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....

Newly engaged? Congrats!!!

Run away! Run away!

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Specializes in School nursing.
i always think to myself that these kids (if they even work) will blow through ALL their sick time by mid January! Slightest twinge of illness and they will bang out sick!

Heck, I think sometimes school staff also has this mentality! ;)

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

I don't always find the balance between suck it up and comforting.

So...ice pack.

Agreed, sometimes they simply need a hug, or to talk it out. But like my kid who has been up 35 times this year simply because he hates school...he needs to suck it up.

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.
Newly engaged? Congrats!!!

Yes! 3 weeks ago! Thank you!

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.
Run away! Run away!

If you saw cupid flying over your head you'd probably steal his bow and shoot him.

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If you saw cupid flying over your head you'd probably steal his bow and shoot him.

That's valid.

Actually, the "Run Away!" was from The Holy Grail.

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Specializes in kids.
Yes! 3 weeks ago! Thank you!

Yay for you!!!

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
Taking a moment to bask in the sanity of the School Nurse forum after venturing into General Nursing territory and finding scary posters.

Seriously, I have considered looking into school nurse subbing, but you all deal with some serious craziness. But I can also see the lure of it - the great stories and interactions with the students, the pride at seeing them excel and learn.

Nurse Leigh. You are very perceptive. There are great stories and heartbreaking ones, usually all in the same day. Then, to know that we made a difference when they excel, learn, and become productive adults. Priceless.

I hope you will jump in this craziness with us and become a sub. We will have your back from day 1.

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
I said this identical statement to my fiance (I still love saying that word) the other day! It drives me crazy when a kid comes in with some idiopathic pain or complaint and when I ask when it starts, the answer is "Just now" or "Five minutes ago." It drives me bananas. I sometimes say something like "Well if it just started now it might go away on it's own why don't you head back to class and see if it gets better?" 9/10 times I don't see them again. These kids need to learn that an instant of discomfort is not the end of the world does does it NEED to be "fixed" right away.

I sometimes wish the teachers would take initiative and when a kid asks to come for something ridiculous, encourage them to wait and see if it gets better.

I shudder to think about what this generation will be like when they are older and requiring hospitalizations. Can you imagine the call bell action if this behavior keeps up? Ugh.

I have a very close friend that works in acute care. The stories she tells me...no names, of course, I wouldn't know anyone where she works anyway...makes me pretty much believe that this way of thinking has already invaded patient thinking, not only the young enns...but the older ones too. Oh my goodness the stuff she has to put up with and do, all in the name of "customer service".

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm 23 so only 10 years ago I was still in junior high! I remember I had awful headaches and I used to go to the nurses office for an ice pack and 15 minutes of dark relaxation time.

Come to find out I had severe migraines, that since then have faded.

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It's college students too. Recently, students at Emory said writing the words "Trump 2016" on the sidewalk was a "violent act" and they felt "traumatized" and needed counseling. lol. If that traumatizes you, then you need a thicker-skin transplant.

Until then, shut the frick up. :eek:

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It's college students too. Recently, students at Emory said writing the words "Trump 2016" on the sidewalk was a "violent act" and they felt "traumatized" and needed counseling. lol. If that traumatizes you, then you need a thicker-skin transplant.

Until then, shut the frick up. :eek:

I'm a little traumatized by the thought of that as well. Hold me?

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