What to do... Help

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I've been reading posts on here for a while but finally decided to try and get some advice. I've been a school nurse since August and I am a new grad (from May). I currently work in a middle school with almost 1000 kids in a very large urban district. I feel like I made a horrible mistake taking this job, I feel very anxious everyday that I have made some nursing judgment decision that was wrong and that I will be liable for that decision. I was told in my interview that I would have a good amount of orientation and would not just be thrown to the wolves. However, my orientation consisted of 2 days of going through the policy and procedures manual and then 2 hours of another nurse coming to my school with me to give me an idea of what to do prior to the school year starting. I feel as though nothing in nursing school prepared me for this. It's a constant struggle between parents, teachers, and policy and I am frequently overwhelmed with doubt in my nursing decisions. I had students coming in for lice checks and I had never even seen lice before! I am expected to do head injury assessments and had never even done a neurological assessment outside of getting my validation checked off in the nursing school lab. My supervisor tells me that I am doing fine when she does her monthly visits and there are days when I feel as though I have a handle on things (such as when I only have to see 15 sick/injured kids rather than the usual 30), but there are times when I don't sleep for days and feel like I'm having palpitations due to the stress. I am confused why I was hired to do this position as they must have known I would struggle, however it seems the district cannot keep nurses as I have heard of 3 recent hires quitting soon after starting (1 after the first day!). This job has made me doubt my personal judgment in taking this position, as well as doubt whether I am even cut out to be a nurse altogether. I feel like I am a liability to myself and the district and it's beginning to affect my mental health. Any advice? I am very sad as I had hoped to love this job and had only met school nurses who absolutely loved their profession. Perhaps I am an anomaly. :no:

Wow thanks to all for the great resources and links provided! I will be sure to check them all out. I am from Wisconsin, we do have a state school nurse association, but I am hesitant to join due to the fee (being still nearly a broke college student lol) especially if I won't be continuing school nursing after this school. I wasn't sure if many of the issues I have been experiencing are due to the district I am in, which many teachers wouldn't touch with a 10ft pole, but I took the position knowing that and thinking "it couldn't actually be that bad!" However, it sounds like these issues are everywhere so perhaps my thinking of a different district would be a different situation is completely off lol. Then again perhaps I'm just having a bad first year (which from many posts on all nurses sounds like the majority of people have). But thank you all for your help! I really appreciate it.

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Every thing I learned about being a school nurse I learned while being a school nurse!!!! I have been at this gig 10 years and still learn something new daily. A kid will tell me or show me something and I will just think to myself "what the ****????"

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Specializes in kids.

Hardest job I have ever loved but hang in there and chill with us on AN!!!!

We have lots of great resources and wicked cool nurses here!!

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