Yet another lice topic

Specialties School

Published

Specializes in Pedi.

Does anyone flat-out tell their staff NO when they come to ask to have their head checked the moment a student is sent home with lice? I just had a new teacher come to ask me to check her head because one of her students is friends with a student that has lice - the student with lice isn't even in her classroom! (I gave her a quick lesson on transmission, but she didn't look convinced)

Same for parents - two parents called me yesterday to have me check their kids because they are at the same bus stop as the student with the head lice.

Please help me stop the madness!!! :crying2:

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I wouldn't refuse, but I am spoiled. My school is small, numerous staff kids and a handful of staff. We had an outbreak right before spring break. I had just started and we do lots of whole school activities, where kids are literally head to head and in each others laps. Huge opportunity to teach. I don't mind, but my load is light comparably. I referred all staff and parents to licehappens.com, a site for a business started by 2 (school?) nurses. Very heavy on instruction, to the point that they kind of teach you that if you can't afford it, their expensive stuff isn't necessary. Maybe send out an email directing them to that info?

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I don't refuse to check them because I take the opportunity to lead them to believe they have lice until I tell them I'm just kidding. While I'm looking I'll throw in a couple of "hmmmms" and "that's peculiar" and "let me look at that closer" followed by NOPE, don't see anything!! Hey, Nurse Barb G would do the same thing!!

Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I have too much to do in a day to waste time on non-sense like checking teachers' heads. I encourage you to ask a few evidence-based questions such as:

Have you shared hair care equipment with the student? Have you shared hats, pillowcases or shampoo towels with the student? If no, then a head check is completely unnecessary.

As far as a parent calling asking for a child to be checked: If s/he answers yes to any of the above questions regarding the child, then I would invite Mom and Dad to my office for a head-check demonstration. I'd be happy to teach them what to look for and what to do if lice are found, but no way I'm doing it for them.

Soapbox warning: Nurses are typically the sole health care providers in schools. It is our responsibility to both our clientele and our profession to act according the current scientific knowledge and evidence-based practice. When asked to do stupid things that have no basis in science or public health, it is our responsibility to say, "No!" Otherwise, we are failing at our duty to educate and to base our practice on scientific standards.

Stepping down now :)

I don't check staff members or even do head checks in classrooms . . . . :no:

I agree with Jolie's post. :up:

I don't refuse to check them because I take the opportunity to lead them to believe they have lice until I tell them I'm just kidding. While I'm looking I'll throw in a couple of "hmmmms" and "that's peculiar" and "let me look at that closer" followed by NOPE, don't see anything!! Hey, Nurse Barb G would do the same thing!!

Not too many teachers come in to me for this... But the next time someone does, I'm soooo doing this!

I don't refuse to check them because I take the opportunity to lead them to believe they have lice until I tell them I'm just kidding. While I'm looking I'll throw in a couple of "hmmmms" and "that's peculiar" and "let me look at that closer" followed by NOPE, don't see anything!! Hey, Nurse Barb G would do the same thing!!

Just give them a Saltine...instant cure for head lice!

Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

I just had a teacher come in and ask me to check her. First time in my 3 years here.

She asked if I would check her for lice. "I've been exposed."

It turns out her nieces and nephews have lice. She hasn't slept there, they haven't slept at her house.

I educated and sent her on her way. But she looked at me and said "Your answer is NO?!?!" when I responded to her initial question.

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