uh duh !

[NurseLoveJoy88]

Parents get me ! Maybe its just my school... but have you ever had kids come to the HR and say this: " My dad said that if I'm not feeling well then go to the HR and he'll pick me up"

Uh duh ! If you already promise your child that you will pick them up if they are not " feeling well" then 9 times outta ten they are going to come to the health room to go home. The bell haven't even rung before this kid was in my office ready to go home because of what dad told him. He had a SA, his temp was a perfect 98.6. No nausea/ vomiting, or diarrhea.

So what I did I do ? I had to call dad obviously, dad didn't answer but I left a message. But I did send him back to class and told him when I hear from dad I'll let you know. The teacher then gets mad, I can hear her talking about me behind my back to the secretaries because " he couldn't wait in the HR".

Do you ever have kids that come to the HR, ready to go home, based on the promises their parents made ?

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

''After I realized it was a recurring pattern, I mailed home a letter to parents that said students will only be sent home sick if they are acutely ill. If you believe that your child feels poorly enough that he might not be able to make it through the school day, keep him home to begin with because I won't be sending him home unless my assessment indicates a medical need.''

If I tried something like that, the parents would be on the phone with the superintendent and the school board faster than you can say unemployed nurse. I'm sad to say that the kids call the shots as far as going home in my school. Several times a week one comes in and tells me they have already called mom and she is parked out front, they just need a pass from me. I tried fighting this last year then realized I couldn't win this battle. I focus on what I can change but this is one battle I lost.

[LovingOBFutureFNP]

Yeah, I've been blessed with a very supportive administration who has backed me in everything I've done this year. It definitely makes all of the difference in the world!

If I can't document a reason that a student needs to go home, I tell him he needs to return to class to wait whether someone is already on the way or not. When a parent arrives, I explain that the student called before being evaluated by me, that I didn't find anything significant, that I sent the student back to class, and that I am not excusing the absence for medical reasons since the student is not being sent home through the clinic. Many times I've had parents who roll their eyes and say they're going back home... without the student in tow. I like those parents. :)

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I'm two weeks away from wrapping up my school nurse gig to return to my true nursing love, obstetrics, but since I'm a school nurse for 2 more weeks...

If a student complains of a stomachache, I assess vital signs, N/V/D/C, bowel sounds, any abdominal distention or tenderness to palpation, the type of pain, and diet for the day, which frequently ends up being "I didn't eat breakfast/lunch" or "pizza covered in nacho cheese and hot wings." As long as students' vitals and assessment are normal and they don't appear to be in any acute distress, I always send them back to class. I always ask if they'd like to try to use the restroom before going back, and I've found that small offerings like giving them a few crackers if they haven't had a meal yet that day make them feel like I've addressed their complaint. I feel like a nursing student who is about to complete her degree could adequately assess for these things as well.

This is my first year as a school nurse, so I used to fall for the "my mom said call home if I felt bad and she'd come pick me up" trick 30 minutes into the school day. After I realized it was a recurring pattern, I mailed home a letter to parents that said students will only be sent home sick if they are acutely ill. If you believe that your child feels poorly enough that he might not be able to make it through the school day, keep him home to begin with because I won't be sending him home unless my assessment indicates a medical need. Ever since then, I've had no problem. Students still pull the line on me, but I just explain that I'm sorry they're feeling bad, but their parents were made aware of the clinic policy and that they need to go on back to class.

Thanks for the support. ANd let me just clarify that I know there is a big difference between a cna, nursing student and nurse. I know I'm not a nurse and I know that I won't be one for another 10 weeks or so... I've never claimed to be one either. I know what my boundaries are as well. However, if it wasn't for me doing " Assessments" then my student would of went back to class with his swollen lymph nodes or I would of never sent that student with the blister to the doc and have him get a dx of shingles. I'm not a nurse yet, however I do believe that the knowledge I've gained so far as a student have made me more aware and alert of things.