Tactful way to address staff issue

[SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN]

Hello all!

I was hoping to get some ideas on how to address an issue with some staff that I had this year. My clinic has 2 doors - one leading to the hallway and another leading to the administrative area. Several staff members use the clinic continuously throughout the day as a shortcut to the administrative area. This is distracting and annoying. I do not mind the rare cut through, but a couple of staff members are in and out over a dozen times each day. The entrance to the administrative area is like 15 feet from the clinic entrance so the shortcut is really not much of a shortcut. I want to put a stop to this practice next year. Any suggestions/rationale for doing so?

Thanks!

[realredhead1979]

rationale: Confidentiality. They can't argue that. I'd tell my principal and he can discuss at staff meetings before the school year starts.

[Farawyn]

Or close the door and put a sign on it saying Please Knock, Sick Student Area or something to that effect.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Two great ideas - I really like the confidentiality one but . . . . . it is really hard to get that across to educational staff. One of the things I hit my head against all the time.

[Farawyn]

I figured the teachers are so afraid of germs they may not walk through.

[SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN]

I figured the teachers are so afraid of germs they may not walk through.

Nope. There are also a handful of staff members who would rather use the clinic restroom than walk to the staff restroom - and my school of 600 is not very large!

I close the hallway door before and after school hours, but staff walk through anyway. I tried locking the door, but they just used their key

[Farawyn]

Nope. There are also a handful of staff members who would rather use the clinic restroom than walk to the staff restroom - and my school of 600 is not very large!

I close the hallway door before and after school hours, but staff walk through anyway. I tried locking the door, but they just used their key

We need a *facepalm* smiley. Oh for the love of...

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

I might make sure a few scary germ photo slides make their way into the next staff meeting, because photos speak louder than words. Or stick that gross germ photo on the pass through door with a giant bio-hazard sign. Scare tactic, sure but when nothing else works...

[SnowyJ, RN]

I had the same problem. I ended up locking one of the doors. I have a sign on it. "Door is locked. Please use main entrance."

It got crazy with even the kids passing through. I finally had enough.

[OldDude]

Two great ideas - I really like the confidentiality one but . . . . . it is really hard to get that across to educational staff. One of the things I hit my head against all the time.

Agree. Agree.

I'm in a very similar situation and I tried something this year that really did cut the traffic down by 95%. There are still some hardheads but they'll eventually get the message. I set up a privacy screen in the hallway about 2 feet from my clinic door entrance with 3 foot high orange traffic cones on each end of the screen. Not only is it a physical barrier from hallway eyesight traffic but it prevents these swooping shortcuts through my clinic. One actually has to skirt the wall for a brief step and then turn to enter my clinic door. I've never had much luck posting a picture on here but I'll try in another post. This has really worked well for me; staff and nosy parents.

[OldDude]

[OldDude]

Well....you can get the idea anyway. And when they ask why it's there my response is "Student Privacy."