Dealing with teachers

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How do you deal with teachers who second guess your opinion or who try to override you? Do you approach them personally? Go to the principal?

I'm new in my school this year... Let me tell you what happened today.. I had a 5th grader who came to me because "I fell asleep in class." I said why? He said "because I was up late watching a movie." I said well then you are not sick, just tired. Did some education on importance of sleep and sent him back to class. Teacher was upset that I didn't let him lay down to "sleep for a while." She called into the office and complained to them and told them she was sending the student back. It made me feel like I couldn't say no again. The admin. assist came in and said oh no, absolutely not, we did this all the time last year and it's not happening again. He sent him back to class. I am upset the teacher called the office to override my decision... The clinic is for sick children and children with daily medical needs... Cots are for rest of sick children only is my opinion...

Second situation... Kid with live lice. We have a no exclusion policy except in cases of extreme infestation. She had live lice yesterday teacher sent her down twice, I sent her back to class. This morning the assistant brought the child to me and said the teacher told her to bring the child to me. I said what for? She said she has lice crawling. I checked and saw 2. I even picked them out for good measure and flushed em. I sent her back to class. Teacher sent her three more times, insisting that I send the child home. I explained to her that our policy is not to exclude unless it's an extreme infestation.... I left at lunch to go to my other school so I have no idea if she brought the child down again.

So, while on the lice topic anyone have any good teaching resources? I have 4 kids with lice and my teachers are flipping out and there's all kinds of rumors circling the school. I even had a teacher dye her hair "so I don't get it too." I need to do some serious education with these teachers.

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I know this is old, but I'm ranting because I'm tired of this lady. One of my teachers is pissing me off with her attitude. Her child had a fever and she didn't want me to use my oral thermometer and had to use a temporal one just because and when I asked her later if her kid is okay, she's like, "Not if he has a fever." Lady, I'm asking if he's okay, I don't need your stupid attitude.

I personally take it to the principal, either email or in person. The other day this teacher kept sending students to me (kids doesnt wanna stay in classroom). So I emailed my concern to the principal and I stated "I'm not her babysitter".

Our county HD has a lice program to help deal with "reinfestion" issues. The nurse there related that recenly a parent in the program was livid because every time she sent the student back to school she came home with lice. The nurse looked at her & asked if anyone had checked HER hair. Mom was a bit offended, but eventually consented to being checked. Yep - she was the infestation source. Got them BOTH cleaned up & no more problem!!

Our county HD has a lice program to help deal with "reinfestion" issues. The nurse there related that recenly a parent in the program was livid because every time she sent the student back to school she came home with lice. The nurse looked at her & asked if anyone had checked HER hair. Mom was a bit offended, but eventually consented to being checked. Yep - she was the infestation source. Got them BOTH cleaned up & no more problem!!

BINGO!!!!!

Specializes in Med-Surg, CCU and School Nurse.
What really irks me is when they diagnose. Hello! If I can't diagnose, you sure CANNOT. Every itchy head is lice, every itchy eye is conjunctivitis, every pain is a fracture, every sneeze is the flu, every cough is TB.

Staff is the worst part of the job! Even worse than parents.

I don't know how many times a day I hear "My teacher told me to come get an ice pack. My teacher told me that I need my temperature checked. My teacher told me ________________."

& this year, there's a new K aid that walks the student over and stands in the doorway the entire time. She doesn't even let the kids talk. Even better is when a student has a temp of 99.4 and she tells the teacher they have a fever. Seriously? She even has 3 kids of her own.

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

Same teacher gave me attitude again in front of her class. I was going to give a kid a letter for immunizations for her brother because he has the tendency to hide them from his dad and she told me "Uh not right now since we are having a quiz." I explained it wouldn't take but a few seconds and it's urgent and she kept giving attitude, and I just said, "Just give it to her please. I'll leave it on your desk."

I actually combed several live lice from a child's hair last year and I put them all on a white piece of paper and made a one minute video with my phone to show teachers how slowly they crawl and reinforce the fact that they don;t jump or fly. Really helped (those who watched). Some were so grossed out they refused to watch. They still freak out and send me kids.

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
I actually combed several live lice from a child's hair last year and I put them all on a white piece of paper and made a one minute video with my phone to show teachers how slowly they crawl and reinforce the fact that they don;t jump or fly. Really helped (those who watched). Some were so grossed out they refused to watch. They still freak out and send me kids.

I don't even mention lice anymore. One word of this, and you have that ONE teacher who freaks out the most.

Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

What amazes me, or doesn't not sure yet, is the original post on this thread is from 5 years ago. We are still dealing with the same issues - the more things change, the more they stay the same.

i also love when they outright say "i assessed the student and..." or whatever. I wanna be like well only RNs can actually assess... lol

What really irks me is when they diagnose. Hello! If I can't diagnose, you sure CANNOT. Every itchy head is lice, every itchy eye is conjunctivitis, every pain is a fracture, every sneeze is the flu, every cough is TB.

Staff is the worst part of the job! Even worse than parents.

I have great teachers, too, and I'm lucky I have a Principal ho respects the science and leaves that to me.

The ones that don't? They rile up the kids, regarding lice.

The sleepers?

"You're awake now- back you go!"

Specializes in Peds, MS, DIDD, Corrections, HH, LTC, School Nurse.
On 11/20/2018 at 3:39 PM, scout mom said:

I don't know how many times a day I hear "My teacher told me to come get an ice pack. My teacher told me that I need my temperature checked. My teacher told me ________________."

I had the one teacher that always sent kids to the clinic with a pass telling me what to do "check temp", "give ice pack", etc. I got fed up and send pass back with reply "Temp normal, teach class". She never sent instructions for me on passes anymore. ?

Specializes in school nursing.
44 minutes ago, Feral.Cat.Herder said:

I had the one teacher that always sent kids to the clinic with a pass telling me what to do "check temp", "give ice pack", etc. I got fed up and send pass back with reply "Temp normal, teach class". She never sent instructions for me on passes anymore. ?

I have one that does this too, drives me nuts! I always say, "Oh, was your teacher a nurse before they became a teacher?!"

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