bathroom assistance??

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Specializes in M.Ed., BSN, CSN.

Hi everyone! Having a conversation with a coworker and looking for some feedback.

What are your thoughts on assisting elementary students who came to your office because they wet their pants?? These students do not have a 504, any medical conditions, etc.

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

My office does keep extra clothes on hand, so my assistance is to find them a proper size, give them a plastic bag for their wet clothing and pointing them to the bathroom.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

My assistance is to call a parent to bring clothes to school if the student doesn't have extra clothes in their backpack.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Generally, I won't do it. I am not saying that there aren't times that I haven't helped, but honestly, it's a true rarity.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Nope. The worst that usually happens is that they put the pants on backwards and I tell them to try again.

I call the parents and say they had an accident if I have time and that they cleaned up themselves and they're welcome to come do a better job if they can. 50/50 do/dont.

I also try to have only sweats/leggings to minimize button/zipper assistance.

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My assistance is to call a parent to bring clothes to school if the student doesn't have extra clothes in their backpack.

Samesies.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

In the other schools I've worked in, I got this all. the. time. and I had clothes in the clinic to give them to change into - I only helped when absolutely necessary and then I had the bathroom door open and one of the front office peeps with me since I'm not going to be alone with a child in any state of undress. I was frustrated and couldn't understand why it was a nursing issue, but I sucked it up since that was just the way it was.

The school district I'm in now actually has a policy that bathroom and clothing issues are NOT a nurse thing and should be handled in the classroom or the child should be sent to the office to call home. We have had teachers/paras bring kids into the health room to change in our bathroom for various reasons, but my health assistant and I are not involved. Also, there are no extra clothes in the clinic - they are kept in the office. :)

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We have preschoolers here, so their teaching assistants or teachers help clean them up & change. For kindergarten or older I give them baby wipes and a big ziplock bag to put their clothes in. They clean themselves up, change into their gym shorts/pants, and then I ring mom or dad to let them know and inform them that little one isn't wearing underpants.

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

I will get them set up with clothes, wipes & a bag for their wet stuff. Then, as I'm walking out the door, I tell them to wash their hands when they're done. What they do once I'm out the door, I don't know.

On the very rare occasion I've helped clean a poopy butt, but there was another adult there n there with us.

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Specializes in M.Ed., BSN, CSN.
My office does keep extra clothes on hand, so my assistance is to find them a proper size, give them a plastic bag for their wet clothing and pointing them to the bathroom.

Those are my thoughts exactly!!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

We do not keep extra clothes, so my assistance is to call the parents to bring something for them to change into.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
My assistance is to call a parent to bring clothes to school if the student doesn't have extra clothes in their backpack.

Basically this.

I have assisted though the Kindergartners to put on their clothes, because they don't know. But it's rare, since they should already know by now.

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