Common Cold

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Hi all,

Would like some advise...We are seeing an increase in the "common cold" this last week. No fever, lots of mucus, and scratchy/sore throat...I do not send kids home with any of these symptoms, and teachers and parents are aghast! My instructions...Good hand washing, lots of fluids, and to blow their nose! Thoughts?

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
NurseBeans said:
Well, why not?

Too many kids that are coughing. And besides they usually come to me, so I don't have to go find them. xD

MrNurse(x2) said:
You could police this while doing your lice hunts. Multitask. So want Davey Do to illustrate this.

I was told I'm not allowed to do lice hunts or do lice witch hunts, because of privacy laws. The only way I can check for lice if the kid is scratching and the teacher brings them to me. I can't go do a lice check in a classroom either, I can only send a letter letting the parents know there is a child with lice in class and they need to check their kids.

In a lighter subject... Lice witch hunts! BURN THEM TO THE STAKE!

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DiplomaNurseRN said:
"...I wish I had a magic pill that I could give them, but I don't...."

I tell the kids after I take temp, look in throat, and overall assess "Well, the good news is that it does not appear to be anything serious. Bad news is that there is nothing I can do for a cold. If I had a magic wand I would wave it and you would feel better, but I don't. So we're gonna go with drinking lots of water (not soda or juice, kid. WATER) and washing your hands a lot."

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MrNurse(x2) said:
You could police this while doing your lice hunts. Multitask. So want Davey Do to illustrate this.

Fanboy.

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:D seriously nothing else!!

KidsRNstill said:
As a pediatrician I worked for used to say--

"The best thing for a runny nose is a tissue..."

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Amethya said:
I can't go to every classroom and apprehend every kid for coughing.
NurseBeans said:
Well, why not?

Shouldn't you do it in the hallway? You know- to make an example of the culprit?

MrNurse(x2) said:
You could police this while doing your lice hunts. Multitask. So want Davey Do to illustrate this.

miranda.jpg.d1503bedb0a5bc69457a904ff3940c51.jpg

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Now that is what I am talking about.

Davey Do said:
Shouldn't you do it in the hallway? You know- to make an example of the culprit?
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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Davey Do said:
Shouldn't you do it in the hallway? You know- to make an example of the culprit?

:roflmao:

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
MrNurse(x2) said:
Now that is what I am talking about.

That?!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I almost never call in sick from work (children's hospital educator job). However, I called in sick earlier this week because of a doozy of a "head cold" that is going around. Even though I am back at work, I still feel terrible -- and everyone thinks I should have stayed home all week.

There are some really bad respiratory bugs going around right now in some parts of the country. We have a hospital full of kids with it. If the kid has a really bad bug and feels as bad as I do, then yes, they should go home -- both for their own good and also for the health of those around them. But for a routine case of sniffles ... that's another story.

Not all "head colds" are like. That's why they all need assessed before a judgement is made.

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Davey Do said:
Shouldn't you do it in the hallway? You know- to make an example of the culprit?

:inlove:

You made me so thin!

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Specializes in CVICU, SchoolRN, MICU, PCU/IMU, ED.
kidzcare said:
Critical thinking ?

OMG, I just LOL'd in my clinic and had the kids looking at me like I'm crazy. I LOVE this!

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Specializes in school/military/OR/home health.

How about this exchange I just had:

Student has note that he is coughing continuously, can't do work. Student is afebrile, throat not red, no swelling, no coughing...until I say the words "you aren't coughing right now" and he immediately starts coughing. I give a cough drop and return to class.

Teacher stops in. "His throat wasn't red AT ALL?"

No.

"I find that hard to believe."

I looked. No red. No coughing until I brought it up.

"Well he can't even do his work he is coughing so hard! And the cough drop didn't work!"

You mean my magic cherry flavored pill didn't cure him? Oh dears...

It is a cold. He will cough and have a runny nose. I can't cure the cold and I can't make the cough stop. Deal with it.

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