The Student and the School Nurse

During my clinical day with Mrs. R there was one interaction in particular that stuck out in my mind. A student had visited Mrs. R early in the morning shortly after my arrival and handed her, what appeared to be a thank-you card.

Privately, Mrs. R described this student as a usually happy-go-lucky individual who did very well in school and was well liked by many of her peers. One morning, however, she received a phone call from one of this student’s teachers explaining to Mrs. R that the student appeared to be severely intoxicated. Mrs. R described her shock and disbelief to me and awaited the student to be escorted to her office. A few minutes later the student appeared in her office arm in arm with two staff supporting a clearly drunk young adolescent.

Through tear soaked eyes, the student confessed to Mrs. R that she was indeed drunk after consuming a large quantity of whiskey which she had let others believe was apple juice. She expressed fears of what was going to happen to her now and told the nurse that her life was over. Her main concern was getting kicked out of school. Mrs. R ensured the student that since she was honest about the incident, the student would not have to worry about being expelled. Mrs. R did explain to her however that a meeting would have to take place with her and her mother involved to discuss what had occurred today.

When they all sat down around the conference table, Mrs. R remembers clearly how downcast the student appeared. The student’s eyes would not meet hers and she resolved herself to staring at her hands folded in front of her. After the hearing had commenced, the conversation quickly turned to the “why” of that matter. Neither Mrs. R, nor anyone else in the room was prepared for what they were about to hear.

“Is it because we’re homeless, student?” the mother asked without hesitation or hint of a qualm in her voice.

Mrs. R paused for a moment before describing to me what happened next. After everyone stopped looking at each other incredulously, Mrs. R explained, an open and therapeutic conversation commenced that allowed the student to express her feelings without fear of judgment or punishment. The student’s m other explained that if she had only had $595 dollars for a security deposit on an apartment they wouldn’t be in this predicament. The student explained that all of this was indeed why she had stolen the alcohol from her sister’s boyfriend’s house.

After the conclusion of the meeting, Mrs. R took up a collection for the student and mother to assist them get a roof over their heads. She made the necessary calls to ensure that the apartment was still available and asked the landlord to give her a few days to come up with the cash, which he obliged. The staff at the school readily gave whatever money they could to Mrs. R to help this student and her mother get the much needed roof over their head. Not only did Mrs. R have enough money after a couple days for the security deposit, but she also was able to afford them a $100 gift card to assist them in buying groceries.

Hearing this story, it was hard to believe that the happy-go-lucky, smiling student that I saw in the office who had given Mrs. R that simple but much deserved thank-you note was the same girl Mrs. R had just described to me. Mrs. R deserves to be looked highly upon, both as a future nurse and as a human being.