My favorite complaint

Specialties School

Published

Working in 6-8 I get some lost teeth visits.

Man do I love just writing their name on an elvelope and sealing their body part up to take home.

These kids get so excited! I even had one 6th grader tell me he would get $5 for his premolar!

I would gladly pack up 5 lost teeth (not broken or forced out due to injury) in exchage for just one less stomach ache a day.

New law in Illinois that pads and tampons must be provided free of charge in restrooms. Which solves the problem of poeple who can't afford pads, etc during the week, but what about weekends?? Also, takes away our ability to help instill some personal responsibility.

On the tooth subject--my daughter is 14 and has only lost 8 teeth, so she will be going to the nurse for envelopes for years to come :)

Ha! I'm in Chicagoland, and I had the pleasure of working with the super awkward, young, male custodian. He was so embarrassed asking me where we should put the new dispenser. Poor kid. He's probably about 25.

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Specializes in School nursing.
When I worked in the jr high I would make a point to tell the girls the first time they came in "These are always here if you get surprised at school. Just make sure you bring your own tomorrow!" and I put up a sign that said to only take ONE after stopping one girl from taking 4 to use throughout the day.

I also ordered the inexpensive, thick, uncomfortable ones so they would not be the girls' preference :)

I order those as well.

However, I do have some gals who I know don't have the supplies at home if their period hits at an awkward pay period for a parent. Those gals I make some goody bags for.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
I order those as well.

However, I do have some gals who I know don't have the supplies at home if their period hits at an awkward pay period for a parent. Those gals I make some goody bags for.

Same here, a lot of students are low income, so I let them take at least 2 or 3 for the day.

My favorite complaint is:

Teacher bring kid that throws up. Kid sits in my office, happily chatting with me, have not vomited again for the last 15 minutes. I ask how they feel, they say they feel good. I ask them why they threw up:

"The food smelled weird and it make me throw up."

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
I order those as well.

However, I do have some gals who I know don't have the supplies at home if their period hits at an awkward pay period for a parent. Those gals I make some goody bags for.

I used to give reminders to the kids. Then my own kid (who carries her own stash ALL THE TIME and frequently shares with friends) said - "Mom, why do you have to make a big deal about this? It's embarrassing enough that they have to come to you." Now I just suggest they use a period tracking ap on their phones (that my kid showed me how to use!)

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Specializes in School Nurse.
I used to give reminders to the kids. Then my own kid (who carries her own stash ALL THE TIME and frequently shares with friends) said - "Mom, why do you have to make a big deal about this? It's embarrassing enough that they have to come to you." Now I just suggest they use a period tracking ap on their phones (that my kid showed me how to use!)

What's the name of this app? Sounds like a good suggestion for my students.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

Always.com/period/calculator

tampax.com/periodtracker

also the generic Period Tracker and Clue (google those).

One size apparently doesn't fit all.

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Specializes in School nursing.
I used to give reminders to the kids. Then my own kid (who carries her own stash ALL THE TIME and frequently shares with friends) said - "Mom, why do you have to make a big deal about this? It's embarrassing enough that they have to come to you." Now I just suggest they use a period tracking ap on their phones (that my kid showed me how to use!)

App is great!

But honestly, I try and normalize it. Girls shouldn't be ashamed that they have their period. It is normal. But I do know the "look" and often I will meet their eye and simply say "Supplies?" And they will nod and I'll open my drawer and let them point to pad or tampon.

I do think a few did come down to ask because our student restrooms did not have those little trash containers for sanitary supplies in them! Girls have to roll it up in tissue and throw it out outside of the stall, which is not great. I have been trying to fix this issue as well as dispensers, but then, unfortunately I work end up stocking and maintaining them as well...

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

I had a girl come in and grab handfuls of pads last year. It irritated me, but I knew her living situation wasn't the greatest so I never said anything. Then she complained about the kind of pads I stock. "Sorry, the other kind ran out and are more expensive, so you are stuck with what is in there." Sheesh!!

That also makes me think of the girl who came in and took 5 cough drops. "One for each day of the long weekend!", she said to me proudly with a smile.

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