Our school is in hybrid mode, kids split into a totally online group and two hybrid groups that alternate days in person. Tenuously holding on, no outbreaks so far, just 1 week with hybrid in person, and community covid spread increasing around us again.
So why on God's green earth do we have full-on football right now? Why is our wrestling season about to begin? Why am I bugging people to cover their noses, and annoying parents by sending their kids home for 10 days with minor symptoms, and breaking up lunch groups of more than two kids at a table.... So they can have contact sports, and travel on busses to breathe heavily in close contact with kids from other schools and neighborhoods?
Why are we jumping in to the highest risk activities without making sure we're going to get everyone through algebra and English class safely?
I don't get it, I really don't. I don't think I understand anything about how schools are run. Is this typical?
Just like all of you, I'm struggling to process certain things. Like, the public demanding that all of us in schools (not to mention hospitals!) put ourselves in harm's way for the good of the community and our students' mental and social well-being.
And then on the other hand, that same public sometimes won't tolerate the smallest inconvenience - a piece of cloth on the face, missing an enjoyable recreational activity or sport, etc - in return.
This 1000x! This has been my biggest complaint through this whole circus show. Parents expecting school staff to risk their lives so their kids can have a "normal school experience." **Parent Alert**There is not going to be any return to previous normalcy.
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
15 hours ago, laflaca said:
Yesterday, as I sent a vomiting kid home and informed the parent of our protocol (online education x 10 days or a negative COVID test), I was loudly and publicly lectured on the following scientific facts:
1) I don't know what vomiting is
2) I don't understand public health guidance and am an uninformed nurse, and finally
3) Nausea can be caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, secondary to wearing a cloth mask
I'm mentally screaming right along with you!
I am so sorry. You deserve better than that. Also I have asthma and would die if it was actually true that masking upped the CO2 or restricted my airway in any way....since I have not died yet I can only suppose that is a false argument made by a parent who doesn't want the Scarlet Letter associated with their sweet baby. It's a scarlet C, not a scarlet A this year....
I am so sorry. You deserve better than that. Also I have asthma and would die if it was actually true that masking upped the CO2 or restricted my airway in any way....since I have not died yet I can only suppose that is a false argument made by a parent who doesn't want the Scarlet Letter associated with their sweet baby. It's a scarlet C, not a scarlet A this year....
I miss when it was just misinformation everywhere about head lice. There I said it.
This 1000x! This has been my biggest complaint through this whole circus show. Parents expecting school staff to risk their lives so their kids can have a "normal school experience." **Parent Alert**There is not going to be any return to previous normalcy.
And that's a good thing! I've said to several people including my principal that we can take a lot of what we are doing and move forward such as...
not endorse policies that encourage us to come to work/school sick
not have our health insurance tied to our jobs
not cram 300 kids into a small cafeteria or 20 patients into a waiting room
allow employees to work from home once in a while esp when they have a sick kid
so much more....
I know a lot of the above is wishful thinking, but so is wanting to simply return to "normal".
Parents expecting school staff to risk their lives so their kids can have a "normal school experience." **Parent Alert**There is not going to be any return to previous normalcy.
The biggest argument I heard throughout the Summer advocating for going back to in-person school was "My Susie wants to see her friends! She wants to play at recess and eat lunch and socialize again!" Did parents not realize that in-person school would no longer look like this? The same parents that fought tooth and nail to get back to in-person school are complaining now that "schools are like a prison."
Yesterday, as I sent a vomiting kid home and informed the parent of our protocol (online education x 10 days or a negative COVID test), I was loudly and publicly lectured on the following scientific facts:
1) I don't know what vomiting is
2) I don't understand public health guidance and am an uninformed nurse, and finally
3) Nausea can be caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, secondary to wearing a cloth mask
I'm mentally screaming right along with you!
I, too, got yelled at by an irate (her own self-description, not mine) parent who had initially apologized to me for sending LD in before her test was back. She kept her home through day 9, and then sent a very mean email saying almost all of these same things (minus the CO2 mask thing) and was adamant that her choice to let the 5 year old bounce on the trampoline with a hose the weekend prior was the cause of her symptoms NOT illness related. Brought her to school and literally stood in our school's entryway, yelling at myself and the principal. "YOU need to tell her she can't come into school. NOT ME. YOU need to tell her!!"
Brought her to school and literally stood in our school's entryway, yelling at myself and the principal. "YOU need to tell her she can't come into school. NOT ME. YOU need to tell her!!"
Specializes in Geriatric Home Health, High School Nurse.
49 minutes ago, JenTheSchoolRN said:
I miss when it was just misinformation everywhere about head lice. There I said it.
Yesterday a student told me "corona is the city water" and that is why she won't drink anything. I just cannot even understand where they are getting this information, but it absolutely breaks my heart. I tried to educate her on the facts, but I am not sure she bought what I was selling.
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
40 minutes ago, k1p1ssk said:
Brought her to school and literally stood in our school's entryway, yelling at myself and the principal. "YOU need to tell her she can't come into school. NOT ME. YOU need to tell her!!"
We already did. It's written on that paper I gave you with language that matches a fifth grader's comprehension.
I do agree that being at home so much has revealed the giant, jagged gaps in our access to quality childcare and mental health services.
Yesterday, as I sent a vomiting kid home and informed the parent of our protocol (online education x 10 days or a negative COVID test), I was loudly and publicly lectured on the following scientific facts:
1) I don't know what vomiting is
2) I don't understand public health guidance and am an uninformed nurse, and finally
3) Nausea can be caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, secondary to wearing a cloth mask
I'm mentally screaming right along with you!
#3 sounds like a great reason for them to partake in online education! Don't like masks? Cool! Stay home!
In Illinois the governor and IHSA (high school sports association) are battling it out. Governor's restrictions don't allow basketball. IHSA said basketball is starting 11/16 and they don't care what the governor says. Then our BOE says that they support the governor and schools must follow the governor's orders or face legal ramifications.
GdBSN, RN
659 Posts
This 1000x! This has been my biggest complaint through this whole circus show. Parents expecting school staff to risk their lives so their kids can have a "normal school experience." **Parent Alert**There is not going to be any return to previous normalcy.