If you feel sick the nurse will call me and you can go home

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Nov 29, 2016

Had a mother caught in this one a few weeks ago. Only child, kindergartener, of course he is going to come see the nurse. She learned her lesson :yes: . My administrators are clear, starting in third grade, if a child does not meet criteria, that child is unexcused and any work missed may not be made up. It has kept quite a few middle schoolers here, as they had tests later in the day.

MHDNURSE · Nov 29, 2016

Had a mother caught in this one a few weeks ago. Only child, kindergartener, of course he is going to come see the nurse. She learned her lesson . My administrators are clear, starting in third grade, if a child does not meet criteria, that child is unexcused and any work missed may not be made up. It has kept quite a few middle schoolers here, as they had tests later in the day.

Hopefully this mom has learned hers. I just got off the phone with her after explaining that her daughter is totally fine and has no reason the come home. She spoke with her daughter for a good five minutes and then says to me "I guess I have to come pick her up b/c she has it in her head I am coming to get her". DUH Lady, you made your bed...

kidzcare · Nov 29, 2016

YES! This is absolutely the worst. If you tell your child this, just wait in the parking lot. It'll be easier for all of us.

When a student comes in saying that mom or dad wanted a call and they are clinically fine, I have the kid call (I work with grades 6-8). Sometimes I will call and say something along the lines of "Susie is in here c/o a sore throat. She does not have a fever and her throat is looking fine with no swelling and no red or white areas that would make me suspect it's anything too serious but she said you requested that I give her a call if she came to my office." Of course this is said within earshot of the student.

Most times, this is enough that the parents say have the kid try to make it through the day (I will also add "I'll give you a call if there are any changes"). Sometimes they choose to pick the kid up but that's on them.

MHDNURSE · Nov 29, 2016

YES! This is absolutely the worst. If you tell your child this, just wait in the parking lot. It'll be easier for all of us.
When a student comes in saying that mom or dad wanted a call and they are clinically fine, I have the kid call (I work with grades 6-8). Sometimes I will call and say something along the lines of "Susie is in here c/o a sore throat. She does not have a fever and her throat is looking fine with no swelling and no red or white areas that would make me suspect it's anything too serious but she said you requested that I give her a call if she came to my office." Of course this is said within earshot of the student.
Most times, this is enough that the parents say have the kid try to make it through the day (I will also add "I'll give you a call if there are any changes"). Sometimes they choose to pick the kid up but that's on them.

Yup! I said to her "She does not need to be picked up" so it is 100% on her

Flare, ASN, BSN · Nov 29, 2016

i think the spin on that that cheeses me off the most is when the parents tell their kids that and I do decide OK, i'll play along and the parent and call and I'm met with OK, but I can't get there for 2 hours.

Well, ok, but your snowflake is going to spend those 2 hours in class then.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Nov 29, 2016

YES! This is absolutely the worst. If you tell your child this, just wait in the parking lot. It'll be easier for all of us.
When a student comes in saying that mom or dad wanted a call and they are clinically fine, I have the kid call (I work with grades 6-8). Sometimes I will call and say something along the lines of "Susie is in here c/o a sore throat. She does not have a fever and her throat is looking fine with no swelling and no red or white areas that would make me suspect it's anything too serious but she said you requested that I give her a call if she came to my office." Of course this is said within earshot of the student.
Most times, this is enough that the parents say have the kid try to make it through the day (I will also add "I'll give you a call if there are any changes"). Sometimes they choose to pick the kid up but that's on them.

I do the same and work with kids in grades 7-12. I will also usually include "there is no medical reason for me to dismiss your child."

SchoolNurseTXstyle · Nov 29, 2016

I personally like it when the student who is told this comes straight to me after getting of bus or mommy's car. I call immediately and I am just sure they can hear a smirky tone in my voice.......

AdobeRN · Nov 29, 2016

YES! This is absolutely the worst. If you tell your child this, just wait in the parking lot. It'll be easier for all of us.

I actually had a few parents that have done this due to truancy issues...kid can't miss school unless I send them home or they have a doctor's note.

Farawyn · Nov 29, 2016

I say, "Go call your mom. Let me speak to her."

When I do, I tell them their child is fine.

That maaaaaaybe makes about 50% of them stay.

*shrug* Not my kid. I just document.

ohiobobcat · Nov 29, 2016

I had a student actually say to me yesterday, after I told her multiple times that I have no reason to send her home, "Well, my mom says she doesn't care if I go home, she just doesn't like all of the detentions I get for missing school." She was SO looking for a nurse dismissal and she did NOT get one from me.

grammy1 · Nov 29, 2016

If I don't find a reason to send them home, I will send them back to class THEN call mom. Usually they're a little less likely to go through the front office to come and pick them up. If they do that it will just show as an early dismissal, not for a medical reason. :yes: