I laughed so hard. So today, they have a sub and I am in my office! I love how the Lord always has my back. Thank you all for your support because if I had to do it again today, I would be job searching!