Split between two schools and both Hispanic populations without being bilingual.

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Hi all!

I just interviewed for a school nurse position. I found out that I would be split between two schools. Does anyone do this? If so, what do you like or not like about it? I would spend 3 days at one school and two days at another school one week, and then the next week switch days between the schools. The principal told me and I'm quoting this that she is so busy that she will have no time for me. She said she expects me to work miracles. She expects me to do my own thing and she can't be bothered. How would you take this? It does concern me that if I needed something for the clinic or needed to be backed up on an issue with a parent or teacher that I would have difficulties.

The school population at both schools is 98% hispanic. The majority of the teachers are hispanic. She told me that not a large amount of the parents can speak english. She said that everyone on staff spoke english, but she wanted to know if it would be okay with me if she spoke spanish in front of my to other staff. I do not have an issue with being a minority there. My only concern is the language barrier that would be presented with dealing with the student's parents, and also how would the work environment be? Has anyone been in this situation? How did you handle it? I am wanting to buy Rosetta stone to learn spanish. I know a very small amount of spanish that I learned in high school/college, but if "you don't use it, you lose it". So I don't remember that much.

Anyway, hope someone has experience with the same situation and can tell me about it! Thanks!:redbeathe

I'm really excited about getting a job as a school nurse...they told me they would let me know something by tomorrow. But I just wanted to get experienced nurses opinions on how this situation would be.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..
Hi all!

The principal told me and I'm quoting this that she is so busy that she will have no time for me. She said she expects me to work miracles. She expects me to do my own thing and she can't be bothered.

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!! Do not pass go, do not collect whatever paultry sum of money they want to pay you!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

:yeahthat: You are not a miracle worker and you cannot do your job without administrative support.:eek: School nursing is great. This job is not. Keep looking.

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Thanks for the advice! They offered me the job and I told them I wanted to think on it a day. I just really thought the principal was unprofessional and a little neurotic. The principal at the second school I really liked though.

Another thing that she said to me was "I have a sixth sense. I can walk by your office and in 3 seconds I'll know what you are doing. If it is something bad. Personal calls for examples are a no no no! then i will not like that and I will come back to my office and we will talk about you. it probably isn't the best way to handle it but thats what i do"

I was so excited about the position too. I have a interview today for a Corporate Wellness Nurse position. So we will see how that goes.

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I would not accept a job from a prinicpal who conducted themselves as unprofessionally as you describe. I have had fantastic school nurse jobs, all because I had fantastic bosses. See if there is some way you could tell the other principal to call you if there is ever an opportunity to work for him /her.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

O.M.G. :no: I foresee nothing by frustration and burn out here. And not from your hispanic parents either. This principal clearly doesn't know what a school nurse does. And believe me you are going to need her on your side because there WILL be situations that only an administrator can handle. This is not a challenge, it's a warning: When somebody shows you their true character, believe them the first time.

As far as your hispanic population I'll tell you how I handle that. My school is 50% hispanic. Almost all of my kids speak enough English to articulate their problems to me. Almost none of their parents speak English. If the situation is minor I just deal with the student. If I it's more serious *head injury, severe vomiting, broken bone, breathing problems,etc,) I call another Spanish-speaking staff member to translate for me. That happens maybe every 2 weeks.

I also made a chart of phrases, one for illness and one for injury, and had our school system interpreter translate it*with phonetic spellings*. Basically it says *in Spanish* " Your child has a _______(head injury, high fever,severe abd pain, breathing trouble,whatever.) Then, "You must come to school." "This may be serious." "Your child needs to see a doctor right away." It's not as good as having someone to interpret, but they get the message. Sometimes after I've said my spiel I'll put their child on the phone. That usually makes the parents feel better. I did have one boy tell me,"Your Spanish is good, but you have a terrible American accent!" :D

I rarely have a problem reaching my hispanic parents or getting them to pick up their children when I call. La familia, gotta love it.

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Specializes in school nursing.

Run like the wind.................sounds like a miserable situation. At least you can thank that principal for being honest about her lack of integrity!!! Better to find out now than later when you feel like running out the door screaming at the top of your lungs!!!!

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Okay, so I ended up taking the job. (scary i know lol) Everyone so far has been very nice at both schools. I started Monday. I am split between the two schools so MWF school 1 and TTR school two...then switch that next week. I am a little overwhelmed though. I'm coming in two months from school starting and I still have to get my hearing and vision cert. and learn how to work with the immunization records. I really don't know where to start! I haven't had any type of orientation. I just signed up for new employee orientation with the district set for the 22nd and a class that teaches about a computer program for immunization records on the 19th. I also emailed someone about hearing and vision cert. dates that I could attend. Hopefully after I get all of this in I will feel more confident.

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I also made a chart of phrases, one for illness and one for injury, and had our school system interpreter translate it*with phonetic spellings*. Basically it says *in Spanish* " Your child has a _______(head injury, high fever,severe abd pain, breathing trouble,whatever.) Then, "You must come to school." "This may be serious." "Your child needs to see a doctor right away." It's not as good as having someone to interpret, but they get the message. Sometimes after I've said my spiel I'll put their child on the phone. That usually makes the parents feel better. I did have one boy tell me,"Your Spanish is good, but you have a terrible American accent!" :D

Great tip :D

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