I feel like I spend so much of my day just dealing with people that lack the ability to make a decision and stick with it!! Then, they don't have the common decency to communicate with you that they have changed their mind
1. 20 minute phone conversation, parent decides to send back to class. 14 minutes later, front office looking for student because they are here to pick up.
2. 34 minute in office conversation, completing new paperwork, notifying teachers, etc that medication time is being changed. Kid shows up next day, "oh, my mom wants me to take it at my usual time instead."
3. Kid feels sick in the morning, no treatment provided by parent. Kid shows up in clinic 3 minutes into 1st period with nothing excludable. try to send kid on their way "but my mom told me to have the nurse call her if I come in." Call mom who does not really like that I am not excusing for the day, wants to talk to the kid for 19 minutes before mom decides she will come get and rush to the pediatrician. Next day, same kid back with same symptoms, same assessment finding, no physician visit, rinse and repeat.
I just had to vent!! Feel better.....
I really want a sign that states "What happens (or is discussed) at home should stay at home!!!!"
I too will say "Johnny said you told me to call?" or when I am really annoyed "Johnny said his temperature this morning was 100.4, and you gave him some Tylenol. Well, his temp is back up to 100.2, you'll need to pick him up. Also, he must be fever free without the aid of fever reducers before returning."
Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
5 hours ago, Amethya said:
I had a student come right to me, pointed at her friend and said, "She has a fever, chills and she doesn't feel well." and this before the breakfast bell and before the main bell, which in a rule, I don't accept students until 10 mins after the first bell of the day, which is the main bell. So I told her, "Well, I need a pass, I need a pass and I need a pass." and just walked away.
First of all, I need to hear it from your friend, not you. 2nd of all, you are in 8th grade, if you didn't tell your mom, because you are old enough to tell your mother you are not feeling well, then you are fine. and 3rd of all, check your attitude because I am NOT your servant and how about some politeness next time?
Apparently mother was mad because I didn't call her. I told LD to get a pass, especially if she's not feeling well. I would check her temp and call her mother, but instead that's not happening and I am livid.
Sometimes I will call a parent and just say "__________told me you wanted a phone call." Then, I say nothing else. Awkward as heck for them, funny for me.
Perfect!
Silence is a greatly underused communication technique! I've done a lot of reading on effective communication and this is one strategy that use all the time! It really gives the impression of confidence even if you are not feeling confident in what you are saying at all. Or, I guess more accurately, filling silence because it feels uncomfortable comes off as insecure or unknowledgeable.
What's the saying? Better to stay silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt ?
**not saying anyone on this board is a fool! It's just a good life message ?
That sounds so frustrating!! I'm sorry you have to deal with that.
This is where working in a high school comes in handy. I just look at them and hand them the phone. Call mom. ?... Then they backpedal, and decide they don't need to call. They seem to like the idea of ME calling...rather than themselves.
Now, with that said, I also get the parents showing up in the office and they say I am sending their kid home...um no, if your kid texted you and has not been to see me, I am not sending and it is not excused. So annoying. I have a couple of parents that I know I need to call every time their kid comes.
scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN
645 Posts
And when this happens and I call a parent I also say "this will count as an absence you know".