Entitlement - Are We Making The Problem Worse?

Specialties School

Published

In regards to the sense of entitlement that these kids have nowadays.

*shakes my granny fist*

For example, the kid that came up that hurt his ankle a few days ago, wasn't wearing his splint, played in PE and now it was hurting. He wants an ice pack.

I wanted to say, "No, you did this days ago, YOU did not wear your splint, and YOU decided to play in PE knowing it would make it hurt worse."

But instead I gave him an ice pack. If I don't sometimes the teacher sends them back or I am afraid of the sue happy parents in this world. "Why didn't you give my snowflake an ice pack for their non-existent injury!!!???"

A girl came in and said her hand was on the ground and the basketball hit it. Not jammed the fingers, but rolled over and hit it. She wants an ice pack.

I wanted to say, "No, shake it off, rub some dirt on it."

But instead I gave her an ice pack.

I feel like this is a placebo effect more than anything, and they'll be satisfied with the little bit of ice. But then it makes me wonder why can't we tell these kids, who have NO redness/swelling/bruising, normal ROM, that they will be okay without an icepack? They always refuse amputation when I offer, so....

why do the teachers send kids to the nurse for everything, such as a "injury" the child says he got 2 weeks ago or a barely visible scratch? Many of the teachers where I work have children of their own, have been teaching for years or even write on the med pass that they don't think it's anything. Also don't you love the one that send kid to nurse with "just give bandaid/ice pack". I feel like replying "just teach the kid to read and write".

LOL! Like the "teacher said I have strep" student from yesterday? (Nope..)

So why do they send everything?

Because they fear retribution from parents if they don't. And I have seen it. And it is ridiculous.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I wish I could, but I have no ice maker in my office - just a tiny fridge with a tiny freezer that can hold very, very little.

I use sponges and homemade ice packs made out of baggies and dish soap after I get through the supply of reusuable ice packs I can order at the beginning of the year (usually last until March). I get less requests when the homemade ice packs come out. I may just go straight to the homemade ones next year.

What do you use the dish soap for?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing, Hospice,Med-Surg.

Pain is what the patient says it is?

I preached this one until I became a school nurse.

So, when a 7th grader came this year with a laceration drawn on his finger with a red marker and saying it was "killing" him and he'd just stapled himself...that was what he said it was??

I humored him and cleaned it with gauze and Bactine then exclaimed, "This Bactine is miraculous!! It's literally cleaning the wound right off your finger!!"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing, Hospice,Med-Surg.
I, SullyRN, refused an ice pack today.

Whaaa...

*Gasps and shrieks spread through the crowd as they look at each other in disbelief* :eek:

I was in a meeting with a teacher, kid came to the glass window and tapped. He wasn't puking or bleeding or blue, so I held my finger up (not that finger) for him to wait.

Five minutes later I came out and he was sitting in the office swinging his legs. He fell -on the soft carpet- on his knees. Wasn't a single bit of redness. I felt for abnormalities and sent him on his merry way.

Sans ice pack. :)

So then did you hold up THAT finger?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nurse.
LOL! Like the "teacher said I have strep" student from yesterday? (Nope..)

So why do they send everything?

Because they fear retribution from parents if they don't. And I have seen it. And it is ridiculous.

Same goes for school nurses! A very dear school nurse friend in a neighboring district was reported to the BON for not essentially not coddling the student. Parent first complained to the principal and then the district nurse, both who fully supported my friend. That did not make said parent happy, so she reported to the BON. The BON called over a year later to investigate the complaint. Of course it was baloney and eventually dismissed 6 months later without a hearing. She was given no warning or reprimand. But the waiting time before she learned that the matter was closed took a toll on her emotional well being and she left school nursing to return to the hospital. She loved her job and her kids, but the fear of retribution for using her nursing judgment was too great.

Does her experience effect the way I do my job? Absolutely. And that totally sucks. :no:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, research, home care, infusio.

That's a great question. I have soooo many kids who think they must have an ice pack for very tiny bump. We ran out of our disposable ones and my admin secretary did not put in my order for new ones in a timely fashion AT ALL! So I was bring ice cubes from home and using zip lock baggies. Pain in the butt! We got the reusable kind now. The kids are telling me the boys like to squeeze them until they break! Nice. Plus a student told me the after school soccer kids are going into the teachers lounge and into the freezer to take them! I was so ticked off! No wonder I'm running out! I emailed the principal, and the two soccer coaches to have them address/ put a stop to this behavior!! If there's a legitimate injury, I won't have ice packs to use. Ugh. But my favorite was the two boys who came in on our first 85 degree day wearing sweatshirts and asking for ice packs because they were hot! I told them no and to wear appropriate clothing! (We don't have air conditioning!)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School nursing.
What do you use the dish soap for?

When you freeze dish soap in a well closed baggie, it makes an excellent flexible ice pack :).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kids.
What do you use the dish soap for?

It freezes (almost) and is like a soft gel ice pak.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kids.
Same goes for school nurses! A very dear school nurse friend in a neighboring district was reported to the BON for not essentially not coddling the student. Parent first complained to the principal and then the district nurse, both who fully supported my friend. That did not make said parent happy, so she reported to the BON. The BON called over a year later to investigate the complaint. Of course it was baloney and eventually dismissed 6 months later without a hearing. She was given no warning or reprimand. But the waiting time before she learned that the matter was closed took a toll on her emotional well being and she left school nursing to return to the hospital. She loved her job and her kids, but the fear of retribution for using her nursing judgment was too great.

Does her experience effect the way I do my job? Absolutely. And that totally sucks. :no:

Oye, if I was reported every time in 22 years I ticked off a parent......:wacky:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.
That's a great question. I have soooo many kids who think they must have an ice pack for very tiny bump. We ran out of our disposable ones and my admin secretary did not put in my order for new ones in a timely fashion AT ALL! So I was bring ice cubes from home and using zip lock baggies. Pain in the butt! We got the reusable kind now. The kids are telling me the boys like to squeeze them until they break! Nice. Plus a student told me the after school soccer kids are going into the teachers lounge and into the freezer to take them! I was so ticked off! No wonder I'm running out! I emailed the principal, and the two soccer coaches to have them address/ put a stop to this behavior!! If there's a legitimate injury, I won't have ice packs to use. Ugh. But my favorite was the two boys who came in on our first 85 degree day wearing sweatshirts and asking for ice packs because they were hot! I told them no and to wear appropriate clothing! (We don't have air conditioning!)

I have a strict absolutely no leaving the office with ice pack rule. I know it gets broken after hours by administration from time to time. but they don't know where my box of ice pack is kept. And i certainly am not going to load up the freezer for them to just have at them.

I've dealt with similar - children wanting them because they're hot. Nope - lose a layer or splash some cool water on your face. I find it hard to believe that these kids use ice this many times at home. I don't even have an ice pack -i think last time i ended up using a frozen burrito on my kid.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kids.
It freezes (almost) and is like a soft gel ice pak.

HA!! we were posting at the same time!!

Pinch poke you owe me a coke (and rum! lotsa rum!!)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

I work at a clinic where we give vaccines and they all come packed with these gel ice packs that we actually toss. We get the same for the allergy clinic I work at. They come with these foam ice coolers. Maybe you guys can get some ice packs from a clinic that gives vaccines. We keep a few in the freezer to use prn but we toss the rest. My vet also gives the ice packs & coolers away.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment