casts, braces, pe restrictions

[CampNurse10]

Hi,

I'm curious what you all do with students who have broken or "sprained" limbs, and have activity restrictions per the md?

What we do: no gym or any other specials that involve physical exercise (students go to another special like art or music), no recess (which translates to lunch and recess in the nurses office). Sometimes we may have 2-5 kids eating their lunches and having recess here, which is about 40-45 minutes total (we have a large office so the space can accommodate that). I think this is overkill. The kids should be able to go out to recess and get fresh air, and be told to be careful, but because everyone is so afraid of getting sued, we keep them inside to keep them safe from any potential injuries. A friend of mine has kids in schools where there isn't even a nurse on duty (private), so the kids with colorful casts are out at recess along with everyone else.

So I am wondering, what do other schools do?

[Farawyn]

We are a HS and don't have recess.

The kids still attend gym and sports, they simply do not participate.

My son is in a leg brace right now and I saw him holding the stopwatch for the gym teacher yesterday.

Sporting events, the kids still attend, but act as manager, keep stats, etc.

[OldDude]

They can sit idle outside just like they can inside. Plus, sitting in the clinic unnecessarily exposed them to all kinds of illnesses. That's what I would hammer home with your administration. You know there are pathogens floating around your clinic and fomites clinging to the surfaces so why knowingly expose an otherwise well child to this environment? I would think that would be an important parent concern; geez, the kid is already injured - now you're trying to make them sick too?

[SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN]

They can sit idle outside just like they can inside. Plus, sitting in the clinic unnecessarily exposed them to all kinds of illnesses. That's what I would hammer home with your administration. You know there are pathogens floating around your clinic and fomites clinging to the surfaces so why knowingly expose an otherwise well child to this environment? I would think that would be an important parent concern; geez, the kid is already injured - now you're trying to make them sick too?

Great point! My kids with PE restrictions still go to PE!

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

oh no - no loitering in my office! First of all the thought of eating a meal in my office after having a parade of germy kids come through is gross enough. But to have healthy kids that are simply injured and have them sit for extended periods where sick kids are or were - not a great idea. I say go out and get some air. Even a kindergartner can understand that they can go out and sit with a friend or draw or read, etc but may not run and play. Kids with pe restrictions here still report to PE and do things like keep score, keep time, or just cheer.

[zombieghoast]

I don't even like kids who have casts to go outside. A kid with a foot cast was outside doing flips last year.

[CampNurse10]

I totally agree with your responses. The rationale, as I understand it, is that the kids and the other staff can't be trusted. The kids can say "yes I understand" when you tell them not to run or jump etc, but they're kids, they'll do it anyway. And the staff can't be relied upon because there's a ton of kids running around how can they promise to keep an eye on specific kids daily. And say one of these kids with a cast or sprain or whatever goes outside and falls or further injures themselves, the parents will be quick to come marching in saying it's our fault, the doctor wrote a letter saying they were restricted and we should have made sure the kids were safe. I feel like it's over the top though. I'm sure these kids are playing whatever they like after school, but we're creating bubbles around them in school.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I understand the mindset given the helicopter parent thing, but at some points kids 8 and older need some accountability. We let them go out, if they chose not to adhere to doctor's orders, that is on them. Had a girl with double concussion continue to play soccer, she was 14. I explained long term issues that could arise and she didn't care, mom was made aware, but that was as far as we restricted her.

[DEgalRN]

High school here - they still go to PE and "hang out" there, absolutely not in my office. Some times the PE teachers will work it out with the office for them to be office aids during their injury, but that's out of my hands.

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

My K-5 kids will go to the library or computer lab if they have outside restrictions. Oh...and I don't loan out my wheelchair. This is for school emergencies only. Parents just think they can have little Johnny use our wheelchair any old time.

Yes, we do allow your child to use "A" wheelchair, but you must provide it ....AND you must have a written order from your doctor.

In almost all cases, this will stop that in it's tracks !! LOL

[OldDude]

I totally agree with your responses. The rationale, as I understand it, is that the kids and the other staff can't be trusted. The kids can say "yes I understand" when you tell them not to run or jump etc, but they're kids, they'll do it anyway. And the staff can't be relied upon because there's a ton of kids running around how can they promise to keep an eye on specific kids daily. And say one of these kids with a cast or sprain or whatever goes outside and falls or further injures themselves, the parents will be quick to come marching in saying it's our fault, the doctor wrote a letter saying they were restricted and we should have made sure the kids were safe. I feel like it's over the top though. I'm sure these kids are playing whatever they like after school, but we're creating bubbles around them in school.

So because the staff is incompetent it becomes your responsibility??? The kids can hurt themselves inside just like outside. Supervision is supervision. Part of the job when you become a teacher, aide, whatever, in a school; you know, the place where there are a bunch of kids???

[100kids, BSN, RN]

I send em out for PE and recess. No need to hang in my office, their PE teacher or recess monitor knows they are restricted.