C'Mon Now!

sergel02, BSN · Feb 2, 2025

Speaking of otoscopes, we're supposed to be getting some but I realized....I never learned how to use one. A lot of nursing schools never covered it either so many of us don't know.

I'll have to find some tutorials online.

k1p1ssk, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2025

sergel02 said:

Speaking of otoscopes, we're supposed to be getting some but I realized....I never learned how to use one. A lot of nursing schools never covered it either so many of us don't know.

I'll have to find some tutorials online.

I found this post, which seemed to have some really good info: https://yourfavoriteschoolnursesays.school.blog/2023/02/15/assessment-basics-for-the-school-nurse-ears/

I do try to go over this when I have nursing students - the exams we do in health offices are so different from the type of assessment that is taught in nursing school.

The biggest tip I have to share is that when you are examining little ears, it is important to remember that their ear canals are not fully formed and are actually almost upside-down u shaped. So you need to insert the tip of the otoscope cover in at a slight upward angle at times and then actually pull back on the pinna of the ear to straighten out their ear canal. You then also need to sometimes move the otoscope around a little to be able to visualize the ear drum.

Good luck!

PS - It was just the lightbulb on my otoscope (Phew!).

sergel02, BSN · Feb 4, 2025

k1p1ssk said:

I found this post, which seemed to have some really good info: https://yourfavoriteschoolnursesays.school.blog/2023/02/15/assessment-basics-for-the-school-nurse-ears/

I do try to go over this when I have nursing students - the exams we do in health offices are so different from the type of assessment that is taught in nursing school.

The biggest tip I have to share is that when you are examining little ears, it is important to remember that their ear canals are not fully formed and are actually almost upside-down u shaped. So you need to insert the tip of the otoscope cover in at a slight upward angle at times and then actually pull back on the pinna of the ear to straighten out their ear canal. You then also need to sometimes move the otoscope around a little to be able to visualize the ear drum.

Good luck!

PS - It was just the lightbulb on my otoscope (Phew!).

Ooh thanks for this it's a really thorough resource! I may have to save it in case the site is ever lost.

Learning how to use an otoscope is pretty neat since it's so different than what we learn elsewhere (I know some offices use them). Hopefully we have them when we have more nursing students in the Fall semester.

BatcampRN · Oct 11, 2025

Two good ones from middle school:

I got a radio calling staying a student was coming down from lunch with a bloody nose.
Fine, all good. Kid arrives holding a paper towel to his face. He moved the paper towel and there is no blood anywhere to be seen. Kid states " I feel like I have a bloody nose, but there is no blood".. urmmmmmm. Back to lunch he went.

Another day I got a radio call from a teacher stating that they needed help "in the woods". Mind you our school is surrounded by woods on three sides and there are multiple outdoor spaces in said woods frequently used for outdoor classrooms. After gaining clarification as to where they actually are the teacher said she was worried the kid has a concussion, When I arrive I see a kid inside large cardboard box, that has both the top an bottom opened up, laying on the ground. Written on the box is "Human Burrito". Kid was wearing the box as a human burrito and his arms were inside it went past his knees. He tripped in the woods and landed on his face. He was fine. Had no symptoms or abrasions. It was very unclear how this activity was related to the art class he was in....
You can't make this stuff up

k1p1ssk, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2025

I love that this thread may be coming back to life.

My gem for this year thus far has been a 5th grade student (who is probably still a tanner stage I) who came to relay some "concerning symptoms" (her words) and very quietly said to me "Chat GPT told me it's probably puberty". I just about died holding in my chuckles.

I told her "Well, Chat GPT is probably right in this instance, but in the future, come and CHAT with me or your Mom first if you don't want to talk to dad about it!" That at least made her smile and I think she felt better after!

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Oct 15, 2025

k1p1ssk said:

I love that this thread may be coming back to life.

Agreed!! Glad to see my peeps!!

kunaspud · Oct 15, 2025

Not a C'mon now! But fun...

Got caught in the wild by a student who yelled to his mom, "It's my medicine teacher from school!"

BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN · Nov 11, 2025

Student: my mom (a staff member at same school) told me to come here after 5th period.

Co-nurse & I: um...we have no idea why

(eventually)

Student: I'm having trouble breathing and she said she would try to take me home after 5th period.

Me: what do you mean you're having trouble breathing?

Student: my nose is really stuffed and I have a lot of mucus.

Enter parent's co-worker to nurse's office.

Co-worker: she's really busy, what's going on?

Co-nurse explains the situation.

Co-worker: okay, I'll let her know. (exits nurse's office)

k1p1ssk, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2025

First day of December brought me 4 tummy aches before 9:30am, 2 kids wet coughing right in my face, and a never ending (well, 2.5 year old) email thread "circling back around" on why we won't make our kitchens peanut-free.

C'mon now!