What's the biggest challenge being a school nurse?

[Rocio8809]

Hi fellow school nurses!

I was wondering what's the biggest challenge for you while working in a school environment? I'm currently working in a elementary school as an LVN and I love it. Im considering going back for my RN and get my nurse credential to work as a school nurse. Im under the supervision of a RN. The reason I'm asking is because my RN looks stress all the time, but not in a bad way. She tells me she loves her job but she has apart from my school, three other schools assigned. I would love some feedback or experiences from your fellow school nurses on how you handle stress or certain situations with parents or teachers.

I am also going to add the families who have kids with actual health issues that do not do their part to ensure their kid is safe at school. So the mom of my T1D kid who never answers her phone or show up to pick him up when he is sick, my asthmatic kids who wheeze regularly and parents still will not bring in an inhaler, or my allergic kids who still have no epi pen. Really makes me angry. I know we can't care about their kids more than they do but it is really hard to understand how a parent can be so neglectful when they have insurance and there is a pharmacy across the street from my school. Like 50 yards away.

[nursmimi, BSN, RN]

P.A.R.E.N.T.S

[raebabelvn, LVN]

I'm also an LVN that works in our health office. The District RNs seem to be stressed all the time, dealing with health plans and other administrative things. I have thought about going back for my RN, but I honestly like where I am now. I am getting my bachelors, but not in nursing.

[stephrooth]

I would say...being the only medical personnel, I feel very anxious. I get chest pains everyday because of anxiety of whats going to happen each day

[BrisketRN, BSN, RN]

I would say...being the only medical personnel, I feel very anxious. I get chest pains everyday because of anxiety of whats going to happen each day

I agree with being the only medical personnel. My method of dealing with that anxiety is spending some time thinking "what's the worst thing that could happen?" It's what I did when I worked private duty. I'd think of the worst situations that could happen and make up a game plan of what I would do. Usually my "worst" situations don't end up happening anyways but at least I'm not worrying about it anymore.