Now it's nausea

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2011

Holy cow, is this a new teacher? Sounds like this is a classroom management problem that the principal needs to put a stop to. This is NOT a medical issue. The kids are discovering that this teacher is a push over, and they are going to take full advantage of it. You'll have to stand your ground with the teacher and the students. Maybe you can go into her classroom and address the whole class, sternly, about what does and does not warrant a trip to the nurse's office. Let them know you will NOT be sending students home who are not truly ill, so they might as well not waste their time trying to fake being sick. I've done this with one class before and it was pretty effective.

Do you have senior nurses with the district or a Health Services Department that can have your back on this? Or do you report only to the principal?

luvapug · Jan 12, 2011

Get the principal to back you and sent a memo to all teachers that the school policy is to not send any students home unless running a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, pink eye, etc and that vague complaints such as nausea or not feeling well without any other symptoms will be sent back to class. Then when she keeps sending kids down for sleepiness or nausea and asking them to go home let the principal/teacher know you've assessed the student, they aren't ill, that you're sending them back to class and if the teacher still has a problem have her take it up with the principal. If you have a supportive principal this will work. What the pp suggested is a good idea as well. Definately sounds like the teacher needs classroom management help and kids know who they can walk all over very quickly! If neither the principal or teacher will work with you then call the parents and state their child keeps complaining, that you don't notice any other symptoms but they have requested the student go home. If that happens enough the parents will either get onto their child for complaining and make them stop because they don't want to be bothered to pick them up for nothing or they will call the school with complaints about their child being sent home for silly reasons and then the principal can deal with it that way since after all it was your suggestion they not go home. I've had to deal with this situation both ways and both ways have worked but it's easier if your principal is supportive. Good luck!

manjaNurse · Jan 13, 2011

Thanks guys! I am lucky to get a good principal! She's backing me up. This teacher is not new but she has had problems in the past of being "unstable" (that came from my principal btw).

She even told one of tthe parent who is a doctor on all those symptoms and that parent called me up. After explaining the real symptoms to him, he agreed that its not GE or anything.

I have spoken sternly to the whole class this morning. If they claimed they are sick, they have to get me a doctor's letter. They are not allowed to stay home or send home without a doctor saying that they are sick.

I've called two parents up today as the kids are absent and insisted that I want a doctor's letter.

Principal has spoken to this teacher, but she's not stopping. She is still scaring the kids and she told them today she is going to sterilised the tables and the door handles. big sigh...