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[Jedrnurse]

It just...gets to me sometimes. I know it's common and it's everywhere, but it still does.

(5th grader)

"My belly really hurts."

"How long has it been bothering you for?"

"Like three minutes."

I usually let it slide off my back, but sometimes kids' increasing lack of any resilience and/or ability to deal with adversity of any sort just fills me with concern (or dread) for the future.

I honestly don't think I even knew where the nurse's office was when I was in school..

[Amethya]

I try to teach my students the difference between discomfort (I can deal with it) and pain (It hurts so much I can't deal with it)

[k1p1ssk, BSN, RN]

Yep, this. I talk to all my kids about focusing their thoughts on something other than the headache/belly ache/sore throat.. Like their school work. 9x out of 10, I don't see them back these days. I also have been setting clear limits - "if your belly is still hurting after lunch, come back BEFORE recess." for example. If they come immediately after recess, then it becomes an avoidance discussion. But like I said, most kids feel better by lunch and I don't see them again. Works like a charm!

[Amethya]

I just had a 14 year old come for a small scratch... "it burns" Just clean it with soap and water and it's fine.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

I honestly don't think I even knew where the nurse's office was when I was in school..

Me, either.

There's a lot of talk about teaching and encouraging resilience in the school setting. Maybe they're reading our minds?

[Cattz, ADN]

Yep, this. I talk to all my kids about focusing their thoughts on something other than the headache/belly ache/sore throat.. Like their school work. 9x out of 10, I don't see them back these days. I also have been setting clear limits - "if your belly is still hurting after lunch, come back BEFORE recess." for example. If they come immediately after recess, then it becomes an avoidance discussion. But like I said, most kids feel better by lunch and I don't see them again. Works like a charm!

I don't tell them when to come back. But, I hope it is after recess, so I can ask them what they did at recess. This. Tells me how they are really feeling.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I don't tell them when to come back. But, I hope it is after recess, so I can ask them what they did at recess. This. Tells me how they are really feeling.

I have the ability to observe recess. Love that benefit.

[k1p1ssk, BSN, RN]

I never tell them to come back explicitly... I tell them when they are allowed to come back. I never want to see kids back unless they have something I want to recheck. I can't see the kids at recess, so I have no idea if them telling me they were yakking in the bushes is true or not. And even so, if you are well enough to be sitting outside, you are well enough to sit at your desk.

[broughden]

Ever consider its an abused or beaten or bullied child using the easiest excuse they can think of to come to what they perceive as a safe place with someone who wont judge them and is supposed to care?

These arent small adults who throw tantrums over Starbucks cups not being Christmasy enough. They are vulnerable children and the bellyache you seem to be so quick to dismiss maybe from being punched by a drunk parent the night before.

Having been one of those abused kids, who never opened up to anyone because everyone always seemed to busy, I'd suggest maybe not being so quick to judge and taking the time to make sure there isnt an underlying condition.

I mean if the worst part of your day is a kid faking a tummy ache, its a pretty good day in the grand scheme of things.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Ever consider its an abused or beaten or bullied child using the easiest excuse they can think of to come to what they perceive as a safe place with someone who wont judge them and is supposed to care?

These arent small adults who throw tantrums over Starbucks cups not being Christmasy enough. They are vulnerable children and the bellyache you seem to be so quick to dismiss maybe from being punched by a drunk parent the night before.

Having been one of those abused kids, who never opened up to anyone because everyone always seemed to busy, I'd suggest maybe not being so quick to judge and taking the time to make sure there isnt an underlying condition.

I mean if the worst part of your day is a kid faking a tummy ache, its a pretty good day in the grand scheme of things.

For a very small minority of kiddos, yes that might be the case. Unfortunately, they may not get the attention they need because the health office is gummed up with snowflakes who have learned the magic words to get out of doing something they don't like.

Also, it's amazing how often this need coincides with math or English class, as opposed to other times of the day...

[OldDude]

Ever consider its an abused or beaten or bullied child using the easiest excuse they can think of to come to what they perceive as a safe place with someone who wont judge them and is supposed to care?

These arent small adults who throw tantrums over Starbucks cups not being Christmasy enough. They are vulnerable children and the bellyache you seem to be so quick to dismiss maybe from being punched by a drunk parent the night before.

Having been one of those abused kids, who never opened up to anyone because everyone always seemed to busy, I'd suggest maybe not being so quick to judge and taking the time to make sure there isnt an underlying condition.

I mean if the worst part of your day is a kid faking a tummy ache, its a pretty good day in the grand scheme of things.

So broughden...refresh my memory as to the area of nursing you are practicing in?

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I'm hoping it's not really as many as it seems, comparatively speaking, considering the entire student body. But yes, I agree. I had a kid in here this morning, 3rd grader, pooped in his pants because a spider was on the restroom floor and he was afraid to go in.

Wow, that must have been a tarantula. Black widow. Brown recluse.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I never tell them to come back explicitly... I tell them when they are allowed to come back. I never want to see kids back unless they have something I want to recheck. I can't see the kids at recess, so I have no idea if them telling me they were yakking in the bushes is true or not. And even so, if you are well enough to be sitting outside, you are well enough to sit at your desk.

I just hope they don't take it too strictly when you tell them they are told they are not allowed to come back or they have to wait a certain length of time before they can come back.

"Why didn't you go to the nurse"? "I did, she told me to leave and not come back". Or "She said I had to wait til after Math class.

Off to OR for appy.

Some kids scare easily and will truly fear your wrath more than their pain, which could turn out to be serious. Maybe not often, but it could happen.

It's kind of like telling your neighbor not to go to the doctor for this or that. And then their problem proves serious.