Nursing Interventions

I don't give a peppermint or an ice pack for headache. It's usually food, drink or stress related. I give 15 minutes rest, assess temp.

If it persists and I suspect migraines, I call home to consider a tylenol/advil order.

You do more than I do!! Great job!

Thanks that makes me feel better. I am getting tired of the "keeper of the ice packs" and "all she does is give a peppermint" jokes around the school.

Thanks that makes me feel better. I am getting tired of the "keeper of the ice packs" and "all she does is give a peppermint" jokes around the school.

Wait until there is an emergency. That's when you get respect.

Thanks that makes me feel better. I am getting tired of the "keeper of the ice packs" and "all she does is give a peppermint" jokes around the school.

Wait until there is an emergency. That's when you get respect.

Or, if you call in sick.

For a headache I take a temp, ask if they have recently hit their head, ask where it hurts (unilateral is associated with migraine), ask if they are drinking enough water (they always say yes and they are always wrong). I ask the older girls if they have their period. Barring anything that is not WNL, cup or 2 of water and 10 minutes rest before heading back to class.

If the headache is unilateral, then I ask them if the light bothers them and if it gets worse or better when they lean forward quickly. If it does but they are still not in an unbearable amount of pain, I let them rest and call home AFTER they leave the office to tell parents that they had a headache that was consistent with migraine so they can look into it if it happens often and consider keeping meds at school.

Or, if you call in sick.

#truth

10-15 rest for every headache? I wish I had the space to let that many kids stay that long in my office :).

Water, sometimes cold pack for head. I can give out basic OTC meds, but for most headaches that I suspect are related to other factors, I try some other things. Then I use similar assessments to the above (temp, location of headache, duration, etc...)

To be honest, my biggest trick is to be look at some of my FF headache students and ask them point blank: "medicine headache or I-need-a-short-break headache?" Many are #2. We have a quick check, 5 minute breather, and back to class they go.

I have magic water that comes out of my faucet that must be different than the hallway water, because 3 oz of that seems to cure everything.

I commend all school nurses, sounds like such a stressful job!

I also have magic water and a magic toilet (cures most belly aches).

And warm salt water gargle cures most sore throats.

Stomach ache before 11 a.m. -I always ask about breakfast. Take temp offer bathroom, have them drink a glass of water then back to class.

Stomach ache after lunch- inquire on what they ate for lunch after which they generally receive a lesson on how what they ate isn't nutritious as answers are usually something like chips, ice cream and chocolate milk. Take temp then bathroom, water and return to class. Edited to add: I don't keep mints or snacks so with the before lunch stomach aches, generally give them a pep talk of "I know it might be tough but I bet you can make it to lunch, you're such a trooper!" For the after lunch ones, it's generally a "wow there's only 2 hours left in the day! I bet you can make it!"

Headaches- ask for description of where it is, then assess for eating that day, drinking water and if they have been wearing their glasses (I get TONS of afternoon headaches and kids who don't wear their glasses). If they are smiling, chatty and clearly not really hurting- they get water a 5 minute dose of therapeutic boredom in a chair and back to class. If they actually seem to be hurting, then water and 15 minutes lie down. If still hurting after 15 minutes, I might call to see if a parent can bring in something OTC (I don't keep meds) - a lot of that depends on if they are a known frequent flyer. I rarely see unilateral headaches that could be migraines in my population (PK-5) and am more likely to allow longer rest and contact a family member to see if meds can be brought in.

The symptoms that I can't prove or disprove are the hardest so I just try to be consistent with how I approach it. Headaches and stomach aches are for sure the easiest way to skip out of class and kids learn that quickly.