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....
You know, I really don't like the fact that every Tom, Dick and Harry can see our posts through FB. If I wanted to put it there, I would have. I'm getting tired of defending ourselves to non-nurses who don't get it. This forum by it's own description is "by nurses, for nurses" We are, particularly in this forum, venting because we have nobody else who understands the complexities of our jobs. Can't there be some criteria to post? Why do we have to have it on FB anyway? Yes I get everything you post is open to the world but can't something be done? Moderators?
But one thing that I have noticed is that there has been a change in attitude, at least in my little corner of the world, over the past Ahem- many years that i've been doing this job. It seems to me that people don't respect other people's time.
Of course we haven't even mentioned those that drop their kids off in front of the school, in the mornings, in the dark, by themselves, well before the first staff member arrives, to fend for themselves against stray dogs, mosquitos, other kids, and various and sundry elements of society.
But all your kids conceal/carry right? They'll be fine :)
Communication is KEY here. I live in a huge metro area where it's not uncommon for people to have 1+ hour commutes to and from work. If I call a parent, they pick up the phone and stay in contact with me, I am patient and have no problem taking care of the child until someone arrives. Nobody can fault a parent who has to commute.
The problem I have is the "I don't have a ride" (you live less than 2 miles away, you can walk to pick up your lice ridden child) and those that stay at home with younger children that refuse to answer the phone. It's funny to me how I'll leave several messages from the school numbers, no answer but when I call from my cell I get a curious, "hello??" Of course, "ohh, I never got a call from the school!" Please, I've been calling and leaving message for the past hour on this very number! I got blocked from someone after doing that! lol (Ha, I just borrowed another cell!)
I promise you all none of us pass judgement until it becomes an ongoing issue!
Specializes in Broad range, mental health, school nursi.
Nurses in our district are never allowed to transport students. Although who can is determined by our district (administrators, resource officers, truancy officers), who actually will bother depends upon the individual school and administrator, and how they "interpret" the district policy. Some of our schools are awesome and right on it. Others...aren't.
Sort of a related behavior. My building opens up early (about 6:15AM) and the kids enter at about 7:10. The other day I got to school (at 6:30) and saw a 3rd grader standing around the lobby. Parent(s) decided to drop her off and thought it was okay to use the school as an early babysitter. Mind you, there's no guarantee that staff is nearby, most are in their offices/classrooms trying to get a start on the day. Hello, it's already an extended school day...
But reverse the situation - if the school had to close early for an emergency reason - you pick anything from burst pipe to power out to fire in the science wing and just let that same child go without supervision, i'll bet that same parent would be the first one to threaten a lawsuit and splash the story across the morning news.
On planned early dismissal days where the students leave and the staff is expected to go into training for the rest of the day, it can sometimes take hours to clear the building of children. This is after it's been on the calendar all year, had a notice sent home in back packs, had phone calls and texts sent to remind parents - and some still won't pick up or make arrangements.
Again, i say that if the admins had any backbone, they'd get the police involved - but i guess that's why i'm not an admin here. That bowl if nails i have for breakfast would be too evident.
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
Flare brings up a great point about Administration catering to the parents.
You are right, Flare. This is a big part of the problem.