What NON Nursing jobs are you "expected" to do?

NanaPoo · Jan 12, 2015

Meteorologist.

My clinic has no windows, no doors to the outside world, yet the same teacher comes by daily and asks, "what's it like outside? Too cold for recess?"

Huh? Perhaps she thinks I stare at the weather channel webpage between students. Clearly she doesn't know about allnurses.

Once she asked me and I stuck my finger up in the air, closed one eye, and gave her a random forecast. Funny, she hasn't asked in awhile.

kidzcare · Jan 12, 2015

It seems like it's a pretty common theme that we are all expected to handle a host of miscellaneous tasks... Do you guys ever talk to your administrators about this? I've mentioned it and pretty much been brushed off. I cannot tell you how sick I am of hearing "That's what the last nurse did" Well, goody for her. I've worked here 3 years and I don't want to do things that are outside of my scope of practice (without being paid for them)

OldDude · Jan 12, 2015

It seems like it's a pretty common theme that we are all expected to handle a host of miscellaneous tasks... Do you guys ever talk to your administrators about this? I've mentioned it and pretty much been brushed off. I cannot tell you how sick I am of hearing "That's what the last nurse did" Well, goody for her. I've worked here 3 years and I don't want to do things that are outside of my scope of practice (without being paid for them)

Our contract has this itsy bitsy clause that states - "and other duties as assigned." I was assigned attendance clerk duties for 2 months several years ago while a vacancy was filled and "I" trained the new hire. :yes:

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2015

Our contract says that too! It's not that big of deal to me. I always do my nursing job first and if one of those silly jobs pop up and I'm dealing with a real nursing issue I just say I can't mess with that right now. Besides, the secretary, principal, aides, some teachers, etc end up doing my job at times when I'm not there or are too busy with other students to handle one more thing at the moment and I appreciate it. I just think of it as teamwork.

However, if a certain teacher/aide starts always expecting me to do something that is truly not in my job description and I feel like I'm being taken advantage of I put a stop to it. I had one aide that kept expecting me to change one of her students when they got wet because she was always going to lunch then. Well first of all changing students IS in her job description and secondly I think she was purposely waiting until she was going to lunch to see if the student was wet so I would do it so after several times of this I went and talked to the teacher she worked with (I tried talking to the aide and got nothing but excuses) and told her i didn't have time to do that every day and it was ruled out as a health issue (kid just not potty trained) and that I don't mind helping once in a while but basically they needed to quit sending her for that. Thankfully it didn't happen again. If it would have then I would've went to principal next.

SnowyJ, RN · Jan 13, 2015

Ok, I have to ask this. I am often sent students who can't snap/button/zip their pants. Today it was a belt. teachers seem fearful of touching a student. It just seems strange to me that they think I am the only one who can help the kids with this. Anyone else?

NanaPoo · Jan 13, 2015

I think this is interesting too, SnowyJ.

When teachers get in an uncomfortable position they send it right to me: butt needs extra wiping, kids needs complete change of clothes with total assist? Give it to the nurse.

I don't mind doing it at all but why is it acceptable for me to take this risk but not them?

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2015

Ok, I have to ask this. I am often sent students who can't snap/button/zip their pants. Today it was a belt. teachers seem fearful of touching a student. It just seems strange to me that they think I am the only one who can help the kids with this. Anyone else?

Not me. But I deal with the older kids. They can do this themselves.

I just wonder how helpful it is to let a child walk down the hall with an unbuttoned fly to get to the nurse's office...seems like it would do more harm than good!

Farawyn · Jan 13, 2015

Oh. I am also and ice machine repairwoman. Apparently.

allnurses Guide · Jan 13, 2015

There is a huge stigma attached to touching :eek: a student. I was told by the prior nurse when I started this job to never hug a child.

I'm in a small rural area with 11 campuses and 2 elementary schools/2 high schools. I know many of these children. Some are nieces and nephews. Some are my very good friends' children. I hug and get hugs all day.

There are three 3rd grade girls (daughters of friends) who compete to see who can race to me the quickest on the playground to get a hug. I have a very cute photo of the 4 of us in the cafeteria.

This is the joy in my job. I think we are pretty lucky in our district because almost everyone feels the same way I do and kids get hugs.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Jan 13, 2015

Not me. But I deal with the older kids. They can do this themselves.
I just wonder how helpful it is to let a child walk down the hall with an unbuttoned fly to get to the nurse's office...seems like it would do more harm than good!

I had a kid that had an accident and took it upon himself to walk down the hall porky pig style (i call it Porky Piggin' it) into my office to see if i had a change of clothes for him. i asked him if anyone saw him - he told me no - but sweet jesus - if the wrong person at the wrong time caught this... oh my... i've never whipped loaner clothes out of the box with less fussiness.

kidzcare · Jan 13, 2015

There is a huge stigma attached to touching a student. I was told by the prior nurse when I started this job to never hug a child.
I'm in a small rural area with 11 campuses and 2 elementary schools/2 high schools. I know many of these children. Some are nieces and nephews. Some are my very good friends' children. I hug and get hugs all day.
There are three 3rd grade girls (daughters of friends) who compete to see who can race to me the quickest on the playground to get a hug. I have a very cute photo of the 4 of us in the cafeteria.
This is the joy in my job. I think we are pretty lucky in our district because almost everyone feels the same way I do and kids get hugs.

I have hugged students. And when my own children and I went to their school (different district than I work in) they beelined for the librarian when they saw her in the hallway to give her a hug and she hugged them right back. I have no issue with it. But I also understand that some folks are NOT comfortable with it.

SnowyJ, RN · Jan 13, 2015

Exactly! I don't understand why the teachers are so afraid! Just help them fasten the clothes! I think our society is so fearful of false accusations...