I just told a parent

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

that her child needed to work on his coping skills ? I must be getting bolder in my old age! He has a cold and came to see me at 8:30 am, complaining of a "runny nose and stuffy head" . All vitals WNL. I told him to drink some water and that colds felt crummy but he would be OK and he was a tough kid and could last the rest of the day. He then told me the dreaded "my mom told me that if I didn't feel well you would call her and she could come pick me up". So I told him that right now, I did not think I needed to call Mom because he was not too sick to stay in school. I asked him to go back to class. He came back 30 minutes later "I just can't do it anymore" with a huge sigh. He is 9 by the way. Re-checked all his vitals. All still normal. He reminded me about what mom told him. I sent him back to class. I called his mom and told her that he came twice in the span of 30 minutes and that I did not think he needed to go home. I also told her that her telling him you would come get him put that idea into his head and now he is fixated on going home. I also told her that he probably feels lousy since colds suck, but that if I sent home every kid with a cold our school would be empty. She agreed with everything I said and was glad I told him he needed to stay at school. I mentioned to her "he just needs to work on his coping skills and try to manage things on his own for a little while". She actually laughed and totally agreed!!! I bet he'll be back down soon, LOL.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Look at you!! "Born to be wild...!!"

Good move!

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Good for you!!! I think society / school climate has brought us to a point where we fear being honest with parents. They do pay us for our professional opinion so we are doing an injustice if do not speak up.

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Specializes in Peds.

Yes!!!! It feels so good to be open with parents that will understand it. When a student comes to me and tells me that their parent told them to call if they didn't feel good I always call but....... I do it in front of the student and make it super clear that I am only calling because the student told me to, not because they need to go home. The reason I make sure it is in front of the student is to show them who makes the decisions and that I am on to them. LOL! Parents usually appreciate it.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

Coping skills until after lunch, for sure!!

I don't know why I picked lunch as my Maginot line for when a kid can go home. It's after the attendance hour. I think if you've made it to lunch and just.cant.even anymore then you at least did try. Finally, most parents will say "Well, s/he only has X hours more in the school day" and the kid ends up staying...

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
On 3/21/2019 at 11:16 AM, MHDNURSE said:

that her child needed to work on his coping skills ? I must be getting bolder in my old age! He has a cold and came to see me at 8:30 am, complaining of a "runny nose and stuffy head" . All vitals WNL. I told him to drink some water and that colds felt crummy but he would be OK and he was a tough kid and could last the rest of the day. He then told me the dreaded "my mom told me that if I didn't feel well you would call her and she could come pick me up". So I told him that right now, I did not think I needed to call Mom because he was not too sick to stay in school. I asked him to go back to class. He came back 30 minutes later "I just can't do it anymore" with a huge sigh. He is 9 by the way. Re-checked all his vitals. All still normal. He reminded me about what mom told him. I sent him back to class. I called his mom and told her that he came twice in the span of 30 minutes and that I did not think he needed to go home. I also told her that her telling him you would come get him put that idea into his head and now he is fixated on going home. I also told her that he probably feels lousy since colds suck, but that if I sent home every kid with a cold our school would be empty. She agreed with everything I said and was glad I told him he needed to stay at school. I mentioned to her "he just needs to work on his coping skills and try to manage things on his own for a little while". She actually laughed and totally agreed!!! I bet he'll be back down soon, LOL.

Or the alternate title "How to melt snowflakes". I feel I may be a bad influence on this group...

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Sigh, I'm so jealous.. I wish I could say that. The parents in my HIGH school would just flip out, call the administrator and then I would be told not to piss off the parents... These kids get to go home with nothing wrong...

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

Man, I'm getting bolder because I told a kid that he needs to change his attitude because he's always dramatic in class and whining, so the kids don't like him and he has no friends. I told him to chill and stop doing that or he won't have any friends. And I told his mom that he needs to have a talking to because he whining and it's getting annoying. And that I think it might be a social thing because a student from his class told me what they all think of him and I'm worried that because of the issues at school is causing this issue of visiting me and the drama.

Mom agreed and said she will see what to do about him. I really feel bad for him because I been in his shoes and I try to help him but he takes advantage and visits me for no reason to get out of class.

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