We've all been venting

[JerseyTomatoMDCrab]

... and I am no exception.

I have been mentioning we have a new principal who I am not crazy about in a few threads and yesterday it all came to a boiling point.

I haven't seen or spoken to the principal in over 2 weeks. Honestly, have not laid eyes on the man. He is rarely in his office and I haven't needed anything from him so I haven't been seeking him out. Trust me, I am not shy about asking for help when I need it.

Yesterday I got an e-mail, CC'd to my nursing supervisor, requesting a meeting with me to discuss "some concerns" he has. Among them

1) Why haven't I been filing more risk management accident reports (Um, because we haven't been having accidents. This is a good thing)

2) Why haven't I been "periodically touching base" with him regarding "common school illnesses" I've been seeing. (First of all, I was never informed I was required to tell the principal about every detail of my job and second of all, I hardly think the principal needs to know that I have been seeing a lot of colds. It's November. Colds happen)

There were a few other things but those were the basics. I met with him yesterday afternoon and here is what we discussed. He was asking why I have been keeping the door to my office closed. The real reason is because the secretary he hired is so incredibly loud that my kids were complaining that it was making their headaches worse when they were trying to rest. I told him "It's just been very loud in the office lately with all these parents registering their kids, it's more peaceful this way" and he replied that I should have "run my decision by him" before closing the door.

I need permission to close my office door.

He also said "I'm not sure why you haven't been communicating with me on a regular basis. Maybe you're too preoccupied with planning your wedding."

I was so offended I almost screamed. I said "Excuse me, when I am here it's to WORK. My wedding is the furthest thing from my mind and, as a professional, I can tell you I never put my personal life before work when I am here."

He also mentioned the risk mgmt accident reports. I explained to him that risk management had given us an inservice in the beginning of the year detailing what requires a report and what doesn't. I have been filling them out according to those guidelines. He then told me 'I'm not concerned about what risk management wants. I am the manager of this school and I'm not going to lose my job because a parent sued over you not filling out an accident report. I want to see more of them being filed."

Every time he listed something I am supposed to be doing, he finished with "I am involved in your evaluation so it's important that these things get done the way I ask" which started to sound like a threat against my job. Who knows. What I do know is I am not meeting with him alone again. If he wants to schedule another meeting with me I am having the nursing supervisor (who is 100% on my side, thank goodness) present.

I'm still so angry. I hate feeling like this.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

Permission to close your door? Um, so private conversations with a student can be heard by others at the school? I think he needs a nice little HIPAA reminder left on his desk. Just wait until the first parent rants about how everyone just "knew" about their child's diarrhea...

But seriously, bury his desk in reports. And maybe chart the extra time it takes to fill out said reports. Or ask him to set up a system that you can ensure he has taken the time to read every single report.

[TriciaJ, RN]

Wow...just wow...

I would bury him in reports of every little thing; paper cuts, blisters and splinters yada yada yada

# of telephone calls

# of emails

3 of BS visits

Oye...good luck!

That's exactly what I was thinking. An accidental paper cut? Accident report. Two cases of sniffles this week? A lengthy tome of a memo. I would lie awake at night thinking up stupid stuff to call him or write about.

After an entire forest has been felled to keep Principal Jerk mired in memos, maybe he'll get tired of his own stupidity.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Prolly not

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

Permission to close your door? Um, so private conversations with a student can be heard by others at the school? I think he needs a nice little HIPAA reminder left on his desk. Just wait until the first parent rants about how everyone just "knew" about their child's diarrhea...

THIS. This is exactly what I was going to say. The entire office and visitors are not on a need to know basis, the reason why my door is sometimes closed is confidential.

This super sucks for you! I am so sorry that you have to deal with such a jerk. Maybe he will make enough people hate him that he won't return next year? Wishful thinking.

I agree with not having anymore meetings without your supervisor, thankfully she is on your side.

[greenerpastures]

What about a quick search to see where he came from? Maybe the last district was sued? It would be interesting to know more about him to find out why he's acting like that. As for the door being closed, I'd make sure to leave it wide open when the kid with explosive diarrhea comes to visit, or the kid that's violently throwing up.

[JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN]

What about a quick search to see where he came from? Maybe the last district was sued? It would be interesting to know more about him to find out why he's acting like that. As for the door being closed, I'd make sure to leave it wide open when the kid with explosive diarrhea comes to visit, or the kid that's violently throwing up.

He came from another school in the district but with a bit of a muddy past. I try not to get involved in the gossip but I've heard some things...

Maybe I will bring the child with explosive diarrhea to his office, saying "Here is a common school illness! Knock yourself out, I need to go look at flower arrangements and determine wedding color schemes. Pink is my signature ​color." (name the movie!)

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

(name the movie!)

Steel Magnolias!

Not a school nurse, so I don't really have any advice but it sucks that you have to put up with this.

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

We had a reminder meeting about HIPAA yesterday at our IDT meeting with hospice. Some employees talked about patients out in the community and meant it for good but intent is not important. You can't share personal medical information without permission of the patient or the parents.

HIPAA/FERPA restrictions are clear.

If you want to bury him in paperwork, make sure not to "out" the kid you are talking about.

My first boss when I started as a school nurse sounded like your principal. Thank goodness he left after a year.

I was the only medical authority in the entire district; 2 high schools, 2 elementary school, 4 continuation, etc. In two separate towns 20 miles apart. I only had one principal who was a bully-of-sorts . . . trying to tell me how to be a nurse. One of the reasons I left.

I'd make sure he understood privacy laws. You can go to NASN or your state affiliate and get help with the actual rules and regs. Sounds like he isn't very savvy about that.

Good luck and yes, take your supervisor with you next time.

[canigraduate]

I'm not one to call "bully." I usually denounce the mistaken assumption that someone is being bullied. You, however, are being bullied.

I would report the principal. A) His remark about your wedding planning was inappropriate. B) He is attempting to make you violate your professional ethics. C) He is using threats and intimidation, which is causing a hostile workplace.

He should be more worried about you suing than the parents.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I'm not one to call "bully." I usually denounce the mistaken assumption that someone is being bullied. You, however, are being bullied.

I would report the principal. A) His remark about your wedding planning was inappropriate. B) He is attempting to make you violate your professional ethics. C) He is using threats and intimidation, which is causing a hostile workplace.

He should be more worried about you suing than the parents.

I completely agree. I'm less of the mind that you should be passive-aggressive and bury his desk in paperwork, and more of the mind that you should call him out on this nonsense, and make it clear that he's provided enough fodder for a harassment/hostile workplace complaint. Bullies only stand down if you face them head-on. I understand that's easier said than done, believe me. But I don't think writing up every little paper cut or sending him a kid with diarrhea is going to do squat.

[JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN]

I'm not one to call "bully." I usually denounce the mistaken assumption that someone is being bullied. You, however, are being bullied.

I would report the principal. A) His remark about your wedding planning was inappropriate. B) He is attempting to make you violate your professional ethics. C) He is using threats and intimidation, which is causing a hostile workplace.

He should be more worried about you suing than the parents.

He is absolutely clueless about how my job is supposed to go. He also made some comments about having to "shape up" nurses at his previous positions and said he is "willing to do it again" if need be.

I don't use the word bully either but is seems appropriate here, now that you mention it.

[kidzcare]

He is absolutely clueless about how my job is supposed to go. He also made some comments about having to "shape up" nurses at his previous positions and said he is "willing to do it again" if need be.

I don't use the word bully either but is seems appropriate here, now that you mention it.

What. The. FOCALIN????

No. No no no no no no. This guy needs a dose of reality. I hope you and your supervisor (and hopefully a union rep) are able to sit down and talk with him about these inappropriate comments.