So, I'm at a private school housed within a church. We have a preschool (I am not their nurse although they use me as such & do not pay me) as well as lots of passersby including our parents, preschool parents and staff, church staff, and the occasional visiting church member.
One of my biggest problems comes from unsolicited advice from the random non-medical passing stranger (or, heck, non-stranger). Today a preschool teacher walked by to see a student in my clinic at the end of a very heavy nosebleed. It had lasted about 10 minutes but the bleed was finally slowing down. The teacher stopped in her tracks, looked at me and asked, "should she be holding her head back? or down??" I just stared blankly at her for a few seconds then said, "she should be holding her head exactly the way she's holding her head right now."
WTH?? And a few weeks ago a student had a fractured patella and was in a full leg cast. He'd been having horrible itching inside his cast and I had a rounded off, plastic hanger I let him use to scratch inside there sometimes with explicit instructions to not scratch too hard or for too long. I'd spoken with his mom & she had been doing the same thing at home. So, he was literally standing beside me scratching his leg and the PRINCIPAL walked up and quietly pulled me aside and whispered, "do you see what he's doing?? Is that okay?? Do you need to stop him??"
Seriously?? Do things really appear to be so out of control that people think they need to step in and take over my clinic? How do people have the nerve to insert their opinions when they have zero background on the kid I'm caring for, just walked into the situation, and have zero medical experience? Aaaargh...this is driving me crazy!
I've been there 3 years and have been a RN for 18 years. I am having this problem more now than ever since we have a new principal. Like I said, even the principal herself does it. She also overrides my authority and, when she doesn't like my answers, goes over my head to a non-medical person for a different one. If my answer requires extra footwork on her part she just ignores me OR if my answer requires her to break long-standing tradition, she'll go with tradition over science.
My principal's mom was a nurse. She respects my perspective (thanks mom) and understands that I offer a completely new angle to view problems. I am given great latitude in independent procedure making. I had students abusing coming to the nurse on specials day. This is a planning day for the FT teachers and administrators are not available, so I came up with a solution on the fly and they were relieved that they had one less thing to deal with. Your environment is unique in that it is pretty homogenous in thought and change is probably not seen as growth, at least that is how most faith based schools around here are. Praying that your principal will see that you are trying to make your school the safest for the students that you can. You may want to use the word liability frequently when discussing change. Good luck.
No, I won't accept the things I cannot change when science is being ignored and we're doing things based on tradition, misconception, and fear. That's unacceptable to me. The serenity prayer doesn't work when science and facts back up my methods.
It truly is a universal thing for school nurses, I think, and one of the most annoying things about the job.
Yes,this ^^.
When I first started I thought it was because I was a new school nurse. Then I thought maybe it was because I looked young. Then I thought it was because they didn't realize I have four kids of my own. Now I realize they just think they know better, period. Never in my career have I been questioned so much on my nursing knowledge and skills, and by people with so little nursing knowledge. Or so little knowledge of anything. Not even as a student or new grad.
Ugh, yes! My principal seems to think that, since she's 80 years old and has been in education since dirt was invented that she's the beginning & end of all knowledge when it comes to any illness or accident that can occur at school. She ignores any new scientific evidence and research I present to her...she's always done it this way & will continue. If it was good enough for Clara Barton, it's good enough for her!
Ugh, yes! My principal seems to think that, since she's 80 years old and has been in education since dirt was invented that she's the beginning & end of all knowledge when it comes to any illness or accident that can occur at school. She ignores any new scientific evidence and research I present to her...she's always done it this way & will continue. If it was good enough for Clara Barton, it's good enough for her!
I think someone else posted this here previously...explain to teachers that just as teaching theories and styles have changed and evolved over the years so have nursing interventions. That as a nurse, you base your interventions on the most current evidence based research.
NanaPoo
762 Posts
I've been there 3 years and have been a RN for 18 years. I am having this problem more now than ever since we have a new principal. Like I said, even the principal herself does it. She also overrides my authority and, when she doesn't like my answers, goes over my head to a non-medical person for a different one. If my answer requires extra footwork on her part she just ignores me OR if my answer requires her to break long-standing tradition, she'll go with tradition over science.
I'm pulling my hair out over here...