District Policy doesn't back up nurses.

[MrsNurse08]

Hello my school nurse friends,

Just found out and read that our District does not back the nurses up or the medical stand point. I just got through reviewing the district policy and it does not back me up. The only thing in the policy on a medical stand point, is if the parent thinks his/her child has a fever, it is better to keep him/her home. So if a child comes in the clinic with a high fever, I can only suggest that mom or dad take them home. And it's the parents choice whether they want to send them back to school the next day. If a student has a communicable disease, they may be readmitted only by the school office. Why do they need a nurse? I have no say so in anything here at this school. Does any of you guy's district policies back ya'll up as nurses?

[MrsNurse08]

Hi guys,

Here's an updated my district nurse is working on getting the policy revised and up to par with our standards! Thanks for all the good advice!

[MrsNurse08]

I would speak with admin and let them know that by them not having any policies in place, it is placing the responsibility (blame) on them should something bad happen, like another poster who had a child have a febrile seizure while waiting for parents. Your policy isn't even for the parent to be called, which is stupid.

If you have a nursing supervisor, have them back you, I know they will. Either way, policies need to be written, and you need to be involved. This is a huge liability for the school in my opinion. And as a PP said, if a parent comes in upset that Susie told her there were four sick kids in her class, tell them that you have no policy to send kids home for fever, vomiting, plague, etc.

Do not let it fall back on you should something go wrong, that said, I would put it in an email so you have a paper trail that you asked for the policy to be revised. That way admin can't say "Well, MrsNurse never led us to believe there was anything wrong with our policy, her being the nurse, she should've made us aware."

I was definitely going to throw that the policy don't allow me to send students home because they are sick. Like OD said about the scapegoat, well let's say I'm not going to be their scapegoat!

[Amethya]

I'm in a Public Charter School, but our "district" policy is basically:

-100 or more fever, must be sent home

-Vomiting, unless related to non-illness cause

-Pink eye

-Ringworm (How does that look like? Any advice?)

-Scabies (What...?)

-Unexplained rash accompanied with other viral symptoms

-Lice (No nit policy)

They should have back up nurses for you, in case you need to have a day off or some emergency. My school uses a company of traveling nurses, so that's how we do if I end up having to leave, but also my OM was a Medical Aide too, so she knows what I'm going through, so she helps me if I have to leave early too.