Been thought of as the bad guy?

[Amethya]

I been thinking that some of these parents think of me as the bad guy, which is hilarious when I'm trying to help. And all they do is complain to the front office girls about me.

The 2nd mother who yelled at me about her child's immunizations came and literally complained to the front office lady, who in turn was upset with me and I'm like, "I don't care if she's upset or not, I'm just doing my job and I won't let anyone yell at me." Which is true, but I can't but think that after I do my next batch of immunizations these parents will brand me as evil or something, which is stupid, when I'm just doing my job.

[OldDude]

C'mon now, "Bad guy" is in our job description. Next topic.

Yea, we lay awake at night, wringing our hands, worrying about being perceived as the bad guy.

[K_NM_rn]

You're not the only one! I had a parent come in and yell at me after we did our state-mandated health screenings. I checked her daughter's vision, teeth, height and weight and had to send referrals for vision and a cavity. She stormed in demanding to know who sent the referrals, then yelled at me for a good 5 minutes, saying things like, "I signed something that said I don't want things like that done to her!" (there is no such document), "It's in her IEP!" (it's not) and "I don't want you putting your hands on my daughter, EVER!" I held my tongue, but the whole time I was thinking, "Well, technically I didn't actually touch her during any of the screenings" and "So you don't want us to do the Heimlich or CPR if she ever needs it?"

I also have a lot of non-compliant immunizations, and I get angry calls after I send letters home.

Anyway, my point is you're not alone! A lot of people don't seem to understand our role.

[jodispamodi]

I sub as a school nurse, we don't do immunizations anymore, haven't in a long time. I'm just curious what you're giving MMR, polio?

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

If enforcing the laws and policies set forth by the state makes me the bad guy, then I'm the bad guy. Sorry, but not sorry. I have a job to do here. I know that i'm not going to win any popularity contests with the teachers that want all of their difficult kids sent home every time they cough twice or with the parents who would rather gripe about every little thing and get second and final notices rather than just get the paperwork in ontime. Parents always seem a bit surprised when i send them a letter with a deadline and then hold them to it and enforce the exclusion that I wrote to them about. I think some of them think that i won't have the nerve to really exclude their child for something as silly as a vaccine. I do and will, quite readily.

[kidzcare]

I have had conversations with teachers (and counselors at camp last summer) that went something like-

teacher/counselor: Oh, you never met the last nurse! The kids were always saying how mean he/she was!

Me: I'd take that with a huge grain of salt. Was the nurse really mean or did the kids just not like what he/she had to say? ie: you aren't sick enough to go home/settle down, Snowflake.

t/c: ....

[Cattz, ADN]

If enforcing the laws and policies set forth by the state makes me the bad guy, then I'm the bad guy. Sorry, but not sorry. I have a job to do here. I know that i'm not going to win any popularity contests with the teachers that want all of their difficult kids sent home every time they cough twice or with the parents who would rather gripe about every little thing and get second and final notices rather than just get the paperwork in ontime. Parents always seem a bit surprised when i send them a letter with a deadline and then hold them to it and enforce the exclusion that I wrote to them about. I think some of them think that i won't have the nerve to really exclude their child for something as silly as a vaccine. I do and will, quite readily.

Flare- This is me!!!!!!! I am referred to as "the shot police". I take that as a compliment. Yes, I do have a job to do.

[Amethya]

I sub as a school nurse, we don't do immunizations anymore, haven't in a long time. I'm just curious what you're giving MMR, polio?

I'm not giving immunizations, more of inputting them into our system and having the children on track. And the parents get upset if we send letters and such.

[HalfBoiled, BSN, RN]

Even in the hospital. If I don't give pain meds to one of my patients who is inappropriately screaming in pain.

It makes visitors and patient's families think I am incompetent.

Unbeknownst to them, that person is a frequent flyer who is drug seeking and wanting a place to stay for a week or two.

[Windchaser22]

Flare- This is me!!!!!!! I am referred to as "the shot police". I take that as a compliment. Yes, I do have a job to do.

I'm referred to by one entire grade of teachers as "The Pain in the A&%" and I'm sure a lot more. Just means I'm doing my job.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

C'mon now, "Bad guy" is in our job description. Next topic.

True just about everywhere.

Not a school nurse, but I'm the bad guy where I work. I'm in LTC and refuse to let the residents smoke unattended outside and keep their lighters in their room. BTDT and saw accidents happen.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I'm referred to by one entire grade of teachers as "The Pain in the A&%" and I'm sure a lot more. Just means I'm doing my job.

How professional of them.

[JustRNingAlong, BSN]

Indeed, we are bad guys. It's okay though. I know I can say that there are staff who don't like how I do things. Too bad, so sad. Sorry, not sorry. I always think in my head, "Hmmmm, I wasn't aware that there was another medical person in this building, but they need to step forward and help me with all of this work I have!"

Ok course, it's only sarcasm. Seems everyone has nursing or medical degrees from The University of Google School of Nursing or they are doctor's licensed through WebMd and Wiki.