Back in the day when we spilled milk, juice or water on our clothes we were told it will dry and we'd be ok?
OR
When we fell on the playground we were told to shake it off, we would be ok (unless there was blood squirting to the sky).
OR
When we had a headache, a belly ache or sore throat we were told to tough it out until after school?
Parents were only called IF we were bleeding profusely, had a bone literally sticking out, or had a temperature so high you could actually fry an egg on our foreheads. ?
On a more serious note... does anyone feel we may be teaching this generation how NOT to cope with life?
Back in my day we didn't cry over spilled milk.... today you get a new set of clothes, and if you're real lucky you may even get some socks and shoes to go with your new duds! ?
I always tell the kids I didn't even know we had a nurse, much less where her office was.
If my mom was called to the school to pick me up I better be on my deathbed and we went straight to the doctors. If I got dirty or spilled, there were no change of clothes, I learned to be more careful. We are almost out of ice bags and we still have 6 weeks to go. The RN and I have discussed denying ice unless absolutely necessary, unfortunately when we aren't there the secretaries give them out to anyone that asks, so it's going to be an uphill battle.
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
At the beginning of the year I cared SO MUCH about this. And now I don't. Because parents of prek-4 should send an extra pair of pants ANYWAY but don't. So now I have no pants and people have to wait for parents or get turned away if parents can 't bring pants. I cannot care more than the parents do....
Yes, we are teaching them to run to have every little twitch and momentary discomfort addressed. We are teaching them to have zero coping skills. We are teaching them to have their hand held through every single little thing and have no problem solving skills whatsoever. I shudder to think what it will be like in 20 years!
I have had to become very selective with who I lend clothes out to. My supply dwindled down to almost nothing and I can’t believe the stuff the teachers and kids will come to me looking for a change of clothes for .... a tiny water spill on your legs? Deal. You blatantly played in water or mud and you’re not 2? Deal. I give cloths and ask them to clean up in the bathroom. Or I wave a blow drier around their water spills - if I have time and there is not a waiting room full of students.
My closet is the opposite, I can't get enough girl's pants! I'm finally restocked on boys, although I can never keep enough of either to keep up with PreK.
I've spent way too much of my own money this year on underwear and pants. I'm done and put it out to the PTO to please donate.
And don't get me started on when they get picky. Child this isn't a store ?
I was out of boys pants, and hit the jackpot at a local yard sale. I told the lady what I was buying them for, and she sold me all the nice boys pants/shorts she had. I think I paid $6 for 24 pair. Yes, it was my money, but if I went to admin to ask for reimbursement, they most likely would. This is the first year they've had a school nurse, so have been very supportive so far.
I actually had a middle schooler come into my office and asked to call his mother to bring new clothes because he sat in water and got his shorts wet. They were a wicking type material, silky polyester type. The wet area was appx tennis ball size. I said, "By the time you get to your classroom, that tiny spot will probably be dry. I don't think you should call your mom for that". He seemed okay with it, but WHY did he even think to call mom to begin with? Ugh!....and the parent probably would have brought new clothes if he had called....not this way when I was growing up.
I hate the clothes situation. SO MUCH. If they spill food/water/drink on their clothes, I no longer give them anything to change unless it's completely saturated. When the art teacher started sending students to me for getting paint on their clothes, I started saying no a lot more. I feel like I'm a grinch. I tell our students they don't need a bandaid and tell them to go back to class often, too. Maybe I'm just a grinch.
I hate the clothes situation. SO MUCH. If they spill food/water/drink on their clothes, I no longer give them anything to change unless it's completely saturated. When the art teacher started sending students to me for getting paint on their clothes, I started saying no a lot more. I feel like I'm a grinch. I tell our students they don't need a bandaid and tell them to go back to class often, too. Maybe I'm just a grinch.
Ugh. Yes to art and paint! Paint is not the end of the world, folks. Own it like it is a new fashion fad. I also deal with older students - MS and HS - and they are like "but I have this after school" - oh well, kid. This is what happens in the real world when you spill coffee on yourself at work 5 minutes after you get there.
We wear uniforms at my school, so I am also sent students not in uniform. I have slim pickings at this time of year.
Whenever a student gives me an issue - especially one not in dress code - I just shrug and tell them I'm not the Old Navy. Take it or leave it, kid. And nope, I'm not calling home for a uniform violation - back up to the Dean you go.
Ugh. Yes to art and paint! Paint is not the end of the world, folks. Own it like it is a new fashion fad. I also deal with older students - MS and HS - and they are like "but I have this after school" - oh well, kid. This is what happens in the real world when you spill coffee on yourself at work 5 minutes after you get there.
We wear uniforms at my school, so I am also sent students not in uniform. I have slim pickings at this time of year.
Whenever a student gives me an issue - especially one not in dress code - I just shrug and tell them I'm not the Old Navy. Take it or leave it, kid. And nope, I'm not calling home for a uniform violation - back up to the Dean you go.
We wear uniforms too. I get those students as well. My stash has dwindled quite a bit, but I might or might not have thrown some away in frustration...you be the judge. AND YES, I am so much a take it or leave it nurse...but they do ask that I call a parent if they won't wear my clothes, and if they can't bring it, they go to ISS. If they take longer than 10-15 to get here, they sit in ISS until the compliant clothes are brought in.
I am a nurse. I'm not arguing with you about your dress code violation, you can go sit in ISS. So over it.
I hate the clothes situation. SO MUCH. If they spill food/water/drink on their clothes, I no longer give them anything to change unless it's completely saturated. When the art teacher started sending students to me for getting paint on their clothes, I started saying no a lot more. I feel like I'm a grinch. I tell our students they don't need a bandaid and tell them to go back to class often, too. Maybe I'm just a grinch.
Fellow Grinch here.
Seriously, I tell my older kids that I'm not trying to be mean but that paper cut they have is NOT the end of the world. I tell them they are preparing for middle school so need to learn how to cope. And yes I tell them about the good ole' days when I was a kid, rarely saw the school nurse. They still like me enough to come in for hugs so maybe not such a bad Grinch lol.
Seriously, I tell my older kids that I'm not trying to be mean but that paper cut they have is NOT the end of the world. I tell them they are preparing for middle school so need to learn how to cope. And yes I tell them about the good ole' days when I was a kid, rarely saw the school nurse. They still like me enough to come in for hugs so maybe not such a bad Grinch lol.
I always think the same when they come in to say hi to me as well.
Thank the Lord for private schools. I am allowed to call out my FF's and be blunt with them, my administration encourages it. I frequently turn students away for ridiculous things and I have only heard one complaint in four years. I jokingly say we are going to have the art teacher paint a "Suck It Up Buttercup" mural behind our desk. I agree that society is providing a great disservice, I also believe it is intentional. Sad future awaits if we don't wake up, and the children of those who teach their children resilience will be the ones paying the worst.
Glitternurse, LVN
357 Posts
I always tell the kids I didn't even know we had a nurse, much less where her office was.
If my mom was called to the school to pick me up I better be on my deathbed and we went straight to the doctors. If I got dirty or spilled, there were no change of clothes, I learned to be more careful. We are almost out of ice bags and we still have 6 weeks to go. The RN and I have discussed denying ice unless absolutely necessary, unfortunately when we aren't there the secretaries give them out to anyone that asks, so it's going to be an uphill battle.