Oh please, just let me vent!!!

Specialties School

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OK, teachers. I would like to clarify a few things for you.

#1. I cannot cure hiccups. Why are you sending the student to me? Ditto for a cut that happened a week ago at home, a sunburn from a we

ekend at the beach, or numerous other minor complaints. I know you don't want hear whining, but neither do I. THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO!

#2. I cannot make the children germ-proof, so you won't get sick. Don't work in an elementary school if you're concerned about getting sick. You're in the wrong place. I'm sorry, but it is a hazard of our job!

#3. See #2

#4. I do not sit around on my butt eating bonbons all day. I know you're tired of them. I'm tired too. Everyone is tired and grouchy and school needs to end. All of our jobs are hard. But please don't send them down to me for every-little-bitty-thing. You have 20 kids. I have 60 kids/day. Really.

#5. See #2

#6. No, I can't tell the parents to keep the kids home if they don't have a temperature. If the parent feels the child is fine and they don't have any symptoms, they need to be in school. We get in trouble for that. It's called denying the child their education.

#7. Yes, I know the majority of parents think we are baby-sitters. I cannot change that. I cannot tell parents how to raise their child, or teach them common sense on when to keep them home. Some will never get it, and some don't want to get it. See #2.

#8. I'm thrilled that you're pregnant. But I still can't germ proof the kids - all 900 of them. Kids have germs, and you mostly likely will end up getting sick at some point. See #2 and #6. Just try and wash your hands a lot, and don't let little ones get too close.

#9. Loose teeth hurt. Yes, they do. I cannot pull the tooth our nor make it better. Ice won't help it. I can give TLC, but so can you!

#10. Yes, children can vomit quite easily. Especially after lunch. Sometimes on command to get out of class - really! Please try and trust my judgment, OK? I'm following the school policy; you may not agree with it but I have to abide by it.

#11. I'm not just here to rubber stamp someone you want sent home!

#12. All of the above doesn't apply to the little kids - pre-K and K. If they don't feel good, I automatically call Mom to come pick them up. I'm not heartless. Really..

Thank you for listening! I feel better now...........(sigh)

11 days and counting.............

mc3:nurse:

Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.

"What's CYA? "

I think it probably stands for "Cover your assparagus" :).

Ah, yes, the OP's post reminded me of my year as a school nurse. I was shared between a middle and high school, in an affluent school district (except, it seemed, when it came to having enough nurse coverage for their schools). I had a wonderful aide who would be at whichever school I wasn't. So, one week I was M-W-F at the middle school, T, Th at the high school, then switched the next week, back and forth. Thankfully our population was in pretty decent health other than a couple of diabetics who were typically physiologically controlled (psychologically, not so much so, but their IDM diseases were). Anyway, I was called to the principal's office one day at the middle school and lectured because I wasn't there every day of the week and I needed to do something about that. Since I couldn't quite figure out how to be in both places at once, I referred her to my boss. I don't think we were very popular.......

Specializes in Pedi.

One question, did school nursing experience help you get into acute care?

I gather that the majority of people go the other way... start out in acute care and transition into school. Schools in my area do not hire nurses with no acute care experience.

Specializes in kids.
What's CYA?

Cover yer azz

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.
I told my kids just this afternoon when I got home from the elementary school how interesting it is to meet other peoples kids. We all are so different in our beliefs and ways! Some of the kids are really neat and impressive; but some of the kids are so strange! Then again, the nurse is seeing the kids on meds,a nd I'm not talking about the asthma PRN kids! I had this one today, totally noncompliant. They send him to me and insist I inspect his mouth to be sure he actually swallowed the pill. I tried, he kept turning away. Three different times, he "faked" swallowing the pill. Finally, he refused to be checked (I think it was hidden in behind his front lower lip. But, he wanted his usual candy reward. When I said no I practically had to wrestle him away from the cabinet because he was going for it anyway. Crazy! Was thrilled when he came back for a second dose around noon!

These kids don't have the right to refuse, like adults do, do they?

Also, is it a violation to fax a med pick up form to a parent's place of work, if they request it, because they can't come back to sign in person? They signed a handwritten sheet about the student and meds picked up , but I couldn't find the right sheet until after they left. Was this a FERPA violation??

hmmm... i feel like we almost need a whole new thread for this one...

anyhow here goes, how old is this kiddo? and are they classified as special ed or diagnosed with any disorders that may contribute to their behavior? The mention of a candy reward makes me think somewhere on the autistic spectrum, but that is just outsider speculation.

The kids are minors con legally can they refuse, i suppose not, if their parent wants them to take a medication. But I know that I am not going to physically hold down a child to take a medication unless it is a matter of life and limb (such as an epipen). Anything else, in my past experiences if we've been having issues with complicance, is worked out with a strict behavior plan and solid communication with the parent. Now, that being said it sounds like you give a medication first thing in the morning and again at noon. Can the first thing in the morning med be given at home?

Now, onto the behavior itself. It sounds like you have a behavior plan on the table. If he knows that he gets the candy reinforcer for taking his medication, then work that in your favor. first of all, if it were me, I would either keep the candy in a locked cabinet so that he was aware that only swallowing the med would result in that cabinet being unlocked (and a check for an empty mouth since he's proven that he cheeks his meds instead of taking them). Second, without knowing any other specifics of this child, let him know that it is utterly inappropriate for any wrestling and disobedience to occur in your office. If your office is anything like mine there are glass jars, scissors, forceps, plenty of things you'd rather not have flying around the room.

Lol!!! My kids act like wosees at home but I guess at school their good!!

My kids are never sick always perfect attendance.

But when they are home they need me to wrap & put ice on everything but I guess at school they are tough because yesterday the school nurse asked one of my kids if they were a student there lol umm yes for 6yrs now!!

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Don't get me started with associating candy and med administration!! You bet, Flare, that could keep another thread running for months! In regard to venting.....one must remember the growth and development of "most" (I said most) of the administrators and teachers we deal with. These guys have NEVER lived or been employed outside of some type of educational institution. How could you expect them to have knowledge, insight, or experience in the "outside" world otherwise. We, school nurses and other late-comers to the educational institution, are weird to them, we have different views, ideas, and opinions about EVERYTHING as far as they are concerned. It upsets their programming; it's not their fault!! We are the cause of their frustration!! It's like watching a line of ants when you drop a branch over the trail. Oh, I bet I'm gonna get a lot of flack for this one!!

Don't get me started with associating candy and med administration!! You bet, Flare, that could keep another thread running for months! In regard to venting.....one must remember the growth and development of "most" (I said most) of the administrators and teachers we deal with. These guys have NEVER lived or been employed outside of some type of educational institution. How could you expect them to have knowledge, insight, or experience in the "outside" world otherwise. We, school nurses and other late-comers to the educational institution, are weird to them, we have different views, ideas, and opinions about EVERYTHING as far as they are concerned. It upsets their programming; it's not their fault!! We are the cause of their frustration!! It's like watching a line of ants when you drop a branch over the trail. Oh, I bet I'm gonna get a lot of flack for this one!!

i'm not fond of the candy reward either. I am only the occasional sub so I don't have access to too much personal info on these kids, just what I see in a sign off book. I would guess this kid is just a behavior problem because they refer to him as a "disrespectful little ****" under their breath. i would hope they wouldn't do that if he had an autism spectrum disorder!!

I just don't know too much about these kids since I am the occasional sub. But, as I said to OldDude, I'd bet its just behavior problems, not autism because of the office reaction to him.

The student is in 5th grade. And the candy cabinet, unfortunately the lock is broken...and he knows it!

What do you think about getting called to an emergency situation for a "doubled over" teacher who has really abnormally high vitals, is SOB and diaphoretic, crying in pain, who then refuse to go with EMS once they arrive...

... is the medical staff (i.e. school nurse with the license in the medical field) liable in situations like this?

Specializes in family practice and school nursing.
What do you think about getting called to an emergency situation for a "doubled over" teacher who has really abnormally high vitals, is SOB and diaphoretic, crying in pain, who then refuse to go with EMS once they arrive...

... is the medical staff (i.e. school nurse with the license in the medical field) liable in situations like this?

As long as you called EMS and explained to the staff person the risks of not cooperating, you did your part. Document everything.

Specializes in kids.

They are the adult. You called for help. Not your issue.

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