How many visits make a frequent flyer.

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2015

I'm preparing more for next year before they learn its ok to come down all the time just because the teacher doesn't say no...

OldDude · Apr 15, 2015

When you have the parent's phone number memorized they are definitely in the club. Having said that, as you all know, parent response is all over the map.

SchoolNurseTXstyle · Apr 15, 2015

If a teacher sends tons of kids, they really do need some help with their classroom management skills. Trust me, they are not just sending a ton of kids to you. They are also sending a ton to the bathroom, the counselor, the adminstraters just because ther room is chaos and little to no learning is happening. This tends to happen with new teachers until they feel more comfortable (2-3 years usually). If they are a seasoned teacher, lord help us all - they just need to retire.

Have you tried adding up the hours of missed class time for silly stuff to give to your principal. 550 visits is one thing but sometimes telling him / her 91 hours of missed class time for non-medical or silly stuff may pack more of a punch. (550 visits x 10 minutes/ 60 = hours missed).

Not only do I not take frequent flier students as seriously - I also do not take kids from frequent senders as seriously either.

I will sometimes call or email a parent after only 3-4 vague visits. I always say "___________ has come to me ______times for _________. I was wondering if he/she has any medical needs that maybe you forgot to make me aware of at the beginning of the year."

I always feel that opens a very non-threatening line of communication with the parent and focuses the concern on the child and not the number of visits. Often, the problem will get nipped in the bud right there.

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2015

Good ideas!! Thank you!! í ½í¸Š

SnowyJ, RN · Apr 16, 2015

I will often print out visit reports and give them to the teacher to share with parents. Often the parent and teacher are both shocked at the number of visits once they see it in print. I seriously had a teacher tell me a student seems sick and "isn't a complainer." I showed her the visit log and she was shocked. He sneaks in at all times. (After lunch/recess, gym, music, etc.) Totally has earned his FF wings!

I call parents of regular frequent fliers. We also have a policy that if a child comes to see the nurse more than once in a day for c/o illness, the parent is called. This helps a lot. Frequently, the parent ends up talking to the child and reinforcing that they need to stay in class. I then pass this info on to the teacher.

It seems that many of my teachers just say ok to seeing the nurse because they are busy and the kids wear them down. What they don't seem to realize is that I am busy as well...And BS visits are very frustrating. :bugeyes:

tining, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2015

I tell the student - you know I have seen you __ times this week. What do you think your mother would say about this - would she be happy or sad (usual answer is sad). Well lets call her and see. That usually nips it in the bud. I also tell them the 'boy who cried wolf' story and add If you really are sick I might not believe you. Works for the little ones, can't help Middle school and beyond O~o

Tina, RN · Apr 17, 2015

I think if a student comes to the health office 1 or 2 times a week, they are frequent fliers. Of course, true injuries or fevers are different.

In my school of 260 students, I typically see around 40 a day, give or take. It's ridiculous. And when I go through my daily log at the end of the day, I usually count around 10 visits that were legitimate. The rest are nonsense. It is completely out of control, but I can't get anything to change...

SassyTachyRN · Apr 17, 2015

I think if a student comes to the health office 1 or 2 times a week, they are frequent fliers. Of course, true injuries or fevers are different.
In my school of 260 students, I typically see around 40 a day, give or take. It's ridiculous. And when I go through my daily log at the end of the day, I usually count around 10 visits that were legitimate. The rest are nonsense. It is completely out of control, but I can't get anything to change...

That is crazy. One of my schools is that same size and some days, I only see the 4 med kids and no one else there. The most I have ever seen there in one day with those kids is 8.

My other school is almost 600 kids and I see consistently 50-60 on Mondays, and then it dwindles down throughout the week, probably an average of 30-40 a day, including med kids because I have a lot of those there.

SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN · Apr 17, 2015

I think if a student comes to the health office 1 or 2 times a week, they are frequent fliers. Of course, true injuries or fevers are different.
In my school of 260 students, I typically see around 40 a day, give or take. It's ridiculous. And when I go through my daily log at the end of the day, I usually count around 10 visits that were legitimate. The rest are nonsense. It is completely out of control, but I can't get anything to change...

WOW! You are busy! Does your school have a high % of special needs students? I am in a school of ~600 kids. NOT counting the kids who get daily meds/treatments (about a dozen or so visits daily), I generally see no more than 20 kids and only send home 1-3 per day, none on good days. During cold/flu season the number may be a bit higher.

Tina, RN · Apr 20, 2015

WOW! You are busy! Does your school have a high % of special needs students? I am in a school of ~600 kids. NOT counting the kids who get daily meds/treatments (about a dozen or so visits daily), I generally see no more than 20 kids and only send home 1-3 per day, none on good days. During cold/flu season the number may be a bit higher.

Nope, there are not many special needs students, I can literally count them on one hand. And, those are the kids I rarely see! I am in a kindergarten through 2nd grade school. I know they are little kids, but come on! The staff is extremely over-reactive. The school is very set in their ways, and there isn't anything I can do to change it. It's a shame, but I'll probably leave school nursing after this school year.

SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN · Apr 22, 2015

When does a student become a frequent flyer? When they walk into my clinic, and before I can open my mouth, say the following all in one big breath:

"I have a headache and a stomach ache and I feel dizzy. I cannot cannot concentrate in class so my teacher sent me down. No, I did not feel this way until I got to school (Hence parents unaware). Yes, I ate breakfast this morning. Cereal and a banana. Yes, I have been drinking PLENTY of water. No, I have not had any diarrhea. No, I have not puked yet.....BUT I threw up a little in my mouth. (Oh and btw) My Mom and Dad are at work but you can call my big brother to come and pick me up!"