Ugh! I am so tired of teachers and parents freaking out over an occasional case of head lice in our building. This AM I even had a student come in to tell me her classmate is scratching her head and "probably has lice." 2 teachers "cherry picking" the disadvantaged students they want me to check. I don't even feel it should all fall on me. This is a parent/child issue.
I've tried to educate the staff, even sending them the AAP recommendations, but it doesn't seem to matter.
There were no school nurses in the region of AK where I lived a while back, so the school administrators came to me, the village's designated public health nurse, to address the issue (it was out of control) I sent a letter home with each student for parents to address the issue. I talked a/b:
1. the fact that several students have had lice recently
2. how to check your children
3. how to clean your environment
4. how to treat your child effectively
I would get a stamp of approval from administrators before sending something out, but it seemed to be helpful in my situation. BTW, NASN has a great CNE on lice.
The problem is, we have a no lice/no nit policy from our school physician and the teachers/parents expect that to be strictly enforced. (By me, of course.) I don't have time to check full classes of students or "hand chosen" students frequently. I feel that if we send lice notices home, the parents have a responsibility to follow up.
Spidey's mom, I agree. The problem is, the folks in charge are "old school" and won't budge on this issue. (Some of us have explored the possibility of modifying this policy.)
Even our school Physician won't hear of changing the policy. Until he retires, we are stuck with it.
Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
Spidey's mom, I agree. The problem is, the folks in charge are "old school" and won't budge on this issue. (Some of us have explored the possibility of modifying this policy.)
Even our school Physician won't hear of changing the policy. Until he retires, we are stuck with it.
Or until some knowledgeable parents cause a stink at a Board of Education meeting, bringing up the complete lack of evidence based documentation to support this policy!
That would work IF the parents supported change! They are the ones that freak out the most about lice, unfortunately. Our school district is rather affluent, with the most disadvantaged students in my school. (Along with some fairly affluent ones.) So, many of the snooty ones don't want to hear that it is not a big deal. I honestly think they would rather their child break a limb than get head lice. no lie. I had one mom in my office sobbing telling me just how fearful she was about it. Despite my best efforts, she wouldn't budge.
Ah, Snowyj, I hear you. My first school nurse position was with a large private school and naturally there were head lice around and about. Teachers scratching, parents freaking, you know the drill. I finally told one mom that getting head lice was no reflection of her level of cleanliness or her Christian commitment. And that the little parasites really did not care who provided their next meal as they were equal opportunity infestors.
Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
Maybe when Suzy and Sammy Snowflake get ostracized for getting lice, the affluent/influential parents will realize that the policy just causes problems rather than solves them?
Just keep hammering the message that the only thing the school can do to eliminate head lice is to provide education. Only the parents have the capability and responsibility for "doing" something about it.
I don't even feel it should all fall on me. This is a parent/child issue. 
SnowyJ, RN
844 Posts
Not kidding, OldDude. It's ridiculous.
Maybe this is the new response I should give:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CraFZDtvreo