My principal yesterday told me that they want me to start taking a 1st grade autistic student to the bathroom every hour on the hour. How the heck am I suppose to do that, run nurse office, do contact tracing which is becoming more of a regular thing, do secretary duties when she is not there/on break.
Last year the student was in a classroom that had a bathroom so she was able to go when ever she needs to go. Now, since she is non-verbal it has become an issue, and they really don't want her to go to the bathroom alone because it's a safety issue. I'm in a montessori school within a public school district. There is no special ED classrooms, although special ED services are offered.
Has anyone else ever taken a student to the bathroom every hour on the hour. I do not have a Dr order for this. The parents to my knowledge hasn't even requested I do this. Sometimes I feel my Principal makes unreasonable requests, she is very pushy/demanding. Great, passionate Principal, but very pushy/demanding.
Today was SUPER busy, and my principal knew this, but was annoyed at me when she asked had I had a chance to go get________________ to use the bathroom. I told her to be honest it has been super busy it slipped my mind, and even if it hadn't I have been too busy. She got super annoyed, and said, well you need to set an alarm. Like what part of it has been super busy did she not understand. Like my office is literally within feet of her office. She can see how busy it was, plus the secretary wasn't there.
Anyway, it finally calmed down a little bit just long enough(barely) for me to go try to get student to go to the bathroom. 1) She really don't like me. 2) I tried to get her to come with me, and she kept batting her hands at me. How am I suppose to even get her to come with me if she will not come with me? 3) She don't like my office, because I am pretty sure it reminds her too much of a Dr's office which her Mother told me once before she don't like and my office is where I'm suppose to bring her in to use the bathroom.
You need some time off. Seriously. Maybe a different job.
I think I honestly need a new job. It’s starting to be too much. I’m expected to do far too much stuff. I did not sign up to be the Secretary, letting parents into the school, taking late kids to class, and we get a LOT of late kids. Also, I’m expected to answer the school main phone line too often. My my problem is how do I interview when I work Mon-Fri 7:45-4:15. If I honestly knew it was going to be this bad I would have never came back from Summer break. I would have found a different job over the Summer.
Also, I can not and will not work nights, weekends, or anything past 430pm. I am a divorced Mom with one child still at home. She is almost 11. I do not really have any one to help out. My Mom died last year. I moved in with my Dad who is 80 after my Mom died. My ex-husband(Father of my Daughter) and ex MIL are both older and have health issues.
Specializes in Travel Nurse, All ICU specialties and ED.
7 hours ago, peaceful2100 said:
I think I honestly need a new job.
I am so sorry for your loss ? I would suggest clinic jobs as an option, or maybe an ambulatory setting like a stand alone surgery center. As for scheduling the interview, do you have any PTO? I mean honestly you could even call off. You don't need to tell them why you are calling off in most states and job types as far as I know. then spend the other part of the day doing something to relax and take care of yourself!
Yes, I have almost 500 hours of PTO. I hardly ever called in to work in the 7 years I have been in my district.
I use to work in a clinic. I absolutely loved it. I stopped working in one because I was going through a lot. I resigned and took a leave from work for a few months. That was back in 2013. I wouldn’t mind going back. The problem is I’m not guaranteed in getting off by 5pm.
I would need to pick my Daughter up by 6pm from after school care.
I tried finding a babysitter, and I have gone through so many I stop trusting people unfortunately.
I worked as a para and it was my job to assist students in the bathroom. Is this particular student independent once she enters the bathroom? The sign idea above is spot on! If the student does not have an IEP that says you need to take him/her to the bathroom, you shouldn't have to do it. The district either doesn't know what they are doing or doesn't want to pay for a paraprofessional.
"I worked in a clinic. I wouldn’t mind going back. The problem is I’m not guaranteed in getting off by 5pm."
Smartly, someone who was hired along with me took a clinic job and had "leaving by 5 p.m." written into her contract. Think about that. Where I live, the clinics are grossly understaffed. They may agree to that stipulation.
"I’m expected to do far too much stuff. I did not sign up to be the Secretary, letting parents into the school, taking late kids to class, and we get a LOT of late kids. Also, I’m expected to answer the school main phone line too often."
I've worked in plenty of schools. In no way was the nurse expected to do any of the above. If you get an interview somewhere, call in sick to attend.
Also, don't you have state school nursing resources? Are you governed by public health?
I think I honestly need a new job. It’s starting to be too much. I’m expected to do far too much stuff. I did not sign up to be the Secretary, letting parents into the school, taking late kids to class, and we get a LOT of late kids. Also, I’m expected to answer the school main phone line too often. My my problem is how do I interview when I work Mon-Fri 7:45-4:15. If I honestly knew it was going to be this bad I would have never came back from Summer break. I would have found a different job over the Summer.
Also, I can not and will not work nights, weekends, or anything past 430pm. I am a divorced Mom with one child still at home. She is almost 11. I do not really have any one to help out. My Mom died last year. I moved in with my Dad who is 80 after my Mom died. My ex-husband(Father of my Daughter) and ex MIL are both older and have health issues.
I feel lost and stuck.
I'm sorry you're struggling. It appears your admin is heaping lots of things on you at a time your focus should be 100% on managing the health of your campus. I don't know what part of the country you are in, but there are a LOT of schools looking for nurses. If you can look for a different campus, please consider it!
I see others have answered but I wanted to chime in. I agree with others saying it is more of the TA's responsibility. Like you said, how are you supposed to manage children in your clinic when you have to leave every hour to toilet this child? Who knows how long she takes to use the restroom either...you could be gone for 10 minutes or 30 minutes! If this student needs that much "attendance", she needs a personal aide to be with her, or a private duty nurse.
I totally feel for you! I have been an elementary school nurse for almost 10 years. In that time, I have learned a few things. If the secretary or principal have no time for cover your office, you don't have time to cover for them. And, more importantly, if there is a 504 or IEP and you were not in on the conference, your case manager/specialist legally cannot put anything in place involving you or your office. Too often these things are put into place and you are not compliant because you were never advised of anything they put in place. And as everyone else has said, this should be done by a para/aide. After my nearly 10 years, I finally decided to bail. Unfortunately for my school, my replacement will not keep all the extra donations, etc in place that I have set up through my network. Find a clinic /office job. Then find a friend of your daughter's that she can go home with after school. I'm amazed by the parent networks going on that very few realize. Good luck!
I hope this issue is solved by now. If you still at the school and something like this is asked again ask the principal if she'd rather you take a child to the bathroom (that anyone can do) or take care of sick kids? Inform her if you're dealing with an emergency you cannot leave that child or teacher until EMS gets there or you can lose your license. Ask who will sit in the clinic with the kids there while you do bathroom duties, as they shouldn't be left unsupervised. Taking a child to the bathroom is not skilled nursing care, and that's what they're paying you for.
peaceful2100, BSN, RN
914 Posts
I think I honestly need a new job. It’s starting to be too much. I’m expected to do far too much stuff. I did not sign up to be the Secretary, letting parents into the school, taking late kids to class, and we get a LOT of late kids. Also, I’m expected to answer the school main phone line too often. My my problem is how do I interview when I work Mon-Fri 7:45-4:15. If I honestly knew it was going to be this bad I would have never came back from Summer break. I would have found a different job over the Summer.
Also, I can not and will not work nights, weekends, or anything past 430pm. I am a divorced Mom with one child still at home. She is almost 11. I do not really have any one to help out. My Mom died last year. I moved in with my Dad who is 80 after my Mom died. My ex-husband(Father of my Daughter) and ex MIL are both older and have health issues.
I feel lost and stuck.