Staff that are frequent fliers

Specialties School

Published

I work at a middle school, and have been exhausted DAILY, by staff members (teachers, paras, etc) that frequent my office.

They typically want advice, their temps taken, they want to know if they have strep throat (yes, really) or if I think they should "go home and rest".

Several also stop in numerous times to visit...and end up asking my students why they are in my office, and what for.

This is really taxing. I have pulled several adults aside, and explained HIPPA, but they seem to forget this, after time.

I would really appreciate any ideas with tactful ways to handle this issue!

Thank you!!

Specializes in retired LTC.

Thread is a little late but recent answers got me to thinking. I don't do school nsg; do LTC. But I have some concerns about those freq flyers/staff who request fingersticks. I would equate them as like family/friends/visitors in my NH.

Fingersticks are INVASIVE procedures. What would happen if the performing nurse were to accidently sustain a sharps accident post- lancet use? Who would cover the protocol for the nurse's injury as it was NOT being performed in the 'line of duty/on-the-job"? MD/ER visits and meds costs with time off could occur - who would be responsible to pay??? Also, could the staff member be obligated to test? I don't think so?!?

And would your malpractice cover you if that staff member were to sustain a problem from the performance of the fingerstick?

I've worked with co-workers whom I knew were insulin-dep diabetics. If I found anyone of them symptomatic or passed out, I most surely would suspect diabetic problems and I would perform a fingerstick in the line of my emergency assessment & first-aid assist.

For non-pts at work, I'd be calling 911 and performing supportive ABC care until 911 arrived to take over.

As for PP, Songbird,RN, I'd have to see that staff is specifically included (ie WRITTEN) in the job duties. Just because I got to thinking...

Sometimes, one cannot be tactful. After several friendly reminders that did not work, I ended up posing the following question just this last Thursday, "Now, listen, Ms. Teacher, do I walk through and hang out in your classroom while you're teaching?" I did not see her at all the rest of Thursday, nor Friday. Score one for the nurse! :yes:

Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

I have to mention that one of my biggest problems with Staff are the questions about health concerns. There are only a handful, but it's really annoying to get calls that start off about their spouse, kid, their skin rash/urine color/etc. I'm not a Doctor and I'm not saving you a co-pay. Neither am I a 24/7 Nurse hotline. I had a staff member come up to me in a department store during the weekend asking if I could look at their young child's rash. Luckily I was in a fantastic mood already and politely declined. OMG! :banghead:

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