Who is your boss?

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So, I work in a district that has 5 schools. Each school has 1 nurse, and we have a district nurse who is certified in school nursing, who oversees us. She is the one who did my initial interview, and who I communicated with prior to being hired. She is the one in charge of our meetings, etc. However, I feel like I often have two bosses, since the administrators at my school often have different ideas of what my responsibilities include (for example- on Institute days, the other nurses all use the day to catch up on office work, but my administrator wanted me to sign up for the classes with the teachers-- none of the classes have to do with my job, really).

I guess I don't really know who my ultimate boss is, and I was wondering if anyone else has any similar experience or advice. I often feel like I'm being told to do 2 different things by the district nurse and the administrator (who has a reputation of being on a power trip...so fun). I don't want to be in a bad place with him, but of course the district nurse has a better, more realistic idea of what my job entails. I already feel unsupported by administration, and don't want to worsen the situation. I feel like I'm regarded as an associate half of the time, and a teacher half of the time. (Unfortunately, I'm paid like an associate, but expected to be here on conference days, and to keep the same hours as a teacher).

Specializes in School Nursing.

Whenever I feel like things get "dicey" I hook up my nursing coordinator and principal. "Hey, you guys want to fight over my whereabouts, cool, duke it out, but let me know the final say of what/where I should be doing." Bonus points if I get it in an e-mail to save for next year when responsibilities get debated again.

The description of "Boss lady" above is very similar to what I have/love.

When I got hired, I was given a job duty list, along with who I report to... My principal.

The credentialed school nurse was more like an advisor. I was lucky to have the RN only really come in once a week if that, and I ran my office. It also sucked, because I had no one to really talk to about kids and what to do if ABC popped up. This year has been different because we have no RN. :sorry:

I'm sorry :(. I talk to my fellow nurses in the district a lot. It's tough when you're the only one in the building who does your job.

Ugh. You guys are lucky! My principals are pretty amazing. My "Boss Lady" is AWFUL!

Specializes in School nurse.

Technically I report to the superintendent but in reality to my principal who is a most excellent boss lady.

Specializes in ICU.

Wow. I'm not a school nurse, and that's a good thing, because I would not be able to work under conditions where a non-medical person has the authority to tell me what to do. My father-in-law was a school principal, and I cannot imagine him dictating what a school nurse should be doing. He wouldn't have a clue! A nurse is a degreed professional; I would be resentful if I were not treated like one.

I am at a charter school and we are our own district. My immediate supervisor is our Director of Operations, but then I also technically report to my principal. I am really lucky because my principal is very supportive and pretty much lets me do what I need to do to get my job done. My DO is awesome as well. She and I work very closely together and she is very helpful for me to get things done, deal with unruly parents, etc. I know I am SUPER lucky to be in this situation as a school nurse, and I definitely do not take it for granted.

Specializes in School nursing.
I am at a charter school and we are our own district. My immediate supervisor is our Director of Operations, but then I also technically report to my principal. I am really lucky because my principal is very supportive and pretty much lets me do what I need to do to get my job done. My DO is awesome as well. She and I work very closely together and she is very helpful for me to get things done, deal with unruly parents, etc. I know I am SUPER lucky to be in this situation as a school nurse, and I definitely do not take it for granted.

My situation is very similar, although I have 2 principals I work with since I handle MS and HS. My boss, thankfully, understands that he can't do my job nor understand it. I do have another nurse at my school I work with, but I am the senior nurse leader. Which can be daunting sometimes. I just try and educate myself as much as I can. My state, thankfully, does have some great resources for school nurses.

Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

I am a district employee, my badge says "district nurse", not "First Street Elementary Nurse". If tomorrow Boss Lady decided to move me to another school, I that's what would happen, admin here would have no say so (they would pitch a fit, but it is what it is).

Specializes in kids.
Wow. I'm not a school nurse, and that's a good thing, because I would not be able to work under conditions where a non-medical person has the authority to tell me what to do. My father-in-law was a school principal, and I cannot imagine him dictating what a school nurse should be doing. He wouldn't have a clue! A nurse is a degreed professional; I would be resentful if I were not treated like one.

A well seasoned principal should be smart enough to understand that he does not know what he does not know. And that would be the nursing side of education. My current principal (one of many over the years) is slowly figuring it out!

Specializes in School Nursing.

I am a district RN and I am the supervisor (like the charge nurse) for 8 nurses and health office assistants in 5 schools. There are 2 other district RNs and the 3 of us work together to run meetings, conduct interviews for new staff, train new staff and subs and provide ongoing training and education on our professional development days. We 3 are the ones who write the health portion of IEPs and 504s when needed and write the care plans and provide training for the more complicated, chronic cases in our district (trachs, feeding tubes, etc.)

Our boss is the Director of Special Education. There are also 2 Supervisors of Special Education that we will sometimes collaborate with.

For our health office nurses they report directly to the principal of their building who, 99% of the time, defers to the district RNs to figure out what to do. For certain situations, usually involving money, we have to get approval or input from our Director of Special Education.

It doesn't seem like a very well defined hierarchy but I think we manage to make it work most of the time. :)

Specializes in School Nurse, Pediatrics, Surgical.

Like most, my immediate boss is my admin/principal of the building. However, if I have an issue with my admins I start climbing the tree. That would then mean reaching out to my nursing supervisor and then executive director of nurses. While my admins are my boss they don't have a real clue what nurses do, if you are having issues you might need to have a chit chat with some folks. That doesn't always guarantee a fix but at least you are letting your principal know and that might involve climbing the tree.

I am also lucky that my admins in my buildings (I have 2) are great! I have had to reach out to my "bosses" in the operational offices this year but it was not because of an direct issue with the admins.

Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

My principal is my boss. I am in the teacher union (not on the teacher pay scale :( ) so I am required to attend staff meetings and staff development days. Luckily, the last few years, the Nurses have had separate staff development agenda's which do pertain to us.

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