Frustrations !

SchoolNurseStacey · Feb 2, 2005

Question For All School Nurses:
What are your major frustrations with school nursing?

I find that the students that are "frequent flyers" if you will can annoy me. I do understand that some of them just need the attention that they may not receive at home--seems to be prevalent in our student body. I do my best to take time w/ at least one of these students daily, just to talk about WHATEVER , because I feel they just need the attention more than medical care. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but when they cry wolf so many times I tend to disbelieve them when they walk through the door. I try, yes I try to keep an open mind.

What frustrates you? :imbar

DDRN4me · Feb 2, 2005

Could i write a book!!!!!!

guess my biggest frustration is lack of communication from the educational staff. the y will have conversations with parents about medical issues and then "forget to tellme". I usually find out somewhere important like an IEP that meds are changed,etc! embarassing!:angryfire There are a few other minor issues, which i like to call "extraneous bs, that go with almost any job.

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Feb 2, 2005

Well I get very annoyed at Teachers...the one's who feel they can order me to call a parent to come get a child who exhibits no signs of illness whatsoever. (just want them gone). Teachers who come to me in a school of 750 students and ask about Dakota ?? The get ticked when I say I have 42 Dakota's in the building and I need a last name ! My job is to support education and I am to keep kids in school as much is as possible.....but teachers just want them out of the classroom. Also hate the fact that my school system has a strict attendance policy and parents know how to play the game....You know, kid feverish, vomiting, diarrhea but go to school and have the nurse call me.... I actually had one child tell me that "my mom sent me to school sick because I had to make an appearance, then have the nurse call her after morning announcements". :uhoh3:

I get miffed at teachers who send a sick kid to me 5 minutes before they load up for the buses to go home. Teacher will report that the kid has felt bad since lunchtime.... I get ticked at busdrivers who will turn the bus around bring a sick feeling kid back to school when the kid is 2 blocks from home.

Whewww......thanks for listening you all ! :chuckle

momofkanda · Feb 2, 2005

I get really tired of parents who lie. Especially when there is a clear paper trail. If you didn't get your kid's physical or immunizations done, just admit it and fix it. Work with me! Also parents who send their kids to school sick with fevers "because they wanted to go to school." Who's the adult here? Parents also lie about their kids having lice or about treating lice. The ones whose kids have recurring lice always say, "but I combed their hair for 3 hours!" For some reason, it's always "3" hours. The kid will tell you that the parent never even touched the hair. :uhoh3: Also, staff who are so barf-phobic that they make a poor kid who's hurling run down the hall with a wastebasket past 2 bathrooms to get to my office "just in time". Or staff who will wait til dismissal time, then send a kid to me who has been writhing in pain all day, or lethargic and not responsive all day. Thanks for letting me know!

bergren · Feb 2, 2005

The research (so far ) shows that when compared to the average student, frequent school health office users who do not have a chronic health condition :

usually female

a lower GPA

hungry

mental health problems and suicide ideation

been in a fight at school

High risk family situations and

high risk Peer relationships

in middle and high school have more high-risk behaviors such as alcohol use & sexual activity

in one study, 50% of frequent users knew someone who had been murdered.

CONCLUSION: studies suggest that frequent clinic users have significant health needs that may require a higher rate of utilization.

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Feb 3, 2005

Martha this info. is very interesting. Some real food for thought huh?

I guess we really never know what's going on with kids and their home life.

Sure makes me want to just cry for some of them. :crying2:

You gotta have a big heart to stick with school nursing for sure !

unknown99, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2005

I am not a school nurse, but did my mentorship with a school nurse. The biggest frustration that I seen was recurrent head lice in the same children because the parents would not take care of it correctly.... even after being shown how and told what to do!!!!

presC. · Feb 4, 2005

thanks for the info martha, will try to remember it.

as of now, can't share any frustrations being school nurse since i haven't started yet. but will surely miss the excitement/energy while working in the e.r. (different cases of patients, will miss also also admitting patients, etc.~but i guess these are for another thread..)

:)

GreenWitch · Feb 8, 2005

Wow..that IS an eye opener. Now I feel really guilty about feeling frustrated with these kids. I mean, I KNOW they have issues, but I get so frustrated with them because I tend to feel that they are "stealing" time away from the kids who are physically hurt or sick.

I don't have anyone to triage for me, and I saw 102 children yesterday (I probably turned away about 50)...so I don't know what's wrong (or not wrong) with them until they get to my desk. How many REALLY sick children did I miss because the teachers kept sending "Bobby Sue" up here 4 times yesterday with a headache (and has no meds in the clinic)???

To answer the beginning question:

frequent flyers

lack of respect from the faculty

lack of communication between me and the faculty/administration/parents

lack of funds for supplies

I hope this post doesn't sound too whiny, I'm sooooooooo tired, LOL :)

The research (so far ) shows that when compared to the average student, frequent school health office users who do not have a chronic health condition :
usually female
a lower GPA
hungry
mental health problems and suicide ideation
been in a fight at school
High risk family situations and
high risk Peer relationships
in middle and high school have more high-risk behaviors such as alcohol use & sexual activity
in one study, 50% of frequent users knew someone who had been murdered.
CONCLUSION: studies suggest that frequent clinic users have significant health needs that may require a higher rate of utilization.

SRobinson · Feb 14, 2005

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) has a flier directed to TEACHERS. It's called when to send a child to the School Nurse. You may want to contact them and pass it out at your school.

GreenWitch · Feb 16, 2005

I love CHofA! They have all kinds of info. I handed that flyer out at the beginning of the year :)

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) has a flier directed to TEACHERS. It's called when to send a child to the School Nurse. You may want to contact them and pass it out at your school.