Nosebleeds

tining, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2020

On 1/18/2020 at 6:01 PM, Middle School Math Teacher said:
I will not battle you back and forth. But I will tell you this: I will never tell a student to "Pinch your nose for 10-15 minutes" in my classroom while their nose is bleeding. I'll get a note from the parent(s), if needed, permitting their child to go to the clinic. I'm sure if I told the parent, "Well....the nurse said to pinch their nose for a while...", especially because it's the end of the day and (s)he can't "get their work done otherwise", I'm the one who'd get sued. So, YOU do your job. End of story.

Not sure why you are posting on a school nurse forum. Did this happen to you? Each school nurse practices in their way as do teachers teach in their own way. Please meet with your nurse, explain your side and let her explain hers. Miscommunication can disintegrate relationships and a nurse teacher relationship is valuable.

SchoolNurse91, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2020

On 1/18/2020 at 6:01 PM, Middle School Math Teacher said:
I will not battle you back and forth. But I will tell you this: I will never tell a student to "Pinch your nose for 10-15 minutes" in my classroom while their nose is bleeding. I'll get a note from the parent(s), if needed, permitting their child to go to the clinic. I'm sure if I told the parent, "Well....the nurse said to pinch their nose for a while...", especially because it's the end of the day and (s)he can't "get their work done otherwise", I'm the one who'd get sued. So, YOU do your job. End of story.

Not sure why you would get sued for a blood nose. I understand the frustration between nurses and teachers. I send out a letter a few times a year on when to keep in class and when to send to the nurse. Nosebleeds are things that can typically be handled in class. I'm lucky if I spent 8 hours a week in one school. I can't be everywhere at once. The secretaries can handle something just as well as a teacher can.

Sometimes I see 30+ kids a day. When I'm not in clinic (which is almost always), the secretaries have to give first aid to these 30 + kids and give medications in addition to their regular job. It can be a lot. That's why I ask the teachers to handle as much as possible in class.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2020

On 1/18/2020 at 10:24 AM, Middle School Math Teacher said:
I am a middle school math teacher, and I deal with students ALL DAY asking to go to the clinic/nurse. Just to let you know, I do not send students down for every ache, pain, etc. I know the difference between wanting to leave class and an actual emergency.
I am commenting to YOU, whoever you nurses are, telling the teachers how to deal with nosebleeds. I sent a student down with multiple tissues, and an escort, to the clinic at 2:45pm with a profusely bloody nose. She went to the clinic, and I received an email from the nurse stating, "This isn't an emergency, I (the teacher) should know the excessive nosebleeders, and the clinic is closed after 2:30pm UNLESS it is a true emergency." Hmmmm....I have 103 students. YOU tell me, please, who these chronic-nosebleeders include.
If I want to get sued by parents, sure, I'll keep my students in the classroom. If there is blood coming from a child's face, I'll GLADLY have the parents file a lawsuit against me instead of the nurses/clinic.
In my opinion, you need to have a meeting with your school if this is the way you treat your staff and you have to resort to "snarky Stephen King" comments. The students are the ones who may pay the price.

Wow. There is a lot of anger in this post.

This is our forum. Unlike most MS teachers, we don't have an office where at the end of the day we get to vent with other school colleagues like you likely have with your fellow MS teachers.

We only have well, us. So we come here. This is our break room, office. I'm sure what has been said in your teacher's office would never be said to an actual child or parent or administrator.

That being said, how severe was the nosebleed? I ask only because I've had a student sent down holding multiple tissues and being told there was "blood everywhere" when the nosebleed had stopped by the time they arrived and "blood everywhere" was 2 drops.

I'd likely have had the student come in and do a soft blow to release any clots, then pinch (after demonstrating because yes, they won't do it hard enough). Then I'd have continued my paperwork as they pinched and sat. But I'm contracted until 4:30 so I also do paperwork after school - not sure if your nurse is in the same boat.

Most nosebleeds aren't emergencies though. Especially in Northeast at this time of year. The heat is on full blast, its dry, nosebleeds happen. And most stop easily in less than 5 minutes.

Maybe you and your nurse need to sit down and chat. Understand your respective roles. Build a relationship. It goes a long, long way. Being a school nurse is so very isolating. You don't see an adult often for the entire day. No colleagues.

I love the teachers I work with and appreciate the job they do. It is hard!! I also teach health, so I understand being in the classroom. But really, the teachers that email me and ask questions/connect are the best because sometimes they get info from a parent I didn't get and vice versa. Sometimes one of us has learned the better way to communicate with a parent. And then we can service the child the best together.

OyWithThePoodles, RN · Jan 22, 2020

20 hours ago, kelleyk1991 said:
Not sure why you would get sued for a blood nose.

Same. Unless the teacher caused the bloody nose. ?‍♀️

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2020

On 1/18/2020 at 9:24 AM, Middle School Math Teacher said:
I am commenting to YOU, whoever you nurses are, telling the teachers how to deal with nosebleeds. I sent a student down with multiple tissues, and an escort, to the clinic at 2:45pm with a profusely bloody nose. She went to the clinic, and I received an email from the nurse stating, "This isn't an emergency, I (the teacher) should know the excessive nosebleeders, and the clinic is closed after 2:30pm UNLESS it is a true emergency." Hmmmm....I have 103 students. YOU tell me, please, who these chronic-nosebleeders include.

You have a hundred and three students, the nurse has, what, 1000+? I agree a profusely bleeding nose is emergency enough to send the child to the clinic. However, every teacher should know basic first aid (which covers bloody noses) for times when no nurse is present, or the nurse is taking care of other, more serious health issues.

Your school nurse has an established schedule, and is trying to draw boundaries. She probably uses the time after 1430 to document and do data entry (vaccines, screenings, physicals, medical releases, etc. etc. etc.). Nurses don't get duty free planning time, and often don't even get duty free lunch. How would you feel if you were constantly disrespected during your planning, conference or lunchtime?

Orion81RN · Feb 2, 2020

I remember getting a nose bleed when I was 14 in class. It never even occurred to me to go to the nurse. I doubt it occurred to my teacher either who sent me to the bathroom where I requested to go. I was a terrible student when I was around 7-10 though. Always going to the nurse for a "stomach ache" when really I just missed my mom. ? That poor nurse. She knew me quite well.

nursex23, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2020

I always keep them in my office and I agree with Middle School Math Teacher, teachers should not be responsible for dealing with bloody noses. Students can be sent to me and I will educate them on how to care for their own bloody noses so that next time, the they will be able to excuse themselves to the bathroom and deal with it on their own. When I first started, I had maybe a dozen bloody nose visits a week. Now, 3 months later, I get maybe 1 a week. They're always welcome to come sit in my office until the bleeding subsides but they're quickly learning that they can handle it themselves.