Frustrations !

nurseroff · Feb 18, 2005

Although there are days of frustration with the children, mostly due to being tired, no break, the difficulties learning to turn nursing language into the language of education. The most frustrating thing to me is the lack of compensation for the amount of work that school nurses do. A new teacher with no experience will make $20,000.00 more a year than a school nurse with years of experience. We are not mandated, but no one wants to be in a building without a nurse. We are not protected by the same laws that teachers are in New York. The job that we do is often more like an administation job than even a teacher position and many districts pay their nurses less than their secretaries or custodians. When I hear teachers, custodians, and secretaries complaining about their pay and their work load I often would like to scream. I am often asked if I could make more money elsewhere for less work so why am I a school nurse? The main reason is that I love what I do, I am good at it and it gives me great satisfaction to know that I make a difference in peoples lives every day.

FutureNrse · Feb 19, 2005

Wow..that IS an eye opener. Now I feel really guilty about feeling frustrated with these kids. I mean, I KNOW they have issues, but I get so frustrated with them because I tend to feel that they are "stealing" time away from the kids who are physically hurt or sick.
I don't have anyone to triage for me, and I saw 102 children yesterday (I probably turned away about 50)...so I don't know what's wrong (or not wrong) with them until they get to my desk. How many REALLY sick children did I miss because the teachers kept sending "Bobby Sue" up here 4 times yesterday with a headache (and has no meds in the clinic)???
To answer the beginning question:
frequent flyers
lack of respect from the faculty
lack of communication between me and the faculty/administration/parents
lack of funds for supplies
I hope this post doesn't sound too whiny, I'm sooooooooo tired, LOL :)

In the schools my kids have attended they haven't even been lucky enough to have a full-time nurse. I was shocked when I heard that one school only had a nurse one day a week. A nurse need to be there daily, no doubt in my mind. As a parent, I'm grateful to the nurses for all that they do. Your comment about the lack of funds for supplies really bothered me. I'd hate to think that any of my kids isn't getting all they deserve because of a lack of funding. I for one would gladly donate to my kids schools. Maybe you could send home a notice explaining your situation and asking parents to donate whatever they can. Make it clear that every little bit helps, because even pocket change can add up fast. Also let them know that you plan on asking for donations monthly, as supplies run out fast. Otherwise a parent might donate once, then see the notice again and think "Oh, I already donated".

I can't be the only parent who really cares, so I'm sure you can get some donations if you just ask.

GreenWitch · Feb 19, 2005

In the schools my kids have attended they haven't even been lucky enough to have a full-time nurse. I was shocked when I heard that one school only had a nurse one day a week. A nurse need to be there daily, no doubt in my mind. As a parent, I'm grateful to the nurses for all that they do. Your comment about the lack of funds for supplies really bothered me. I'd hate to think that any of my kids isn't getting all they deserve because of a lack of funding. I for one would gladly donate to my kids schools. Maybe you could send home a notice explaining your situation and asking parents to donate whatever they can. Make it clear that every little bit helps, because even pocket change can add up fast. Also let them know that you plan on asking for donations monthly, as supplies run out fast. Otherwise a parent might donate once, then see the notice again and think "Oh, I already donated".
I can't be the only parent who really cares, so I'm sure you can get some donations if you just ask.

I've sent out tons of flyers...with no response. The problem is, I type up the flyers, come in an hour early to get in line at the copier to make 1200 copies....and then the students don't give it to the parents!!! :angryfire

I have typed up a letter though for any new students and for next year to go out with the beginning of the year paperwork the parents have to fill out (it is attached to a medical information form). It explains that I can't possibly see everyone in a school that size and it's basicly first come, first serve. I'm hoping doing this will cut down on the angry phone calls the prinicpal and me get about having to turn away students.

I also put in that letter that the clinic is run on donations ONLY. Maybe that will help with supplies...My budget doesn't really cover anything. Before the end of the year I am going to run out of tongue depressors, otoscope covers and probe covers for the thermomoter....I'm hoping for more generous and understanding parents next year

HeleneRN · Jun 6, 2005

I am in need of exactly this type of research - or all nursing research done regarding 'Frequent Flyers'. If anyone can direct me to articles or sites with this information, it would be greatly appreciated! I am starting a Nursing Research course tonight and have to choose a topic for the class.

Thanks,

Helene :)

The research (so far ) shows that when compared to the average student, frequent school health office users who do not have a chronic health condition :
usually female
a lower GPA
hungry
mental health problems and suicide ideation
been in a fight at school
High risk family situations and
high risk Peer relationships
in middle and high school have more high-risk behaviors such as alcohol use & sexual activity
in one study, 50% of frequent users knew someone who had been murdered.
CONCLUSION: studies suggest that frequent clinic users have significant health needs that may require a higher rate of utilization.

bergren · Jun 6, 2005

Go to PubMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi

In the search area, type in Joost JC (no commas or periods) to get the following article, and then click the link "related articles" next to it, voila!

Joost JC, Grossman LS, McCarter RJ, Verhulst SJ, Winsted-Hall D, Mehl R.

Predictors of frequent middle school health room use.

J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1993 Aug;14(4):259-63.

Chilenurse · Jun 7, 2005

Go to PubMED: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
In the search area, type in Joost JC (no commas or periods) to get the following article, and then click the link "related articles" next to it, voila!
Joost JC, Grossman LS, McCarter RJ, Verhulst SJ, Winsted-Hall D, Mehl R.
Predictors of frequent middle school health room use.
J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1993 Aug;14(4):259-63.

Martha,

thanks for showing us this very interesting articles(websides). I read some of them.

Greetings from Germany

Nurse Hatchett · Jun 7, 2005

My daughter was in kindergarten and vomited X3 in front of her classmates, her teacher then sent her to the office, where they did nothing for her, just sent her back to class where she proceded to vomit again in fromt of all her classmates. Her teacher came out and told me about it when I picked her up from school. On the way home I asked her what they did when she went to the office..........absolutely nothing, didn't take a temp, call me or anything. This was in the height of flu season. I get her home and she has a temp of 102. I was very upset. The next day that she went to school, I went to talk to the principal with him being very condescending and trying to explain what a temp is and that it doesn't necessarily mean anything, to try to explain why they didn't bother to take it. I get very frustrated, tell him I am well aware of what a temp is, I am a nurse. His whole attitude changes towards me and all of a sudden he is going to look into the situation. Apparently the school nurse wasn't in that particular day. What I don't understand, they wonder why these illness just keep going around, well gee maybe because they aren't doing anything to stop it. There definitly needs to be a nurse at school, and hats off to all you school nurses who have to deal with the frequent fliers and determine who is really ill and who isn't.

Sorry to ramble on, the whole situation was very frustrating to me. By the way my dgtr is not usually sick nor is she a frequent flier. Is it normal to not have a school nurse at school??

Chilenurse · Jun 7, 2005

Hi,

we do not have school nurses in Germany.

I`m one, but my school is a private one and some private they do have (not all).

But almost all german people does`nt know and are very surpriced when I tell them what I do.

Normally the sick or injured children have to go or to the teacher or to the secretary and they call mommys or the ambulance (much more often then what we would do ).

Since 3 years I do this and I just love it.

Of course I do have each day many frequent f.

If I would`nt read all the web sides from "allnurses" I do not know what I would do. It help me a lot to see that by you "NURSES in the States", the problems are the same.

My biggest frustration here in this 3 years is, that in my school I`m alone(nobody with me and no help from nobody). And I do not get much information whats going on at school and that is veeeeeeeeeery frusti !!!!!!!!!!Believe me. The teachers, the office, the deputty head from primary and secondary , nobody think much about "passing information" to the school nurse.

Without all the websites and all the discussions online I will be lost!

Thanks to "ALL OF YOU". With you and you help online I`m super happy.

Greetings

Chilenurse

bergren · Jun 8, 2005

The problem is often that they, non nurses, do not understand the risks of not having a nurse at school and, of course, they cannot assess. The research actually shows, in contrast wto what happened with your daughter, that non nurses send home more students than a nurse who can assess the child's complaints and symptoms.

Some states require a nurse at each school, others have a ratio required, like 1:1000 students regardless of how many schools. And others still do not require nurses at all. Many parents assume their kids shools have nurses because tht is the way it was when they were in school. Many parents do not realize that the person answering the phone in the "nurses" office is not a nurse, but is a trained or untrained, supervised or NOT supervised health aide. The attitude of some, not all administrators, is any body or mom will do.

Thanks for expecting competence and voicing your support for a licensed health professional in the building for your daughter's health and safety.

My daughter was in kindergarten and vomited X3 in front of her classmates, her teacher then sent her to the office, where they did nothing for her, just sent her back to class where she proceded to vomit again in fromt of all her classmates. Her teacher came out and told me about it when I picked her up from school. On the way home I asked her what they did when she went to the office..........absolutely nothing, didn't take a temp, call me or anything. This was in the height of flu season. I get her home and she has a temp of 102. I was very upset. The next day that she went to school, I went to talk to the principal with him being very condescending and trying to explain what a temp is and that it doesn't necessarily mean anything, to try to explain why they didn't bother to take it. I get very frustrated, tell him I am well aware of what a temp is, I am a nurse. His whole attitude changes towards me and all of a sudden he is going to look into the situation. Apparently the school nurse wasn't in that particular day. What I don't understand, they wonder why these illness just keep going around, well gee maybe because they aren't doing anything to stop it. There definitly needs to be a nurse at school, and hats off to all you school nurses who have to deal with the frequent fliers and determine who is really ill and who isn't.
Sorry to ramble on, the whole situation was very frustrating to me. By the way my dgtr is not usually sick nor is she a frequent flier. Is it normal to not have a school nurse at school??