I'm not sure what they expect!- Small vent

[Supernrse01]

What I want to say...

Listen, if you don't want little Johnny to go home then stop sending him to me multiple times throughout the day. I can only do so much, and if I have seen the same kid, for the same reason, multiple times, I am going to call home to see what the parent wants to do. Obviously, what I am doing/trying is not working and the little snowflake is going to continue until Mom says "no more" or they decide to pick him up.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

True this! I used to use the 3 strikes rule and call parents with the 3rd visit. Now I usually call with the 2nd visit.

It's more efficient if you call as soon as you see them heading towards your office before they even sign in...

[ohiobobcat]

We're supposed to read minds! We're that special...

Kids expect I can read their minds as well when they just hand me their pass and blink at me. Or hand it to me with a "I don't feel well" (and never a hi before it).

I hate the "I don't feel well." Sometimes I just stare at them until they break down and tell me what's actually wrong. Some are just clueless that I might need more information than "I'm sick."

On the other end of the spectrum, I have some who come in and proceed to tell me every single detail about their perceived malady, which I appreciate, but NOT while I am in the middle of assessing another student. What part of stethoscope at the ready, audible wheezing and inhaler out doesn't clue you in that I MIGHT be in the middle of something more important than your ear pain x 7 days?

"It's not all about you!"- one of the hardest lessons to teach teenagers, IMHO.

[Amethya]

I do 2 strikes. If the student comes in for the same thing twice, I will call mom. Sometimes I ask the child if mom knows. I give the parent the decision, I do tell her what I see and what I think, but I always tell them "You're the parent, so what you want to do is up to you." If the kid is really sick, I suggest to pick them up because of their condition. I'm thinking of doing a speaker phone call because sometimes the kid starts to cry and blubber all over my phone when mom doesn't pick them up and it's like... really?

[HappyRN.]

I normally stick between the 2 to 3 visit rule but it is all depending on who the student is and who their parents are. At that point if there are no read flags such as a fever or vomiting, I will leave it in the hands of the parents. I tell the parents how many times they have been there and how much class time they have missed and then I let them make the call on picking up their student. Luckily most of my parents are realistic and tell their little snowflake to suck it up and go back to class.