Am I the only one? (Vent)

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Specializes in med surg, geriatrics, peds.

Okay, so this morning I have sent one home already, even though I did not have a "reason" to. Kindergarten student brings a note from home saying she has an earache and if she gets worse to call. Well at 7:30 am she comes to me with the note I look in her ears, check temp and observe her. Nosigns of redness or distress. I send her back to class. She is back at 8:00 am because she has been crying the whole time and is disrupting class. The only thing is that once she is in my office all crying stops. I go ahead and call mom. Her teacher has just lost her dad suddenly and I know that she cannot handle this. Was I wrong to send her home? There was no redness in her ears,and she is one of my drama queens I feel bad about sending her home but I knew she would be in my office every 30 minutes if I didn't. Why do parents do this? :down: If I tell my child this well guess what they will call home!!! Some days it just isn't worth the hassle!

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Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

I think you did the right thing. Everyday, every child, every situation is different. On another day, you may not have sent this one out, but today you did. It's okay.

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sometimes its the only thing you can do to save your sanity.... :)

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I'm guilty of it. Sometimes if it is "that" student and "that" teacher where I know neither will let up until the student gets a call home...well what is the point in fighting it? I will always give the parent my assessment and let them know that I see no medical need for the dismissal, but I tell them it is their choice to come pick up or not.

Sometimes they opt not to come, and then I ask if they want to talk to the student and let them know that they cannot be disrupting the class. I will also have a stern conversation with the student and let them know that we have already called home, and the parent and I agree that they need to be in class, so I do not want to see them in my office for that problem again and I do not want to hear that they were making a scene in class.

But, most parents will just come pick the kid up anyway :)

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Specializes in Coronary Care, School Nurse.

If parents send a note like that to school then you know the kid will use it! I will generally let the kid call home so the parents can deal with the problem. The parents created that problem and they can deal with it!:cool:

A parent can call the school once the child leaves home or send an e-mail to me or the teacher to give us a heads up if needed.

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Specializes in school nursing.

I am guilty of it. Some days, you have enough strength to stand your ground (September) and some days you just don't (April/May).

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Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..
I am guilty of it. Some days, you have enough strength to stand your ground (September) and some days you just don't (April/May).

AMEN!!!!!

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I find if a parent writes that kind of note OR tells the kids if they feel bad call home and they will get picked up...that the parents needed a break from the kid and was hoping to get a few hours respite too. I simply say call home and have your parents pick them up. If the parent asks if the kids is feverish etc: I simply say the child wants to go home and you already gave them permission.

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