Wondering why it takes an RN license to get this done (even though policy dictates otherwise, it is not followed through on). If a child urinates on his clothing, the procedure is that the parents are first called to bring a change of clothing. Only if they cannot be reached, or absolutely cannot come or send someone else, do we offer clothing. I have a few things in my office but most of the selection is kept by the counselor. Despite this, students are repeatedly referred to the nurse's office with this problem. We have a district memo that states that it is supposed to be a "team effort" and "designated staff members" are supposed to help so that "any one staff member is not over-burdened" by this. Well, I'm feeling over burdened.
Student is sent to me for urine accident. The phone numbers are kept in the main office, so I go there. The family is Spanish speaking only, so I ask the clerk to call for me. The numbers are not in service, and there are no different numbers under any of the student's siblings. So, on to plan B. I have a pair of shorts that will probably fit him, but no undies. My student who gets a cath shows up so I ask the clerk to call the counselor. Finish cath, counselor has undies but probably too small and she does not have the key to the cabinet.
I call counselor and determine that the kid is tiny and undies will probably fit well enough. She does not have keys to cabinet. I have to approach secretary for keys (who gives me attitude about it). Now if I am to retrieve the golden britches, I have to leave my office and travel upstairs, and I've got kids filing in and out. So now I track down the campus monitor to go get the undies for me. FINALLY after directing traffic for 30 minutes, the kid gets to change out of his wet pants.
Is it just me, or could this not be a whole lot easier if the teacher calls home, then refers to the counselor if no one can come? Two people involved instead of five? Does that make too much sense? OK, vent over. I feel better. Just glad my RN license is getting put to such good use!
The teacher's aides are responsible for cleaning up the students at our school too, BUT THEY DON'T! I was dealing with a parent and her child's meds, you know, the things that require a nursing license, and the Aide brought up a student with wet pants. I told her that I would be a little bit with this parent but she could use my bathroom and I would give her some wipes. She said, "I am on my break right now." On your break! Really?! Suck it up! I am lucky if I even get to pee during the day and you are going to sit there on my cot and do NOTHING while I do EVERYTHING, because you are on your break. I told her, "that's ok. I'm sure he will still be wet after your break is over."
From what I have been told, the teacher assistants at my school are not responsible for cleaning a child after a toilet accident. I would only be responsible for notifying the parents. However, this year I work with 5th and 6th graders. They would probably be mortified enough that they had an accident, let alone baring their private parts to be cleaned by someone else.
We are not talking about 5th and 6th grade students, nor are we talking about special needs students with 1:1 nursing services. We are talking about, mostly, students in grades PreK- 2nd sometimes 3rd grade. If I can get a hold of a parent to bring in clothes, that is my FIRST choice all the time. But then, am I the only person in the entire school building who can pick up a phone and make a phone call? I was doing the fluoride program (for those of you who know what that is- for those who don't, don't ask, it is stupid) and a 1st grade student wet himself. The teacher came to me, in one of the classrooms I was in and said, "Nurse Tracy thank God we FINALLY found you! We have been looking all over for you. So and so had an accident." Ok, so you spent HOW LONG looking all over the building for ME when you could have picked up a phone yourself and called the parent to bring him some clothes. Our point is, the nurse isn't the ONLY person capable of picking up a phone, getting a child some clothes, bringing them to the bathroom and instructing them on how to change and how to clean themselves up, and if YOU would be accused of molesting a child, what makes you think that WE wouldn't? Just because we are nurses doesn't mean we can just undress children, clean them up, and do whatever everyone else cannot do.
I mean, think about it. If I take it upon myself to clean a child after they have an accident, and I am not supposed to, then I could be accused of trying to molest the child. No thank you! If a child were to have a toileting accident and anyone were to tell me to clean the child, you better believe I would be on the phone with my school district's central office to get their okay. Finding clothes for them, and handing them the supplies is a different story.
We have nurses aides in our classes that have special needs students in them. Some students have their own nurses aide that is there for one particular child. In those cases, those aides clean up the children they are assigned to.
We are not talking about 5th and 6th grade students, nor are we talking about special needs students with 1:1 nursing services. We are talking about, mostly, students in grades PreK- 2nd sometimes 3rd grade. If I can get a hold of a parent to bring in clothes, that is my FIRST choice all the time. But then, am I the only person in the entire school building who can pick up a phone and make a phone call? I was doing the fluoride program (for those of you who know what that is- for those who don't, don't ask, it is stupid) and a 1st grade student wet himself. The teacher came to me, in one of the classrooms I was in and said, "Nurse Tracy thank God we FINALLY found you! We have been looking all over for you. So and so had an accident." Ok, so you spent HOW LONG looking all over the building for ME when you could have picked up a phone yourself and called the parent to bring him some clothes. Our point is, the nurse isn't the ONLY person capable of picking up a phone, getting a child some clothes, bringing them to the bathroom and instructing them on how to change and how to clean themselves up, and if YOU would be accused of molesting a child, what makes you think that WE wouldn't? Just because we are nurses doesn't mean we can just undress children, clean them up, and do whatever everyone else cannot do.
This is my last week in the elementary school and I have to say, this is one of the main reasons why! Pee pee pants and poo poo odors all day long, when I have actual nursing work piling higher and higher on my desk. I sent two letters home at the beginning of the year, and had it mentioned at open house, that everyone, even THE NURSE, ought to have a change of clothing, for both potty accidents and other accidents (even adults could ruin their clothing in the course of a day at elementary school). Some kids even have the requested change of clothing. But I have been in the middle of very careful wardrobe selection with a student when they say "you know, I bet the clothes I have in my bookbag would work!" And I just stop and stare. The teachers don't even ask questions, they hear or see pee and tell the kid to run to the nurse.
I am right across from the library and one of the things they do to drive me crazy is tell the kids to use my bathroom if they need to go during their library period. Even if I'm in the middle of my 10 minute lunch, I get kids banging on my door to use my bathroom. You know, they never even asked me if they could send kids in to use my bathroom. The "main" bathroom is in the hallway about 15 feet from the library door. I guess they can't go that far?
The last one that makes me nuts is the kid that is in to see me several times a day so I can button his pants. The teacher actually sends him all the way to my office to button his pants. Several times a day. All that class time missed. For pants buttons. This teacher is a parent, so it's not like she has any excuse at all. She just thinks it's my job to BUTTON PANTS all day.
I have a return second grader who "needs" to use my bathroom. Ok fine. Then the child comes out, stares at me and holds up their hands. They say I have poo on my hands. This is a non-disabled child btw. Meanwhile I have one getting a neb, one waiting for a scheduled neb, two type 1 lows, and a fever on my cot. I tell poopy hands in my most exasperated mom voice "well then go wash them" geez!!!!!!!
Be prepared for period leaks. They happen, but at least the students can clean themselves up. But I do have a stock of underwear and extra uniform pants ready.
And this is way I love you all that are elementary school nurses. Nope, nope, nope. I will take puberty every single time over potty accidents.
rntracy1, BSN, RN
19 Posts
The teacher's aides are responsible for cleaning up the students at our school too, BUT THEY DON'T! I was dealing with a parent and her child's meds, you know, the things that require a nursing license, and the Aide brought up a student with wet pants. I told her that I would be a little bit with this parent but she could use my bathroom and I would give her some wipes. She said, "I am on my break right now." On your break! Really?! Suck it up! I am lucky if I even get to pee during the day and you are going to sit there on my cot and do NOTHING while I do EVERYTHING, because you are on your break. I told her, "that's ok. I'm sure he will still be wet after your break is over."