I told you so!

Published

I must have 20 -30 stomach ache complaints daily so..... I take the temp, food history, water, rest and then usually send them back to class if they seem OK. What I really like is when the teacher calls to "let me know" that the student, I sent back to class, is now throwing up. This teacher is truly mad at me. She made sure that everyone in the office knew that her student vomited in class and I had allowed that to happen. OMG..... I feel like there are so many other things this teacher could be doing. In the grand scheme of things, is it such a bad thing that I am not a fortune teller? An " I told you so" isn't necessary. Makes me want to call teachers, when I see the kids they sent to me earlier are outside playing soccer. Grrrrr....

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

God, what kind of school nurse are you, that you can't 'see' ahead of time that a kid is going to throw up, and give them a PDPEP med? (Psychically-Determined Pre-Emesis Preventant). :cat:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was a teacher before I was a nurse and the teacher was really out of line and should be told about it. She would be livid if something happened in her classroom that she had no control over and someone went around telling people that she allowed it to happen. Maybe a letter to the faculty from you and the principal explaining that you can't predict the future (in a professional way), what the criteria is to keep a student in the nurses office/send them home and if not met, they go back to class. Period.

And yes, there are at least a thousand other things the teacher could be doing that directly relate to educating her students.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What I really like is when the teacher calls to "let me know" that the student, I sent back to class, is now throwing up. This teacher is truly mad at me. She made sure that everyone in the office knew that her student vomited in class and I had allowed that to happen.

Full stop. This teacher is 100% out of line. You did not allow the child to throw up any more than she would allow her students to fail a test. Can you imagine how she would react if you said that? Time for a behavior contract. Everyone has to work together - you follow your protocol, you would respect theirs. I'd ask for a meeting with this teacher and your admin.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree that teacher was out of line. Sounds like someone who like being "right" at all times and feels better when she makes others feel bad.

I sent a note to all my staff one year that said "I'll forgive you for sending me a faker or a whiny kid to get them out of your hair if you forgive me for sending someone back who ends up getting sick". It really helped. I also try to reiterate keeping a trashcan close beside them if they still feel pukey when I send them back. I also tell teachers me or they must actually see puke before I'll send the kids home (in most cases. If you've never missed school once all year, look super pale, doubled over, then yes you may go home without puking first!) However, those I see frequently, I must see evidence. I tell the teachers I see kids all day long complaining who aren't really sick and if I send them home every single time they complained they'd be bugging them to come down daily to see me so I could send them home and that's not good for anyone. I can only go on symptoms and concrete evidence. With kids, if you give it time, they'll either puke or start running a fever if they're really sick so sometimes we just have to wait. I don't have a crystal ball. Sometimes they just need to poop. LOL!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School nursing.

My favorite is the deer-in-headlights look/tone of voice I get from teachers who will find/call me to tell me a student vomited or is vomiting. They want me on the scene ASAP. Why? so I can cause that kid even more embarrassment in the middle of their pukefest? Let them finish, call our wonderful facilities guy for the mop/etc, let the kid compose themselves for 10 seconds, then they can come down to me and I'll take care of it.

Surprising, I also get this for lost teeth. I do work with grades 7-12 and teachers think a 7th grader losing a tooth is abnormal and needs attention ASAP. I had to educate on the fact that yes, it is possible for a 7th grade to still have a baby tooth that can be loose and fall out. And no, it isn't an emergency.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nurse.

I end my notes to the teacher with "at this time." I have done my due diligence and I cannot keep the child here for symptoms that are not advancing. I may even have them return in 1.5 hours to recheck. On another note, coughing hard and throwing up congestion is NOT a sick stomach. Those kids are returned, but I usually call mom and 9/10 calls the child stays.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.
I must have 20 -30 stomach ache complaints daily so..... I take the temp, food history, water, rest and then usually send them back to class if they seem OK. What I really like is when the teacher calls to "let me know" that the student, I sent back to class, is now throwing up. This teacher is truly mad at me. She made sure that everyone in the office knew that her student vomited in class and I had allowed that to happen. OMG..... I feel like there are so many other things this teacher could be doing. In the grand scheme of things, is it such a bad thing that I am not a fortune teller? An " I told you so" isn't necessary. Makes me want to call teachers, when I see the kids they sent to me earlier are outside playing soccer. Grrrrr....

I have been there twice this year. You said it, we are not fortune tellers. It is so hard to know when a kid will feel better and when they will vomit. Fortunately for me, the teachers have laughed it off, but I always feel terrible. Just happened last week actually. Kid (first grader) looked awful- watery eyes, had a cold, sneezing, coughing. No fever. Mentioned her stomach hurt. I let her sleep in my office and she woke up on her own after an hour. Said her stomach still hurt but "not as much". Still no temp so I sent her back to class. Teacher sent her back 30 minutes later saying "she must have a fever, she looks terrible". Checked temp again, 99.1. Had her drink some water and asked if she felt ok to go back to class. She said yes. Steps 3 feet into class and barfs all over the place. Classroom is carpeted :wtf:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Some years ago I identified a condition coined by me as, "Post Emesis Paralysis." This is a phenomenon that caused the child the freeze in the position they were in while vomiting. You've seen it...child locked into place over a trash can, frozen on all fours on the classroom floor, standing rock solid with vomit dripping off their hands and chin. Unfortunatley, only a school nurse can "unlock" this paralysis by speaking to the affected in a manner the child can understand; like "you can get up and walk now." The paralysis is miraculously unlocked and off we go the the clinic.

But that's our job - snatching kids from the jaws of death - one kid at a time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

But that's our job - snatching kids from the jaws of death - one kid at a time.

Hahahahahaha!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion