A new one for me

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4th grader came in complaining of a sore throat. States her throat been sore for a week now. Took her temperature and no fever. Asked her what mom said she said mom just been giving her cough medicine. ok..gave student a drink of water. Spoke with mom and mom wanted me to give her warm salt water :blink: couldn't find any salt... gave her plain water... first time somebody ever ask for salt water .....back to class she goes just wondering if any of you school nurses had parents to ask for weird stuff

Specializes in Med-Surg, OB and Nursing Admin.

Not a weird request. Ask anyone over 60 what we were given for a sore throat and they will tell you salt and water.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

It's so crazy to me the weird limits that are placed on you school nurses. Can't give a kid a cough drop or salt water gargle without a doctors order. Maybe there's good reason and I just don't understand...but it blows my mind sometimes!

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Specializes in school nurse.
At what age are kiddos normally able to understand the concept of gargling?? I'm amazed at how many don't understand putting the thermometer under the tongue when I'm checking for fever or spit when I'm having them rinse the mouth when they have a bleeding tooth.

I love salt water gargles for myself but am dubious most of more random sore throats would *get it*

(I've got PreK to 5th grade but PreK-1 is what keeps me hopping!)

When I mix up some salt water for a kiddo, I pour a little off into another cup and do a demo of gargling. i wouldn't bother with a PreK or K, but I've done it with students as young as 1st grade. Modeling it seems to help...

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Specializes in school nurse.
It's so crazy to me the weird limits that are placed on you school nurses. Can't give a kid a cough drop or salt water gargle without a doctors order. Maybe there's good reason and I just don't understand...but it blows my mind sometimes!

I've never had a problem with needing an order for salt water. The intervention is in our "drop downs", just like cold pack or warm pack. (And not on our district MD orders, either) Maybe because I assume, just like with saltines. I don't have an order for those, but I'd never ask...

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

I grew up gargling warm salt water for a sore throat. Still do it to this day.

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Me too. Warm salt water gargle for sore throats from childhood. I use it at school and sometimes it has been declared a miracle cure. I have taught kids (kinder thru 6th) how to gargle for 25+ years, just like Jedr, by example. Love the kid's smiles when they get it!

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I love salt water gargles for sore throat. It also helps determine who is faking. No one really likes a salt water gargle BUT if they are really suffering I find most kids will try it.

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Specializes in kids.
I love salt water gargles for sore throat. It also helps determine who is faking. No one really likes a salt water gargle BUT if they are really suffering I find most kids will try it.

Same as the kids who "threw up in the bathroom". When they decline the offer a little mouthwash, I find it highly suspicious that they infact truly vomitted!

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

Actually you don't need a doctor's order for salt water gargles, just ask the parent if it's okay. I live in Texas and it's common to do that for sore throats. I do ask the child or parent if they want to do it, and some say yes, some say no.

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Gargling is a nursing intervention, wondering why you would need an order? You could have it written into the standing orders if your state requires it.

Well I understand completely why my school district does what it does and I'm glad they are strict with the policy. If i gave a child say for instance salt water to gargle and something happens after I gave the salt water gargle. Who do you think they gone blame? All about protection/liability.

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Not a weird request. Ask anyone over 60 what we were given for a sore throat and they will tell you salt and water.

It's not weird for me and I'm not over 60

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It's so crazy to me the weird limits that are placed on you school nurses. Can't give a kid a cough drop or salt water gargle without a doctors order. Maybe there's good reason and I just don't understand...but it blows my mind sometimes!

Because what you think would be ok to give might have an affect on that person and the first person that's gonna get blame is the nurse because she gave a simple salt water gargle. You never know. It's a liability thing. Nurses need protection too

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