Need Advice

Specialties School

Published

Specializes in School Nursing.

What would you do ?

I have a teacher that when she has a student who has a cold, stuffy nose,

sore throat, headache........she calls the parents herself and then packs them up and sends them to wait in the clinic.

So as you can imagine, I look and feel stupid because I was never given a chance to assess the child or talk with the parent myself.

Many times I would not have sent these kids home. The teacher totally will not go by our school protocol for sick students.

I am at the point where I am going to tell her to either let me do my job or else I will expect her to handle any and all of the medical needs for her students.

How would you handle this situation ?

Thanks for your input !

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric-Adult Med-Surg/School Health.

I know exactly how you feel...

9 times out of 10 its probably them...You will always have one or two GERMAPHOBIC teachers in your school......The best solution is to educate the teacher on the common cold and enlighten them on incubations periods.

Be nice..try not to Confrontational. I would approach the teacher by stating that you have notice a trend with her students and you want to discuss some options ....If the teacher refuses or seems to think they have everything under control. Smile and let him or her know you are there as resouce. Whatever the case maybe..Do not take it personal!!

Good Luck;)

What would you do ?

I have a teacher that when she has a student who has a cold, stuffy nose,

sore throat, headache........she calls the parents herself and then packs them up and sends them to wait in the clinic.

So as you can imagine, I look and feel stupid because I was never given a chance to assess the child or talk with the parent myself.

Many times I would not have sent these kids home. The teacher totally will not go by our school protocol for sick students.

I am at the point where I am going to tell her to either let me do my job or else I will expect her to handle any and all of the medical needs for her students.

How would you handle this situation ?

Thanks for your input !

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Looking for a career in NICU.

I don't really see it as your place to deal with a teacher who is taking the easy way out. I would talk to the principal and let him know what is going on, as that is who she reports to.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with the last comment. I would ask the principal to talk to her if you didn't feel you could speak with her. I had a teacher coming to my office using my phone to make conference calls with a student. She asked to do it one time before and I said yes and could you limit the call as I only have one phone line. She talked for 10-15 min loudly with a parent about the student's behavior and passing the phone back and forth between herself and the student. All this in front of the other kids in the clinic. Several days later she was back in my clinic on my phone doing the same thing. I announced that the call must be short and she went on and on for about 15 min with the same kid. So I went in the office and spoke to a clerk about the situation and she said the teacher was supposed to use the office or library phone. I sent her an email and she went back and forth with me about I told on her, the other phones were too far from her class, she would probably stop calling the parent and the behavior wouldn't be dealt with immediately. She also said she asked to use the phone, yes I gave her permission for one time, not the whole year. So then I stopped biting my tongue and wrote back that my phone was part of an essential tool in my clinic that I couldn't tie up with long conference calls. And that she needed to speak with the principal about her situation. The end. She has acted cooly ever since. But I felt better. So you may have to fall out with one or two if they try to run over you. The chain of command is: teacher sends student to clinic, nurse evaluates, nurse decides if student should stay or go. She has a problem with that? Is she new? :lol2: She must control her phobias! :angryfire She can't take over a person's job who was hired to do what she is qualified to do. Yes, she needs to be educated, I agree. Then she must follow the rules and regs of nursemanship (made that up)= nurse leadership. She can do that at home (screen the kiddos) but must control that at school(taking over). :uhoh3: I found that if you let some teachers intimidate you , they will make you feel incompetent. Then you won't be happy. Whenever I've gone to my principal, which has been few, about a teacher, he backs me 100%. They don't want our job, believe me! Good Luck and let us know how it's going! ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

Thanks Glolilly,

I appreciate your advice. This is a great job and i love it, but I see so much manipulation by teachers. I have asked my administrators to address it, but the teachers pretty much do what they want. Pretty sorry huh ?

As school nurse's, each day is a challenge, but it's more of a challege dealing with the petty teaching staff. Not all are bad, but in my school it's tha majority of them that are control freaks who do not respect other professions. I am totally frustrated with this kind of attitude.

Thanks for letting me "vent".....ooooh that felt better ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment