Sure, I'll risk my license so you don't have to leave home

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Feb 19, 2009

just had a parent ask if i could just "pretend to be her" for a few minutes and adminster a med to her kid with no doctor's orders or parental permission signed. um, no, i don't think i will be risking my license just so that you don't have to leave your house with your three toddlers to come to school to give your kid his cough syrup. sorry. not going to happen. she was really miffed. i told her this is not just my policy, it is not just district policy, it is state law. doesn't seem to matter. geesh.
i really do love school nursing, but this kind of stuff is really starting to get to me. maybe it is just a bad day, but i am actually starting to think about returning to the hospital setting. tell me i am crazy! it is just dealing with the same parents who don't seem to give a rat's patootie day after day after day. and dealing with the same issues with the same teachers, and the same malingering kids every single day. maybe i just need a "mental health day". or maybe i'll join the circus :)

i can see why you are upset purple. i feel your pain. hang in there.....we certainly do see more than our share of "butt heads" in the course of the day. you are loved friend !

praiser :heartbeat

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2009

Thank you! It really helps to come here and vent to people who know exactly what it is like.

caliotter3 · Feb 19, 2009

I usually recommend people consider going into home health as a change of pace. But you find the same type of situations in people's homes. They frequently try to get you to bend the rules too far even for the home setting. Fortunately though, you have the option of leaving the case if you are pushed too far. Hang in there.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Feb 19, 2009

Hey Purple,

I just always tell myself a bad day in school nursing beats a good day in the hospital!

Flare, ASN, BSN · Feb 20, 2009

I've been there, purple. I just tell it like it is - usually once i bring up how it would put my nursing license on the line the discussion is over.

I give my frequent fliers a quick once over - yup, they're breathing, no major lacerations - then right back to class. Fortunately, I've got a good staff who knows that i won't accept that type of behavior. I am not their behavior problem dumping ground.

This job certainly has its days when anything would seem better. I have to chuckle when nurses who have never been in our position say uneducated things like, "Your job must be a breeze." Yeah, sure it is. I have an entire school full of kids that I am responsible for. You have a handful of patients.

cowgirlBSN · Feb 20, 2009

I understand your frustrations. One day it's a teacher, the next is a parent. It always seems to be something making you question your job. We are a major minority in the school setting but we are valued and relied on. If you weren't there, they would miss you!

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Feb 20, 2009

in a world of educators, i am the odd man out. today is just one of those days where i can never win. teacher's hate me because i do my job. i am here to try to keep kids in school. they just want them sent home. i am fed up with this crap ! teachers rule the world and that' s all that matters.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2009

I hear yah. I used a sick day today, I really needed it. We have a waiver day Monday too so no kids. Maybe after 4 days of not dealing with it I will have a different perspective. I am considering applying to a district closer to my house, although I know that the grass really isn't always greener, so we'll see. It is a smaller, less urban district with a generally higher income level, but does that translate into more involved parents? Sadly, probably not.

SchoolNurseBSN · Feb 23, 2009

in a world of educators, i am the odd man out. today is just one of those days where i can never win. teacher's hate me because i do my job. i am here to try to keep kids in school. they just want them sent home. i am fed up with this crap ! teachers rule the world and that' s all that matters.

praiser-

i sooooo feel your pain. i have had a rotten 2-3 weeks. the other day a teacher sent a note stating "__________ has a fever, he says his mom can come get him. call and have her come get him asap because i do not want to get sick." kid had no temp, was joking with another student, throat looked good, ears look good, etc, etc. now, this is something she does habitually - tell me how to do my job.

what the heck do you need the nurse for if you have already assessed and made a medical diagnosis? why don't you go ahead and prescribe him some antibiotics while you are at it teach????? oh that's right...because you don't have a medical or a nursing degree. that's why.

i sent a note saying. "he has no fever but i pulled his grades and he did have a c in math last six weeks. he needs some extra tutoring. make sure you get that done asap."

math teacher girl hasn't looked me in the hallway once since that!!

caliotter3 · Feb 23, 2009

Praiser-
I sooooo feel your pain. I have had a rotten 2-3 weeks. The other day a teacher sent a note stating "__________ has a fever, he says his mom can come get him. Call and have her come get him ASAP because I do not want to get sick." Kid had no temp, was joking with another student, throat looked good, ears look good, etc, etc. Now, this is something she does habitually - tell me how to do my job.
What the heck do you need the nurse for if you have already assessed and made a medical diagnosis? Why don't you go ahead and prescribe him some antibiotics while you are at it teach????? Oh that's right...because you don't have a medical or a nursing degree. That's why.
I sent a note saying. "He has no fever but I pulled his grades and he did have a c in math last six weeks. He needs some extra tutoring. Make sure you get that done ASAP."
Math teacher girl hasn't looked me in the hallway once since that!!

You're my kind of nurse. Tell it like it is! Next time, maybe "send him back to me when he has an A in math".

Artistyc1 · Feb 24, 2009

THAT IS HYSTERICAL! I have the same problem at my job. I LOVE my job, and make it my business to know all the kids. Still, the teachers and especially the aides ALWAYS "know that child much better than you do". Thus, they can tell that the child is "sick", when he is really jost being a pain in the butt. Even if you can't find any good reason to send the child home, they KNOW the child needs to go home, and can get pretty insulting about it. I would love to tell one of them how to do their job, as they are so often disrespectful enough to tell me how to do mine.