Parents who can't/won't pick up kids

Specialties School

Published

I have run into this situation frequently this year. One parent in particular is troublesome about this. When I call home for a feverish or sick child or if the child has lice, the parent just says "I can't pick them up. I don't have a car". She was quite nasty about it when this last happened. The child/children end up staying in the front office or in my clinic all day, and we end up sending home on the bus despite the fact that it's against school policy to do so. This has happened several times this year with this parent. The principal doesn't want to make any waves with parents, so she goes along with it. I think in this case, Mom knows we don't do anything about it so it's of no consequence to her.

What do you do at your school? I'm getting tired of being a free babysitter....

:no:

I miss SnowyJ.

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Specializes in NCSN.
Nope, I'm not. I have had the privilege to deal with amazing parents.

BUT! (and there's always a big but!)

since becoming a SN I've also witness the crappiest freaking parents I could ever meet.

Let me add, most fall on the loving, concerned end. Let me also add, the 2 job a day single parents are NOT in the freaking crappy pile.

I'm still a baby SN, and I feel like the above couldn't be more true.

I grew up in a single parent household and currently my closest family currently lives over 300 miles away. I get not having a support system.

Those aren't the parents we are venting about. I don't mind making exceptions when the situation warrants one.

But when I see mom out jogging the neighborhood, right after I left her a third voicemail about little johnny throwing up all day in my office...I get a little testy.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I tell my admin team and then I keep the child in my office all day. I feel bad for them though because it's boring in my office for them.

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I tell my admin team and then I keep the child in my office all day. I feel bad for them though because it's boring in my office for them.

If they will be in my office a while I tell them to grab a book or take a nap

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