How do you respectfully tell a teacher ENOUGH ALREADY!

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I (as we all do) have a couple teachers in my school who send kids down for EVERYTHING. I doubt they EVER question if there's really a need to come see me. I'm talking hiccups, burping, sneezing a couple times, sniffles, small scab that's been there all week, etc. Of course the students know they can get away with it, so they're down here constantly for anything they can come up with. Some of them don't even want to come for the silly things, but the teacher makes them. One of the teachers has had 57 visits from his class just this month so far. I've been telling the kids who are FF's that enough is enough and have called some of their parents to let them know what's going on and they have miraculously stopped coming. What is a tactful way to tell the teacher that it's out of control. They're using me as a babysitter!!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Show the statistics on who is sending the most kids to your principal. Maybe even work up a figure on the number of instructional hours missed due to unnecessary visits to the nurse (do not include the ones that are necessary for illness or actual injury). Let the principal know you are concerned about the amount of class time that is being missed and possible affect on learning. Many times the principal is shocked to see the numbers in black and white and will address the problem in a staff meeting.

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Ask the teacher to stop in and kindly explain how much time the student is MISSING FROM THEIR CLASS. You are here to take care of the kids and she is there to teach, but the child cannot learn if they are comin gto your office all the time. Offer to give her a box of tissues, some bandaids and that's it. I thnk calling the parents is an excellent idea, but maybe next time, email them and CC the teacher, so the teacher can see that you are noticing HOW much they are leaving that particular class.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

One thing that really gets me going (and not in a good way :) ) is when someone goes immediately to my supervisor instead of talking to me personally about it. I would talk to the teacher first, let them know some of the things to look for and try to impress upon them that we both want the kids to be in school to learn, but if they are sick, to send them down and let me make the call.

I do think a general discussion with the principal would be a good thing, but I am lucky to get 5 minutes at a staff meeting to talk about life threatening stuff like asthma or anaphylaxis let alone chastising teachers for sending kids to the health room.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
I (as we all do) have a couple teachers in my school who send kids down for EVERYTHING. I doubt they EVER question if there's really a need to come see me. I'm talking hiccups, burping, sneezing a couple times, sniffles, small scab that's been there all week, etc. Of course the students know they can get away with it, so they're down here constantly for anything they can come up with. Some of them don't even want to come for the silly things, but the teacher makes them. One of the teachers has had 57 visits from his class just this month so far. I've been telling the kids who are FF's that enough is enough and have called some of their parents to let them know what's going on and they have miraculously stopped coming. What is a tactful way to tell the teacher that it's out of control. They're using me as a babysitter!!

I would ask the principal if you can send an e-mail or letter to the teachers letting them know reasons NOT to send them or ask if you can speak to them at the next meeting.

Present it from the perspective that you feel that the students are losing out on valuable learning time...not to mention the fact that I am sure you have to send a letter home each time it happens...ie. wasted resources.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Womens Health.

Just a toss in here...

I would highly recommend talking to the teacher first....

Many times I come to find out that the teacher wasn't the one sending the child to the clinic. They come after recess or after a special. If talking to the teacher doesn't work then I do casually mention it to the parent if I see them in the school or if I call them for something else. Truly, a bunch of kids come to my clinic for a little TLC, a small hug, or just a place to calm down for a few minutes. Also the clinic is a place to cry where their classmates won't see them. I just feel badly if I discourage them from coming. Of course if a particular student keeps coming for things like a sniffle or old scabs etc..I do mention to them directly that it is wonderful that they like to come to see me but maybe they are coming a bit much. If that doesn't work I say to them directly that I might mention to their parents that they are in the clinic frequently.

I wouldn't involve the principal unless there is a definite problem and the teacher ignored your request.

Melissa;)

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Specializes in school nursing.

I definately agree, I always talk to the teacher first. At the beginning of the year, I give all of my teachers a list of what is appropriate to send to the clinic and what is not. Attached is a baggie filled with nurse referral slips, band-aids, and safety pins.

I also REQUIRE that kids have a pass to be seen unless it is a TRUE emergency. If a kid comes without a pass, I send them right back. No exeptions! I think this makes teachers think before sending a kid down!

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