frustrated and feeling like going nowhere

Published

I realize I have posted a lot recently... I started a month ago as the Nurse/ Health advocate for Early Head Start. I am trying to get the families of my children to turn in needed paperwork to their files. How do you connect with families that don't seem to care or don't want to connect. I have been told it just the way it is... however... I am proactive, responsible, and caring... why can't they learn. sending out reminders every month for paperwork or appointments that they need to make seems insane.. I just needed to vent. I am feeling frustrated because I want to like this but its insane.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Please don't hesitate to post, this forum is the only resource a lot of the nurses here have. I work the polar opposite of your environment and I have parents who don't follow up. Head Start is a wonderful program, but some of the families involved still have that mindset that school is not for their kids education, it exists as a childcare for their kids. My teacher friends in this environment have lamented the same. Short of legal intervention, you will just have this dynamic until the day you die, then your kids will inherit it. :yes:

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I know how frustrating it is. I'm just now getting the needed Asthma care plans for several of my 500 students. (2 weeks before school is over.) Just keep trying- that's all I do.

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I feel your pain. Out of 63 charts for incoming K, 54 are devoid of ANY health info or immunizations. Have already sent out letters. Cue the crickets.

I just don't understand why so many parents just don't seem to care.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

it sounds harsh - but no required paperwork, no school. You need to get your admins on board with this one, but assuming that your state is anything like mine and you get audited by another agency (local or state health dept) at some point to make sure you're minding your p's and q's you need to bear in mind that they probably will have little sense of humor if your vaccine records are incomplete and if health files are missing physicals. Sometimes they can even dish out some hefty fines to the district and in some cases to the administrators themselves if they knowingly allowed children to attend school while not in compliance with the law. That's what one auditor told me anyhow.

Once you remove them from school until they comply it's amazing how fast the paperwork appears.

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Once you remove them from school until they comply it's amazing how fast the paperwork appears.

This is a 1000% true point. I've been lucky to know that my admins are all on board for reminding parents that students can't attend when they're noncompliant with the state. I had to tell several of my parents this shortly after I started at my school, when they hadn't given us updated vaccination waivers. I mean, they were only expired by 2 years!! :eek: I too am shocked at the lack of concern by some parents regarding the health of their child. It's definitely a culture shock for me and makes me wish I could do more for the kids.

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Specializes in kids.

All of the above, yes, get the powers that be on board

No Paperwork, means no admission. It will come at you in a firestorm, trust me!

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