Because it's so "best practice." It's so "evidence-based."
Thank heavens I did since I found 0 cases of lice among 150 students I checked.
On Friday I found 2 different kids in 2 different K classrooms with lice. The first one, I de-loused with a comb since I know the family well. The 2nd I called home for.
Over the weekend, we had 2 parents discover lice in their kids hair and go *******. They posted pictures of their kids on facebook getting their heads shaved in the back (girls). The poor kids are completely traumatized. They kept their kids home until today screaming at me and the principal for letting this happen. We caved on Monday and sent out a lice letter to the school (school policy is to send home a notice when there are 2 or more cases in 1 classroom). That afternoon, I found a 3rd student in 2nd grade. Letter was already on it's way home.
Hell broke loose that afternoon. People were calling me "idiot" and "jerk" for not letting them know sooner. Huh? Then more parents came forward saying their kids had lice multiple times this year but they never got a notice. I had no idea these kids had lice. Parents never called me. I talked to one of the parents and she said she was too embarrassed to call me but she knew that other parents were letting me know. Uh, no they didn't. She said she doesn't think I'm a liar but she has insider information so she knows the school was informed. Uhm, I'm as "insider" as it gets.
As of this morning, we had 3 confirmed (by me) and 3 reported (by parents) cases of lice in the school. We have over 500 kids. Someone call the media. There is CLEARLY a town epidemic!!!!
So parents started freaking out calling the Department of Health, the Superintendent and the Board of Ed I was directed by administration to perform full class lice checks in 5 classrooms. I protested but told me I had no choice. They brought in trash bags to bag the belongings of a 2nd grade class.
I'm seriously thinking about calling out tomorrow. Why hire a nurse if you won't listen to her professional recommendations?
Meanwhile, I can't get the yearly assessments done. I can't keep up with the referrals from the assessments I've done (you know - vision referrals that might actually impact a student's ability to learn). But let's make sure I am available to do full class lice checks.
Someone please help me lower my blood pressure. Or kindly share a Xanax.
Oh, and did I mention all cases of lice were found in the town cheerleaders??? But the school is responsible for all cases and failing to notify parents of the cases we weren't actually aware of.
NanaPoo, thank you for the article! It am sending it straight to my super! Hoping this will get it through to them that classroom head checks are ridiculous!
So the fall out - all these people are posting on social media about the lice problem. But no one posted that I did EXACTLY what they wanted which was full classroom lice checks.
A parent emailed the principal today because her daughter came home with her hair still in a braid. She was upset that I didn't take the braid out to look at her daughter's hair. She then explained to the principal the proper way to do a thorough lice check. She is concerned that I didn't do thorough checks and may have missed many cases of lice. Luckily, SHE has been carefully examining her daughter's hair but many parents aren't quite so diligent.
The principal forwarded the email to me. I seriously asked her if she was f-ing kidding me (I don't always use 4 letter words but when I do, you can be sure it's because some parent questions my ability to do my job after nursing school and a $10,000 school nurse certification). 150 kids.... and she wants to know how I can guarantee that the school is 100% lice free (her words, not mine). Of course I can guarantee that none of our kids were exposed to lice last night during their gymnastic class!!!).
And another newsflash - the lice is not the poor people's problem. I'm not finding it in the immigrants. I'm not finding it in all the kids who get free lunch. I'm finding it in the cheerleaders (which are hardly a "poor" bunch).
I called a mom because a K student said she was treated for lice last night. Mom confirmed she found nothing but thought she needed to treat since we sent a letter home.
Another mom has kept her daughter home all week since she couldn't risk her daughter getting lice.
Our district policy is sending home a letter for 2 or more cases of lice in 1 classroom. We have 5 affected classrooms (6 cases total). We sent the letter home to the whole school so no one could complain they weren't made aware. I almost don't care if we go back to "no-nits" because the parents will finally realize what a hassle it is. I mean, I do care but I'd laugh at all the parents complaining that I am sending their kids home.
I report to the director of special services who is not a nurse. She did not ask the advice of our tenured nurses before ordering me to do the full class checks (because she knows she would not get the support needed).
I send my principal (who is completely supportive) and the superintendent the AAP statement on lice. I pulled out the key points so they didn't have to read the whole thing. But apparently parents who call me names and call the BOE get to win and dictate my practice.
I think I do have PTSD after this experience!
I am a NASN member... I'm going to look there today.
Geez, you've done more than enough. Maybe the school should close.
I feel like we need to burn it down the way some parents are freaking out.
Ridiculous! I'd say just send a letter home requiring that all children, especially cheerleaders, have their heads shaved before returning to school. It's the only course of action. Wouldn't want such a *dangerous* public health issue to go unchecked.
If all else fails, tell the parents in order to protect themselves from head lice, they should secure a tight plastic bag around their heads and necks and breathe in deeply. Secure and hold bag in place for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Thanks for the link to the article - lots of good info. I printed and saved it for future "infestations" :) to give to parents and staff that give me grief.
Because it's so "best practice." It's so "evidence-based."
Thank heavens I did since I found 0 cases of lice among 150 students I checked.
On Friday I found 2 different kids in 2 different K classrooms with lice. The first one, I de-loused with a comb since I know the family well. The 2nd I called home for.
Over the weekend, we had 2 parents discover lice in their kids hair and go *******. They posted pictures of their kids on facebook getting their heads shaved in the back (girls). The poor kids are completely traumatized. They kept their kids home until today screaming at me and the principal for letting this happen. We caved on Monday and sent out a lice letter to the school (school policy is to send home a notice when there are 2 or more cases in 1 classroom). That afternoon, I found a 3rd student in 2nd grade. Letter was already on it's way home.
Hell broke loose that afternoon. People were calling me "idiot" and "jerk" for not letting them know sooner. Huh? Then more parents came forward saying their kids had lice multiple times this year but they never got a notice. I had no idea these kids had lice. Parents never called me. I talked to one of the parents and she said she was too embarrassed to call me but she knew that other parents were letting me know. Uh, no they didn't. She said she doesn't think I'm a liar but she has insider information so she knows the school was informed. Uhm, I'm as "insider" as it gets.
As of this morning, we had 3 confirmed (by me) and 3 reported (by parents) cases of lice in the school. We have over 500 kids. Someone call the media. There is CLEARLY a town epidemic!!!!
So parents started freaking out calling the Department of Health, the Superintendent and the Board of Ed I was directed by administration to perform full class lice checks in 5 classrooms. I protested but told me I had no choice. They brought in trash bags to bag the belongings of a 2nd grade class.
I'm seriously thinking about calling out tomorrow. Why hire a nurse if you won't listen to her professional recommendations?
Meanwhile, I can't get the yearly assessments done. I can't keep up with the referrals from the assessments I've done (you know - vision referrals that might actually impact a student's ability to learn). But let's make sure I am available to do full class lice checks.
Someone please help me lower my blood pressure. Or kindly share a Xanax.
Oh, and did I mention all cases of lice were found in the town cheerleaders??? But the school is responsible for all cases and failing to notify parents of the cases we weren't actually aware of.
Oh my gosh!!! I got reported to the Dept of Ed too!!! At least we're in good company
I think parents have totally lost their minds. I really do!! Yes, by all means call in tomorrow and take as many days as you can.
You have my sincere sympathy and a (((big hug))). PM me if you want to vent privately. This world has turned absolutely crazy:banghead:
So the fall out - all these people are posting on social media about the lice problem. But no one posted that I did EXACTLY what they wanted which was full classroom lice checks.
A parent emailed the principal today because her daughter came home with her hair still in a braid. She was upset that I didn't take the braid out to look at her daughter's hair. She then explained to the principal the proper way to do a thorough lice check. She is concerned that I didn't do thorough checks and may have missed many cases of lice. Luckily, SHE has been carefully examining her daughter's hair but many parents aren't quite so diligent.
The principal forwarded the email to me. I seriously asked her if she was f-ing kidding me (I don't always use 4 letter words but when I do, you can be sure it's because some parent questions my ability to do my job after nursing school and a $10,000 school nurse certification). 150 kids.... and she wants to know how I can guarantee that the school is 100% lice free (her words, not mine). Of course I can guarantee that none of our kids were exposed to lice last night during their gymnastic class!!!).
And another newsflash - the lice is not the poor people's problem. I'm not finding it in the immigrants. I'm not finding it in all the kids who get free lunch. I'm finding it in the cheerleaders (which are hardly a "poor" bunch).
I called a mom because a K student said she was treated for lice last night. Mom confirmed she found nothing but thought she needed to treat since we sent a letter home.
Another mom has kept her daughter home all week since she couldn't risk her daughter getting lice.
Our district policy is sending home a letter for 2 or more cases of lice in 1 classroom. We have 5 affected classrooms (6 cases total). We sent the letter home to the whole school so no one could complain they weren't made aware. I almost don't care if we go back to "no-nits" because the parents will finally realize what a hassle it is. I mean, I do care but I'd laugh at all the parents complaining that I am sending their kids home.
I report to the director of special services who is not a nurse. She did not ask the advice of our tenured nurses before ordering me to do the full class checks (because she knows she would not get the support needed).
I send my principal (who is completely supportive) and the superintendent the AAP statement on lice. I pulled out the key points so they didn't have to read the whole thing. But apparently parents who call me names and call the BOE get to win and dictate my practice.
I think I do have PTSD after this experience!
I am a NASN member... I'm going to look there today.
I feel like we need to burn it down the way some parents are freaking out.
All kidding aside, I swear I have PTSD over it too. I really feel traumatized and hung out to dry. Am getting yelled at for calling home, for calling home too many times, for singling students out, for not doing my job etc etc. Am looking for another job....this is craziness gone amock. I'm done.
All kidding aside, I swear I have PTSD over it too. I really feel traumatized and hung out to dry. Am getting yelled at for calling home, for calling home too many times, for singling students out, for not doing my job etc etc. Am looking for another job....this is craziness gone amock. I'm done.
Think of it as a Saturday Night Live skit...there is nothing life threatening - all hysteria driven run amok on ridiculousness (just like the TV show). Smile and Wave. Don't let em get you down. I know you can do this.
Can you go on the offense? Seriously, can you speak w local press (if they are school friendly) to do a general article that highlights EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICE?
Include the NASN statement and the AAP info, with no mention at all about the negative response on social media. Kind of like PSA announcement?
Can you go on the offense? Seriously, can you speak w local press (if they are school friendly) to do a general article that highlights EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICE?
Include the NASN statement and the AAP info, with no mention at all about the negative response on social media. Kind of like PSA announcement?
nursmimi, BSN, RN
119 Posts
NanaPoo, thank you for the article! It am sending it straight to my super! Hoping this will get it through to them that classroom head checks are ridiculous!