Have you ever had a student who thinks he/she knows more than you do?

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

I have a student who tried to tell me how to do my height, weight and vision screenings last year. He was trying to educate me on what was considered "normal" for a vision screen and also tried to educate me on how to work my scale.

He just came in requesting "acetominophen". Not Tylenol, but acetominophen (no student ever says this in my school, it's either Ty-nol or I.B.Profen). I had to call his mom for permission to medicate. I asked him beforehand if he had a preference between acetominpohen or ibuprofen before I called (some students aren't aware that I have both, some I am able to educate at this point over appropriate medication for what ails them). He said, "Well, I don't have a fever so I think acetominophen, not ibuprofen", while looking sadly at the poor LICENSED nurse who obviously doesn't know anything. He's a sophomore in high school.

I then proceeded to pleasantly and professionally educate said student on antipyretics and OTC pain medication using big medical terminology with layman definitions when I could.

He takes some advanced science classes here at the high school so he MUST know more than the nurse.

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Little stinker.

Yes. I have kids like that. Patents are usually doctors. Or just know it alls.

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Specializes in school nurse.

...probably gets beaten up by peers.

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Hahahaha! Sounds like one of my 4th graders...:banghead:

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While he may be a little unsettling on the first encounter, it is too bad that more students do not have his level of awareness. I went to school with a student who was somewhat like this. He spoke with a speech impediment. Can clearly remember one of the teachers jumping on him when he spoke. Guess he got the last laugh when he became a doctor.

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I worked in schools prior to nursing. I know exactly what you mean!

One strategy is to bite (not literally) if you have the extra time. If he insists you're doing something wrong, I'd say "You seem to have a lot of background knowledge! Tell me more." Give him a chance to spew everything he knows. Change nothing about what you do. If he challenges you again, smile, *blink* and say "Thanks for the info! But this is how I'm going to do it here."

Kids engaging in behavior like this are sometimes looking for a power struggle. One strategy is to show them that there is none. It is not even close. You are the nurse and he is a high school STUDENT. If you have to draw the line even deeper in the sand, thank him for the info and remind him he has a class to get back to.

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When a third or forth grader starts to argue about my explanation of their situation (usually that they have to go back to class), I tell them we can discuss it when they have graduated university with a nursing degree. :yes:

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.
I worked in schools prior to nursing. I know exactly what you mean!

One strategy is to bite (not literally) if you have the extra time. If he insists you're doing something wrong, I'd say "You seem to have a lot of background knowledge! Tell me more." Give him a chance to spew everything he knows. Change nothing about what you do. If he challenges you again, smile, *blink* and say "Thanks for the info! But this is how I'm going to do it here."

I like this! I do not see him very often, but I might use this strategy with him if he comes in again. And just to clarify, it's not his knowledge (or lack thereof), it's his attitude he has that this post was about. Both instances I have interacted with him, he has looked down his nose at me, which I found entertaining and actually made me chuckle inside. This is why I decided to share my story with you all!!

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I work in a junior high school, they all think they know more than we do! :roflmao:

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I have a smart *ass* student that thinks he has the privilege to walk into my office whenever he wants and call his mom when he says he's not feeling well (his mom subs sometimes.) he came in once with a nosebleed and said " I know how to take care of this, my dad is a nurse." Okay, then why are you in here? 🙄

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
...probably gets beaten up by peers.

Hence the need for Acetaminophen? :confused:

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