Mom takes forever to pickup

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When you're sending a sick kid home and mom is taking FOREVER to pick them up... Do you let them hangout in the Health Office or do you send them back to class. Whats the average wait time for you?

I have parents that say "I'm on my way"...An hour later theres still not here

Well on the way may mean an hour away, maybe they work by train, or are that far. I would ask for clarity on that if that was the reply... "so on your way, I can expect you within 15 minutes?" If they say it will be an hour or longer, I ask them to call their emergency backup to pick up faster, if they don't have one then a conversation is had about the need to have a better plan. And my better plan may include the need to call for an ambulance where the adjusted better plan for them includes a neighbor or family...I'll always give the scenario about not being able to give medication to reduce a fever and if high enough might result in a seizure so if it's going to really be that long then I will call you again when the ambulance is on the way. That usually lights a fire.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Correction--I meant USDA (my plate, pictures of fruits/veggies/whole grains) the FDA doesn't have drug sheets to color haha.

I have colors and blank paper for them to be creative. I get a lot of nice pictures from that sometimes. I save them, because my idea is once they get old enough to graduate from here, I'll give them their drawings as a gift from me. My 1st grade teacher did this because she worked with my mom for years and once I graduated from high school, she framed my first day of school in 1st grade drawing and gave it to me as a gift.

I also have my extensive collection of manga (Japanese comics) and YA books from home (All appropriate for my ages) and I have them for them to read. That's for 3-8th and K-2 get littlie books I have that are Dr. Suess and other kiddie books from home that my kids are too old to read.

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Any ideas for bigger kids?

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Specializes in school nursing.

I'm new to school nursing (high school). Most of the parents are quick, in under an hour. I usually always ask how long it will be, and then they tell me. I had one take 3 hours yesterday, though, so that one bothered me quite a bit. Especially because the mom was a teacher.:no:

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I'm new to school nursing (high school). Most of the parents are quick, in under an hour. I usually always ask how long it will be, and then they tell me. I had one take 3 hours yesterday, though, so that one bothered me quite a bit. Especially because the mom was a teacher.:no:

What did you do or what did the student do in the Health Office while waiting?

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Specializes in school nursing.
What did you do or what did the student do in the Health Office while waiting?

The student slept. She was sick, so I let her.

ETA: depending on the situation, I will turn the lights off so they can rest. Sometimes I may have to turn it back on for one reason or another, but this helps for me.

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What did you do or what did the student do in the Health Office while waiting?

I have a small book shelf with old yearbooks, a few silly health-related books, Where's Waldo, I Spy, and 2 foam body system puzzles(from Dollar Tree). For kids that are waiting on a parent I bring out the Find It game tubes (bought at a thrift store, I have 4 now), children's anatomy coloring books and colored pencils, a packet of crossword puzzles and word searches that I printed out, paper and crayons are always good too.

When I know a parent is going to take a really long time, I borrow a laptop from the computer lab and let the kiddo play on the educational sites that they can access with their log-in.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Any ideas for bigger kids?

Dude, coloring is for all ages. Give them paper and some pens and these kids will draw you something amazing if given the chance. Kids rarely get a chance to get creative just to be creative.

I let all my grades color and draw. And lots of them, from Kinder to 8th grade, give me drawings to keep.

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Specializes in school nursing.
Dude, coloring is for all ages. Give them paper and some pens and these kids will draw you something amazing if given the chance. Kids rarely get a chance to get creative just to be creative.

I let one student do homework on my cot while she waited for mom. Ended up with a pen hole jabbed in my not-so-old cot. They're the nice ones too.:cry:

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
I let one student do homework on my cot while she waited for mom. Ended up with a pen hole jabbed in my not-so-old cot. They're the nice ones too.:cry:

Colors! I have pens and a small table where they can draw and as well clipboards.

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Specializes in school nursing.
Colors! I have pens and a small table where they can draw and as well clipboards.

Haha. These highschoolers would never leave if I made them that comfy. I think it was a pen in a pocket that was the culprit, actually... not the one they were using. Who knows though.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Haha. These highschoolers would never leave if I made them that comfy. I think it was a pen in a pocket that was the culprit, actually... not the one they were using. Who knows though.

Kids... amirite?

This is my issue, the kids love me so much here, they never want to leave my office. xD

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