parents won't pick up sick kid!

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I have never had this happen before, and don't know what to do. The parents and both secondary contacts refuse to come get a sick child from school. They say that none of them can leave work. This child is 8 years old with a 103* fever. I told them they need to find someone to pick up the child, they say they have no one else to call. What else can I do?

I'm starting to believe most parents, if not all, really don't know how much the school nurse is allowed to do.

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Specializes in NCSN.
I'm starting to believe most parents, if not all, really don't know how much the school nurse is allowed to do.

Most of us didn't really know what we were getting into until we started to sub or work in a school full time. lol

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Most of us didn't really know what we were getting into until we started to sub or work in a school full time. lol

You mean the same way as nursing students everything seemed like a beautiful dream. Until, the nightmare began after orientation ended.

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Specializes in School Nurse.
I'm not trying to get all up in the middle of this but I think the point is being missed here; the school nurse's role is getting confused and parents need to understand that it does not matter where you work, if you are a parent you have responsibilities. If your child is too sick to be in school (per policy and the school nurse's nursing judgement), you need to remove them from the school. A fever indicates an illness that might not even warrant a doctor's visit BUT WARRANTS ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL. I don't care who you are or what kind of job you have, take care of your parental responsibilities. If your job isn't great for leaving suddenly for a sick kid, find another way to get your kid home or get another job.

Yes, I have worked in hospital settings. I left those settings because my kids were starting school and I knew leaving work for them might be an issue. I work a job that earns less money so I can take care of my responsibilities as a parent.

No, you cannot just leave your sick child in my office all day because you "can't leave work". The school is not a daycare and the nurse's office is not a hospital room.

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**This...Exactly**

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Yes!! ^

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When I said I wouldn't pick up my child just for a fever, I mean when the nurse calls me and tells me my child has a fever, I would expect that she already started some nursing interventions to help bring that fever down and is informing me of a high temp that she will recheck again. I have two kids that never show any signs of a fever and then I have my older daughter that turns into a zombie when she has a fever. I guess in my head I am happy my kid's immune system is working and trying to fight something. Not all fevers are severe, but are serious when they are persistently high. This thread has definitely made me want to ask the school nurse what the DOE policy is on fevers.

Unfortunately, many families do not know their district's policies on when sick/injured students are sent home. Despite that fact that it is probably on the school's website and in the handbook (which in many cases is sent home with a note to be signed stating that you understand the policies inside)

The only fever reducing interventions I could use in my district would be cool compresses.

Yep, there are no standing orders in my district. And medicating a fever to reduce it does not make it less contagious to the other students.

No, you cannot just leave your sick child in my office all day because you "can't leave work". The school is not a daycare and the nurse's office is not a hospital room.

Hit the nail on the head.

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I think this is a symptom of a broader problem in our society--many, many families are isolated and have no one to turn to in times of need.

They rock along sorta okay until an emergency happens. Then they realize, the safety nets are fragile, at best.

Jobs have to be attended. Bills have to be paid. Bosses have to be appeased.

At the same time, children need their parents. Illness is unpredictable. Other children need to be protected from contagion.

All these things are true AT THE SAME TIME.

They days of having stay-at-home elderly (but still spry and can drive) neighbors is a distant memory. A lot of grandparents are now working until their bodies physically wear out.

I don't have a solution to this problem. Just wanted to share my observations...

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

It takes a village. And sadly a lot of people don't have that village. It never occurred to me until my own kiddos started pre-k, that if a small kiddo has to go home, and the parent isn't the one picking them up, they are likely riding home in a vehicle improperly restrained. Meaning no car-seat or booster seat. This is scary to me and dangerous to the child. And risky for the adult that may get pulled over.

I am blessed that I've worked it out with my MIL that if one of mine gets sick, she will come with my 20 month old (in an extra car-seat that we bought her) then take my car home (where there are three car-seats) and I will take my non-sick child home (in the extra car-seat) when I get off work. If both of mine get sick, she will take my car with the three kids and three car-seats. But many don't have this option, nor can they afford the extra car-seat.

Sorry, my mind wanders...

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

These reasons is why I made a letter in the beginning of the year to the parents stating I will be calling them for anything and that these are the rules that the student handbook says that if the child has a fever of 100.4, he must go home. I really hate that policy, but I do it at 100. I had some parents argue with me on the rules, but it's in our handbook.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Hematology Oncology, School Nurse.

Our school does not permit stock medications to be kept for administration. I've been directed by our Dept of Health nurse that visits once a week, to call EMS if there is a situation when a student has a high fever and parents refuse to pick up.

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Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

A lot of this mess could be avoided if parents would stop sending their sick children to school! I cannot even count the times the student told me, "I told my Mom I was sick but she told me to just see the nurse when I got to school". Parents need to take responsibility for their sick children instead of just expecting the school nurse to do it. And then the kicker is, they don't answer the phone when you call. Ok off my soap box now :)

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Specializes in NCSN.
It takes a village. And sadly a lot of people don't have that village.

But those people still need to have a plan and then back ups to that plan. My closet family member is 300+ miles away. It's just me, Mr Wine and the baby. We literally have 4 different pick up plans JUST IN CASE.

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