Never ending lice!!

OldDude · Apr 10, 2015

The hysteria ebbs and flows but the head lice issue on the elementary level will always be present. I feel for ya - no-nit policies have little to no affect on the prevalence of head lice. Those policies do, however, significantly increase absenteeism. Just keep in mind the school can't "do" anything about head lice other than identify and educate. Only the parents can actually "do" something. It's not your fault and you can't fix it alone so try not to take ownership of the issue. Try to concentrate your efforts on real health issues.

GrapeRN · Apr 10, 2015

This is also my first year as an elementary school nurse. We have had ongoing lice since the Fall- there is no end in sight. I have come to terms that it will always be a problem as long as the parents do not properly treat it. I have educated extensively, even given free lice kits, but that's about all I can do. Try not to stress over it- there are way bigger issues to focus on!

Wave Watcher · Apr 10, 2015

Parents need to understand that their child can also get it while not at school. Such as at sleep-overs, camps, movie theaters, at Target when they try on that cute hat that everyone else has had on their head, and the list goes on and on. Lice is not just a "school issue" and many of these children acquired lice someplace other than the classroom. :-)

We have lice issues every single year. Even on the first day so parents can't tell me that kids only get lice from school when their child walked into school after 2 months of summer with lice.

rbytsdy · Apr 10, 2015

Last year I had parents that were convinced that our school was crawling with lice everywhere. One mom kept accusing the school of not protecting her kid from lice because he got it twice and he never went anywhere but school. The brothers are on the wrestling team. Hello!!!!???

But, yes, all we can do is educate and advocate. I can't get personally get rid of the lice. I do remind parents that lice cannot live more than about 24 hours off a human host. So every Monday, our school is off to a fresh start lice-wise. Nothing live over the weekend, ready to affect your kid.

OldDude · Apr 11, 2015

........ So every Monday, our school is off to a fresh start lice-wise. Nothing live over the weekend, ready to affect your kid.

I haven't thought to present the information in that way. That is quite clever rbytsdy! Thank you!

AlphaM · Apr 11, 2015

Solution, let's do like the ancient Egyptians did and shave everyone's heads (boys and girls) LOL!!! Now seriously, I feel for you, lice is a never ending problem.

Chisca, RN · Apr 11, 2015

SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN · Apr 13, 2015

But, yes, all we can do is educate and advocate. I can't get personally get rid of the lice. I do remind parents that lice cannot live more than about 24 hours off a human host. So every Monday, our school is off to a fresh start lice-wise. Nothing live over the weekend, ready to affect your kid.

Most parents do not know this fact. There are many websites out there that contradict this by stating that unwashable items should be bagged for at least 2 weeks! It can be difficult to educate on the facts when there is so much misguided, inaccurate information out there.

cynmrn · Apr 13, 2015

Presenting at the school board meeting tonight in an attempt to keep our (hotly contested by select teachers) policy allowing kiddos to stay in school until the end of the day when they're found to have live lice. Our acting physician is going to attend and speak to the board on our behalf as well, so hoping that naysayers feel a little more ashamed to contradict the doctor. Then again, they also don't really believe the CDC or any other body of evidence I pull from, so who knows. Wish us luck!

chasinRT · Apr 14, 2015

If a parent calls in and reports that their child has been treated for lice, do you check the child's head?

OldDude · Apr 14, 2015

Presenting at the school board meeting tonight in an attempt to keep our (hotly contested by select teachers) policy allowing kiddos to stay in school until the end of the day when they're found to have live lice. Our acting physician is going to attend and speak to the board on our behalf as well, so hoping that naysayers feel a little more ashamed to contradict the doctor. Then again, they also don't really believe the CDC or any other body of evidence I pull from, so who knows. Wish us luck!

Well?