This vent is pretty common but I am wondering if anyone else has had this experience with the teachers or other staff at their school.
I am a new school nurse this year and I am also relatively young-- in my late 20's. I'm not married and I don't have any children. I noticed pretty quickly that a lot of the teachers who ARE parents tend to undermine my judgment when it comes to the calls I make and the care I provide. A few examples:
1) A third grade student came to my office c/o nausea. No fever, ate breakfast. I let her rest for a few minutes and she said she was feeling better. Off she went, through the main office to the cafeteria because it was faster that way. Well, one of the secretaries comes in and says "you can't just let sick kids parade through the office. I don't want to get sick." or something to that effect. I explained to her that the student wasn't sick, afebrile, etc and her response was "I'm a mom. I can tell when a kid is sick and that kid had no business walking around the office."
I had NO idea having a child automatically made you an RN! I could have saved a lot of money by skipping college and just getting pregnant!
2) A second grader with a previously sustained broken arm was c/o pain. I administered Tylenol as per our standing medicine orders and gave her an ice pack. I also called mom and she was satisfied with my treatment. About an hour later, her teacher came bursting into my office like the Kool-Aid man demanding to know "what else could be done" about the pain the student was complaining about because "whatever I did earlier wasn't helping." I explained to the teacher that I gave the student a PRN dose of Tylenol and an ice pack. I called mom and other than that, there really wasn't much else to be done. The teacher then asked if she could have a second dose of Tylenol and I said no. She said "Well, if it was my child I would just give her another dose. The first one didn't work."
I fear for her child's liver.
I don't get it! I understand that having a child is great experience with all the illness and booboos that come with childhood. What I don't understand is why these teachers are acting like their parenting skills somehow overpower my 4 years of college, bachelor's degree, national licensure and almost 4 years of experience. Maybe it's because I am a little younger than the previous nurse at my school (like 35 years younger...) or maybe they just assume I am inexperienced with ALL nursing because I am new to the school. Whatever. All I do know is if I busted into their classroom (OH YEAH) and started telling them how to teach multiplication or run the front office, I would be escorted off the premises faster than you can say "Acute hepatic failure r/t acetaminophen overdose"
I'm done now. The school day is over and I have my childless house to get to...
These fashion posts are making my day. I so needed a good laugh right about now.
The worst at my school (middle school) is the gaggle of elementary age staff kids that are here in the afternoon right before our school dismisses. One teacher is off last period and picks the entire group up and brings them back here as if we are a daycare. They run barefoot in the halls and come down here (by themselves) telling me their mom wants me to put on a Band-Aid, etc, etc. As if I don't already have my hands full with 1300 kids here.
One stopped me in the hallway, had my bag on my arm with keys in hand and asked me to go back to the clinic to check her kid's temp. I told her "not today, I got off 20 minutes ago and my own kids are waiting for me."
Most of the clothes I have in my office are PE shorts and shirts that were in the lost and found at the end of last year. Most of the students grimace when I offer those as the alternative to their out of dress code outfit. I feel bad when it's a student who had a bathroom accident or an unexpected period. I tell them that if their friends ask, just tell them something spilled on their clothes.
These fashion posts are making my day. I so needed a good laugh right about now.
The worst at my school (middle school) is the gaggle of elementary age staff kids that are here in the afternoon right before our school dismisses. One teacher is off last period and picks the entire group up and brings them back here as if we are a daycare. They run barefoot in the halls and come down here (by themselves) telling me their mom wants me to put on a Band-Aid, etc, etc. As if I don't already have my hands full with 1300 kids here.
One stopped me in the hallway, had my bag on my arm with keys in hand and asked me to go back to the clinic to check her kid's temp. I told her "not today, I got off 20 minutes ago and my own kids are waiting for me."
They are trying to do this new thing where they send a student down to my office to get them some Advil.
Are you kidding me?
Last year a student came in my office and said "I'm sick. My teacher said you would give me an aspirin and call my mom" *Blank stare* Wha.....?
I never talked to the teacher to confirm, but I have called teachers and asked "Did you tell this student that I would send them home?" and had them stammer over their words.
Last year a student came in my office and said "I'm sick. My teacher said you would give me an aspirin and call my mom" *Blank stare* Wha.....?
I never talked to the teacher to confirm, but I have called teachers and asked "Did you tell this student that I would send them home?" and had them stammer over their words.
SchoolNurseTXstyle
566 Posts
These fashion posts are making my day. I so needed a good laugh right about now.
The worst at my school (middle school) is the gaggle of elementary age staff kids that are here in the afternoon right before our school dismisses. One teacher is off last period and picks the entire group up and brings them back here as if we are a daycare. They run barefoot in the halls and come down here (by themselves) telling me their mom wants me to put on a Band-Aid, etc, etc. As if I don't already have my hands full with 1300 kids here.
One stopped me in the hallway, had my bag on my arm with keys in hand and asked me to go back to the clinic to check her kid's temp. I told her "not today, I got off 20 minutes ago and my own kids are waiting for me."