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....
We eliminated half days this school year and we all did a happy dance.
I'd rather just have a full day of in services (that the kids would have off) than two half days. I think the kids get so excited that there is not much meaningful learning going on.
The community where I work has a population that often has difficulty with transportation and/or leaving work because the jobs they're working are low-paying and often not very understanding about hopping up and leaving for a sick child (grocery stores, fast food) or their jobs make it difficult for them to be reached (crab/seafood processing). There have been many instances where children will rest in my office all day if there is an issue with the parent not being able to leave work (this is case-by-case--if the child is very, very ill I might become a little more insistent). If it's simply a transportation issue, we can pay for a cab to pick up the parent and to then come pick up the child and bring them home.
I try my best to understand where people are coming from, because some people literally do not have any back up. My husband and I don't really have any within 4 hours of us, so if I put myself in their shoes, I can see how difficult it might be. We're just lucky that my husband is able to stay home and my job is so flexible! But, at the same time, it's very difficult on me and the child when they are truly ill (like actively vomiting or febrile) and all the kiddo wants is their mom and a quiet place to rest. Also, I've only got two bunks, and realistically it sucks to have one taken up for hours, not to mention the contagion factor...
Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.
I remember a few years ago, we had a really bizzare blizzard come up so suddenly, they called school off, but wouldn't run the busses due to the dangerous conditions. Every single student had to be picked up! It was a disaster, trying to figure out who had snow homes designated, who was supposed to wait, well meaning parents offering to take their kids friends, but having to get that permission. Ugh. I think the blizzard had passed before the last kid left...
I, too, am not a school nurse. However, reading the posts, I see nothing wrong. I could actually feel the OP's concern for the child coming through the vent. If she didn't care, I doubt this thread would not exist.
Also, like many, many, MANY other specialties in our profession, we often give 100% every day to our charges, to go home exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally. They pay us poorly, and thanks for a job well done is almost never there. We learn as nurses to hold on to that spark which made us get into the profession in the first place, and to find it in the small moments throughout our day.
That being said, there is one thing I can say without a doubt; There is no way on God's Green Earth I would be able to do your jobs (my mouth would get me fired). And that you do it alone floors me. Granted, management is lonely also, but for common stresses, I can still vent to someone at work. I hope you all understand there are parents (and grandparents :)) who do appreciate the job you do. I am also glad that there are forums, such as AN, you are able to vent on (lord knows, we don't need a nurse thinking they work for the US Post Office).
Is your school social worker involved? In situations like this I would appraise them of the situation and perhaps do a home visit. We have even gone and picked up the parent so they could sign the child out and then drive them both home.
I was once a sick kid vomiting in the office with patents who couldn't come get me. I lived an hour from the school and mom had taken our only car to a funeral. I didn't qualify for the day off for it as it was a family friend. No family to pick me up and no cell phones to call either (before cell phones). Dad was wheelchair bound, so getting in another vehicle besides mom's van she drove was awkward to impossible and he couldn't drive anyway. Our neighbors all worked.
I've been the parent stuck at work too. I was 2 hours away from the school doing a home health admission, my office was an hour from the school (& school wouldn't release my son to them because I can only have 3 names on his list), my husband was driving out of state, AND the sitter wasn't picking up her phone.....my 2 backup people were both out also (one literally giving birth & other having surgery).
Life DOES happen. I had 4 backup plans, but I couldn't help they all fell through on the same day. BTW, I got a new sitter after that. And added that anyone from my work could get my son if I called with the name and code word.
Jlac 17, she tried. She was threatened to stay off their property, or else. See my original post.
Angelicpurl, and all, see my original post. This isn't an exception, it's the rule with some families. As has been stated many times in this thread, we all have cared for sick children when parents truly cannot pick sick kids up. And rubbed their backs as they vomited into the trash can, or cuddled a 5 year old who had a temp of 102 who was crying for Mommy, trying to soothe them. I've ridden in the ambulance with a child and waited with them in the ER until parents were found because the phone numbers they gave us were all "not accepting messages". Those are the parents I refer to in my original post.
I was once a sick kid vomiting in the office with patents who couldn't come get me. I lived an hour from the school and mom had taken our only car to a funeral. I didn't qualify for the day off for it as it was a family friend. No family to pick me up and no cell phones to call either (before cell phones). Dad was wheelchair bound, so getting in another vehicle besides mom's van she drove was awkward to impossible and he couldn't drive anyway. Our neighbors all worked.
I've been the parent stuck at work too. I was 2 hours away from the school doing a home health admission, my office was an hour from the school (& school wouldn't release my son to them because I can only have 3 names on his list), my husband was driving out of state, AND the sitter wasn't picking up her phone.....my 2 backup people were both out also (one literally giving birth & other having surgery).
Life DOES happen. I had 4 backup plans, but I couldn't help they all fell through on the same day. BTW, I got a new sitter after that. And added that anyone from my work could get my son if I called with the name and code word.
OH, OKAY! Thanks for clarifying because this thread was all about you!
BeckyESRN
1,263 Posts
We eliminated half days this school year and we all did a happy dance.