ixchel's What I Learned This Week, 12/26: Not a Creature was Stirring

[Farawyn]

Not even a Louse.

Lice.

Nits.

Oh deers!

These words have been known to strike fear into the hearts of every School Nurse. For one reason, and one reason, only. The Teachers.

There are about 5 threads on the SN Board right now talking about lice. For those that don't veer shockingly off topic, the theme that comes up ad nauseum is the teachers' lack of understanding about lice. What is it about lice that strikes fear into the hearts of teachers?

A few fun facts about lice:

They are bugs

They are attracted to clean hair. If you have lice, it does not mean you are dirty.

They lay eggs called "nits"

Nits are tiny white and sesame seed sized. They cling to hair shafts and are difficult to remove. They tend to cluster close to the scalp, behind the ears, and at the nape of the neck.

Yes, if you are scratching, the mere mention of lice does that to all of us SN's as well. We are not immune to the psychosomatic itch.

Lice do NOT jump from person to person. In order to catch lice, you must share grooming utensils, headwear and beds- in other words, a slumber party for 5th grade girls can result in a HUGE lice outbreak.

If your child has lice, we will send her/him home to get treated with the shampoo. I'm not an ad exec, nor am I getting paid as an endorser, so I'm not mentioning brands. "Ask your doctor." I'm also old school, so I like the fine tooth comb.

Most schools now do NOT have a "no nit" policy.

And finally, and this is significant, The whole surrounding world/ classroom/ relatives from Jersey, do NOT have to be checked for lice just because Little Cliffy may have it.

(Now, that other lice? That's a tale for another day. Talk of it can be found on the SN board.

I will say that thanks to all things "retro" there will be a upswing in that other kind of lice.)

Are you itchy now? Me too.

I've also re-learned IV Tylenol is a hell of a drug. I am impressed with how quickly and efficiently I have seen it work not only on pain, but to bring down a fever.

I've re-learned that crazy old people are often crazier when they have a UTI. So, if Ed starts hopping the side rails, check his urine.

I've learned that Risperdal is a hell of a drug and needs to be tapered.

I've learned I can sleep HARD when I'm off, and that my cat sleeps with me because he thinks my snoring is purring.

I've learned Coquito is strong and must be tapered. (Kidding)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coquito

I've learned that smells are one of the biggest triggers to memories, and have been reminded of it several times this week. Some good, some not so good.

I've learned that I am excited for my friends who are students who have time off right now. My Big Kid, too!

I've learned that even when things are changing all around me, if I have my kids and people I love I can get through the holidays. I am glad Christmas is over, though.

Bring on 2016!

Thanks to my girl, ixchel, for trusting me with her thread this week.

For all of you working over the holidays, THANK YOU!!! A close family member of mine is hospitalized and nurses like you all have made all the difference in her care.

What have YOU learned this week?

[Purple_roses]

Who are these gangs of geriatric cheerleaders with STIs?

And do they have crabs? (OT!)

Mean Girls: Where Are They Now

[Shagce1]

Who are these gangs of geriatric cheerleaders with STIs?

And do they have crabs? (OT!)

I hope not given the fact that I am frequently cleaning them up and helping to change their depends!

[Nurse Leigh]

My nephew's wife had a grandmother who, before she passed, lived in LTC and apparently had a "gentleman friend" who also lived there. I don't know the details but it seems there was an uproar about this (including the LTC staff, according to the story I heard). There was talk of separating them or other interventions.

I found that upsetting. As long as both people are competent, who are we to judge? I mean, I can see issues if the participants have living spouses (hey - Jerry Springer is missing out on a whole demographic!) but other than that, can't we educate them on safer sex and be happy for them?

[Nurse Leigh]

Who are these gangs of geriatric cheerleaders with STIs?

And do they have crabs? (OT!)

People should be warned not to read posts like these while eating unless there is someone nearby who can perform abdominal thrusts!

[Purple_roses]

My nephew's wife had a grandmother who, before she passed, lived in LTC and apparently had a "gentleman friend" who also lived there. I don't know the details but it seems there was an uproar about this (including the LTC staff, according to the story I heard). There was talk of separating them or other interventions.

I found that upsetting. As long as both people are competent, who are we to judge? I mean, I can see issues if the participants have living spouses (hey - Jerry Springer is missing out on a whole demographic!) but other than that, can't we educate them on safer sex and be happy for them?

Absolutely agree. Educate on safe sex instead of treating them like 2-year olds.

[Farawyn]

Mean Girls: Where Are They Now

So fetch!

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

My nephew's wife had a grandmother who, before she passed, lived in LTC and apparently had a "gentleman friend" who also lived there. I don't know the details but it seems there was an uproar about this (including the LTC staff, according to the story I heard). There was talk of separating them or other interventions.

I found that upsetting. As long as both people are competent, who are we to judge? I mean, I can see issues if the participants have living spouses (hey - Jerry Springer is missing out on a whole demographic!) but other than that, can't we educate them on safer sex and be happy for them?

We haven't had any need to address this in quite some time [that I'm aware of anyway] but our official policy is to close the door and leave them alone as long as it is a "safe" situation. That is defined as the parties involved being consenting adults.

[TeeKay12]

I learned a few things:

1. I learned that the concourses at an airport are not numbered so you can stand in the central part and know the concourse is numbered from left to right. They're numbered for the convenience of the pilots, from their left to right.

2. I learned that due to #1, the 'child' you waved goodbye to as they left the country for a job 5 months ago and haven't seen since, will walk up behind you as you're standing at what you THINK is concourse "A" and say "Should have known you'd be at the wrong concourse" (concourse "A" was across the airport, hubby and I were standing at "B").

3. I learned that said 'child' will forgive you.

4. I learned that the people at work who take shortcuts and lie in their charting, but brown-nose like crazy won't always have Karma kick them in the knees when you want, but it's okay, it'll happen....one day.

5. I learned that dogs will tear the house apart the second you leave, if you're going to be gone for less than an hour. Leave them loose in the house for 8 hours while you have Christmas at someone else's house, and not a thing will be out of place when you return.

6. I learned that my daughter's boyfriend has called me "Mom" for about 4-5 months, and it never dawned on me he did. Apparently, even my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews have heard him call me this - and I have responded every single time. I also learned that I am in his phone as "Mom", while his mother is "Mrs. B"

[Farawyn]

"..."

[Farawyn]

I've learned that it is possible to gain 5 pounds in 5 days. I've never done that before. It's a new low.

[Purple_roses]

I've learned that it is possible to gain 5 pounds in 5 days. I've never done that before. It's a new low.

This is why I don't weigh myself over the holidays.

[Farawyn]

This is why I don't weigh myself over the holidays.

My pants wouldn't zip.

Guess who's wearing leggings tomorrow?