minor complaints

Published

i'm feeling very short fused lately with the parade of minor complaints coming into my office. Chapped lips -holy crow - i must have seen 50 kids looking for the little packets of lip balm yesterday - i just stopped charting it at one point when i got too busy with actual issues. Dry skin, stuffy noses. I can't believe that students are let out of class for these non issues. Yes, i get that dry skin is irritating, but it's also not worth leaving in the middle of a lesson for.

And, yes - i've mentioned to staff and admins that perhaps the children don't need to leave class for all of these small crises. Some of my admins are supportive, some of the teachers are cooperative - others not so much.

I literally just spit my coffee everywhere!

:roflmao:

Don't spit ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww germs!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There should be some sort of rule where the kid doesn't get to go to the nurse unless they're leaking, bleeding (real blood, not menses), in severe pain, have a fever, or have something parasitic crawling on them.

Everything else can be dealt with by the teacher. I'm older and a little crusty, so I remember the "suck it up, kid" days where you only got to go home if you were contagious or broke something. I have no idea what got you sent to the school nurse, because no one was ever allowed to go.

I love reading y'alls reactions to stupid kids and stupid teachers, though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
There should be some sort of rule where the kid doesn't get to go to the nurse unless they're leaking, bleeding (real blood, not menses), in severe pain, have a fever, or have something parasitic crawling on them.

Everything else can be dealt with by the teacher. I'm older and a little crusty, so I remember the "suck it up, kid" days where you only got to go home if you were contagious or broke something. I have no idea what got you sent to the school nurse, because no one was

ever allowed to go.

I love reading y'alls reactions to stupid kids and stupid teachers, though.

Can't like this enough!!! I had a student sent down not once but twice within an hour because, are you ready? Her hair elastic broke!!!!!!! Horrors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes... I have to "evaluate" every red mark, chapped lips and random pain. Drives me nuts. I have 1 teacher who sends every single bump to me. But she just says she is not a nurse and not qualified to evaluate an injury. Seriously? I don't think a lunchbox to the head resulted in a concussion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I bring some of it on myself because I stock hair bands, lint rollers, deodorant, tide to go, toothbrushes and toothpaste, nail polish remover and pretzels. They know where to go. I am kind of a convenience store.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics/Developmental Pediatrics/Research/psych.
Yes... I have to "evaluate" every red mark, chapped lips and random pain. Drives me nuts. I have 1 teacher who sends every single bump to me. But she just says she is not a nurse and not qualified to evaluate an injury. Seriously? I don't think a lunchbox to the head resulted in a concussion.

Not kidding, the school at which I used to work would have required the concussion protocol and paperwork for that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My favorite(least favorite?) so far this year: It snowed for the first time overnight and at 8:33 am, less than 3 minutes after entering the building, I get "My teacher told me to come see you because my toes feel cold and I don't know why"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
My favorite(least favorite?) so far this year: It snowed for the first time overnight and at 8:33 am, less than 3 minutes after entering the building, I get "My teacher told me to come see you because my toes feel cold and I don't know why"

Obviously a vascular emergency.:rolleyes: Although I did have a kid with Raynaud's last year (undiagnosed), she came to me with cold, blue hand (unilateral) and scared me, thought she thrombosed. Luckily warm water cured her.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School nursing.
Obviously a vascular emergency.:rolleyes: Although I did have a kid with Raynaud's last year (undiagnosed), she came to me with cold, blue hand (unilateral) and scared me, thought she thrombosed. Luckily warm water cured her.

I have one of those kids. Heat packs do wonders.

Luckily, school nursing had taught me "simple stupid" thought process first. I was laughing about that process today with a parent. Parent is a cardiac nurse and called me about their child reporting chest pain that morning; child also has suspected acid reflux. I immediately went to heartburn, parent laughed and stated "I was ready to do CPR before I relaxed." I assessed the kid in school to be safe and follow-up to pediatrician was made, but it really reminded me that different specialties have different thought processes! ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Why do kids feel like they have to change perfectly intact band-aids that were applied at home as soon as they get to school??? And why do their teachers agree???

These are the questions that haunt me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Luckily, school nursing had taught me "simple stupid" thought process first. I was laughing about that process today with a parent. Parent is a cardiac nurse and called me about their child reporting chest pain that morning; child also has suspected acid reflux. I immediately went to heartburn, parent laughed and stated "I was ready to do CPR before I relaxed." I assessed the kid in school to be safe and follow-up to pediatrician was made, but it really reminded me that different specialties have different thought processes! ;)

Ha! I go back and forth with my kids- I either am like "Whatever, you'll be fine. Eat a cracker." to "OMG your stomach pain is obviously a sign of some kind of cancer! How will I live without you????" (in my head, of course. No scaring the kiddies)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Today is tummy ache Tuesday. No barf so far, so that's a bonus.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion