HELP Pink Eye Question

[uthscsa2011]

Hi I have a question regarding students with Pink Eye. People at my school are questioning policy but we don't have a policy specifically for this. I have a student that I suspect has Pink Eye. At our district, if we suspect pink eye she must send them home to be seen by a doctor and the child cannot return until the doc releases them or they are under tx. This particular student cannot be picked bc the parents are both at work and cannot find anyone else to pick them up. Someone told me (another nurse) to just let the student go back to class.... but I've seen other nurses keep the child in their clinic with class work because since they suspect pink eye which is very contagious, they will not allow the student to go back into the classroom and possibly infect other students. I want to know how yall handle this in your clinics. In my eyes, I am thinking about the possible infection of other kids in the class. But other nurses are telling me to just send them back, like whatever. any advice???

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

I was just thinking about this topic! Given it is allergy season, I have many kids with itchy, red eyes. And every time a teacher hears a student say "my eye itches" or sees a slightly irritated eye, they cry "pink eye" and sent them my way in terror. They are very surprised and even scared when I sent back 95% of them stating it is related to the student's seasonal allergies.

That being said, I do more often than not send a child home with pink eye because when they usually come to me, the eye in question is so bothersome they are no longer paying attention in class and bothersome enough to usually warrant some treatment. I work grades 7-12, so I am not very worried about spread after a discussion about hand hygiene, etc. I have had parents call me and warn me their child has bacterial conjunctivitis, but they are treating it, and they are so relieved to hear me say "well then send 'em back to school to learn" :).