Are you serious??????

Published

Week 3 and I feel like a dumping ground!!! This is my 14th year as a school nurse and I really feel like it may be my last.

I am at a MS of about 900 and have really great, supportive office staff and admin. However, you know school nursing IS school nursing.

I have been bombarded, literally a line out the door after 1st period every day - mostly athletic kids. Mostly stuff that happened days ago, or at home. etc. But, you know that is what it is. Part of the job too....

What burned my ___________ was one of the counselors. She sees a student coming down the hallway and he is crying, has known anxiety issues and she sees me swamped but tells student "oh, you are upset. Here, go see the nurse." Really???? I think the next nosebleed that comes through - I am going to send directly to her!!!

Then, kid I tell to return in 15 minutes is allowed to text parents from class instead to ask for cough drops. Then, teacher writes note that I need to do a temp check at the same time he sends a kid with no pass at all for "gummy juice on pants." I could not even see anything!!

Vent over, feel better. What happened to the C'MON NOW thread?

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ok Part TWO - same counselor brings a student who has a phobia about vomit / germs/ bathroom stalls to use my clinic bathroom (where a student is sitting hanging there head over a trash can vomiting).

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I find the teachers are really biggest problem with the amount of flow into the clinic. The teachers in my school send students down for every reason under the sun many not medical. Any prek or K that is having a behavioral issue the teachers insist they have a temperature check. A child is tired because he did not sleep well last night, go to the nurse. The problem with that is I only have about 2 spots they can rest. I need those for actual kids who are sick. I had a student come down today because he a pencil mark on his face. He made a comment on why he teacher didn't just send him to the bathroom.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

If it makes you feel any better....the teachers and aides at our school lower my expectations every single day. An assistant sent a girl to me today - actually, he saw me from 20 yards down the hallway and yelled "you need to come over here and see (student)." I walked there calmly, ignoring the rudeness, and asked what the problem was. "Her face is all red, she has an allergic reaction."

Student had just played an hour of vigorous volleyball. She's a very light-skinned, blonde-haired white kid whose face was flushed from exertion. She has no physical complaint at all. She told me it had been a great game, and that she's good at volleyball (she is). I told her good job, sent her back to Mr. Panic Attack's classroom.

I can't think too much about the stupid stuff that consumes half my day, or I'll lose my mind. But it's always a relief to vent here :).

6
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.

This week it has been loose tooth after loose tooth. Not a tooth that came out, not a tooth loose because of injury. Just "My tooth is loose".

Um. OK. Lovely. So glad you've come to update me for the 4th time this week. Come back when it falls out.

An aid actually asked me if I would pull out one of the kids' teeth yesterday. Nope. Absolutely not.

6
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I get a lot of the loose teeth that teachers send down to my office. I mean come on! What do they think we are going to do? I had one today...I ask what are you missing right now. She replies oh just math class. Why would the teacher send her down during something so important? I feel like there is no common sense here.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.

I had one teacher come in after the fact and she said "Well, I sent him down because he was perseverating on it." Ok, yes, but I can't stop him from perseverating on it any more that you can! I think they freak out at the blood in the mouth, or the fact that kids don't stop complaining.

Most of these teachers are parents, and I just wish they'd use some of their parenting skills in these situations. I get that their classes are large and they can't take the constant complaining BUT, sending them to me to be the bad guy to tell the kid there's nothing to be done isn't fair. It honestly probably gives the kid hopes that are then dashed when I don't offer to call a dentist in immediately to extract their poor wittle baby tooth.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 9/13/2019 at 8:42 AM, k1p1ssk said:

An aid actually asked me if I would pull out one of the kids' teeth yesterday. Nope. Absolutely not.

? I wouldn't pull my own teeth out when I was a kid. No chance I'm pulling someone else's tooth out. Show me vomit, diarrhea, or a stage 3 pressure ulcer and I'm fine. Show me a wiggly tooth and I'm ready to hurl.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nurse.

I made a power point this year for clinic guidelines. It clearly says twice that when calling for the nurse use phone/call button, states student name and nature of call (do I need meds/AED/wheelchair) - DO NOT send another student running. What happened Friday? I get student asking for me to come see someone in class. WHAT DO I NEED???? Well the student has passed out, all I have is my go bag. I could have had my wheelchair ready too.

This year I also implemented a staff quiz with prizes to reinforce clinic procedure (competitive staff loves this!)

I have an ill student in my room that cannot come to clinic on their own, do I:

A. Send another student to clinic to get nurse?

B. Call nurse at 057109 – stating room #, student name & nature of illness

C. Use call button on wall – stating room #, student name & nature of illness

D. Send student to clinic with a buddy

E. A & D

F. B & C

G. All of the above

First 10 get a treat!

And yes, several got it wrong . . . sigh

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, MS, DIDD, Corrections, HH, LTC, School Nurse.
14 hours ago, tining said:

This year I also implemented a staff quiz with prizes to reinforce clinic procedure (competitive staff loves this!)

Fabulous idea!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
On 9/16/2019 at 7:53 AM, k1p1ssk said:

I had one teacher come in after the fact and she said "Well, I sent him down because he was perseverating on it." Ok, yes, but I can't stop him from perseverating on it any more that you can! I think they freak out at the blood in the mouth, or the fact that kids don't stop complaining.

Most of these teachers are parents, and I just wish they'd use some of their parenting skills in these situations. I get that their classes are large and they can't take the constant complaining BUT, sending them to me to be the bad guy to tell the kid there's nothing to be done isn't fair. It honestly probably gives the kid hopes that are then dashed when I don't offer to call a dentist in immediately to extract their poor wittle baby tooth.

You're my favorite. I have, on occasion, made the statement "So, this is a behavioral issue" when faced with these situations. Behavioral issues need a plan that involves a counselor or AP but not me since it's not medical.

Also the kid sleeping in class because Fortnight, the kid whose stomach hurts because no breakfast (we get breakfast in the classroom), and any number of things. Behavioral.

If you felt really perky you could get into a discussion about classroom management techniques with an AP. Because most of this is about classroom management and the teacher's level of skill dealing with what I call the noise of distraction.

Having said all that....when there are 23 of them and five are likely perseverating...it is a sanity break. Whether I like it or not.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion