Asking for help...

[kaitsmama]

First, I want to commend all of you for what you do as school nurses. Second, I want to ask for your help. My daughter's class is using communal supplies. As a nurse, I am nauseated to think that the teacher has chosen to enforce this archaic practice which will only prove to increase transmission of bacteria and viruses.

However, as a PICU nurse I am a little unaware of what is happening in the realm of school nursing. Is this an issue that school nurses are addressing? Are there articles r/t this additional mode of transmission in classes in journals for school nurses? If so, can anyone point me in the direction of these articles, statements by the school nurse association, etc?

I would really appreciate any help that you can offer! I am continuing to research this topic in my journals and on-line. I have found several articles on community acquired MRSA, but I am looking for more that are specific to schools.

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

Hi,

I'm not exactly sure what you are asking. What supplies are communal? If your daughter is in early grades K-1 some things like toys, etc will be shared by all. Usually clothing like jackets are hung closely together. Kids tend to share all kinds of germs. I guess I want to know what specifically you're talking about. Hope I can help.

[kaitsmama]

The teacher took up all of their personal supplies that we had to send (crayons, scissors, glue, folders, notebooks, etc.) Dumped them into tubs that the children all access. So, not only is this third grade class all sharing the usual germs from doors, toys, play equipment, etc. Now, they are all handling the same crayons, scissors, pencils, etc.

I just can't imagine why the teacher feels the need to add to the germ sharing... I do know that I want to go through this appropriately with research and get it changed permanently for all children at the school, not just my daughter...

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/childcaresettings.htm

See if this site helps. It talks about keeping commonly shared articles clean. These surfaces (like crayons)can't be cleaned, so it would be best for the kids to keep them to themselves. On a more practical note, if I bought my kid stuff for school, I would want him/her to be able to use what I bought. Wouldn't a pencil box at each desk make more sense?

I do think though that you're going to find that most of the research shows that the #1 thing to prevent the spread of illness is washing hands.

[zenman]

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/childcaresettings.htm

See if this site helps. It talks about keeping commonly shared articles clean. These surfaces (like crayons)can't be cleaned, so it would be best for the kids to keep them to themselves. On a more practical note, if I bought my kid stuff for school, I would want him/her to be able to use what I bought. Wouldn't a pencil box at each desk make more sense?

I do think though that you're going to find that most of the research shows that the #1 thing to prevent the spread of illness is washing hands.

True. It would be interesting to culture the articles and see what you grow out.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

The kids are going to share germs no matter what. I don't think it's an issue worth worrying about.

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

The kids are going to share germs no matter what. I don't think it's an issue worth worrying about.

I agree with this poster. Kids...especiallly kindergartener tend to spread germs around in great amounts and some kids will pick up everything no matter what precautions you take. I would be a little miffed that the teacher pooled all of my child's supplies with the rest of the class. That would really get to me.

___________

Praiser