PARENTS say the darnedest things

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We've got a thread for kids, but sometimes the parents come out with some doozies too! For example -

Parent: I just saw that donut is one of the breakfast options and I don't want (child) having too much sugar, can you tell the cafeteria that he's allergic to sugar?

Me: :bored:

After some parent education about what allergy alerts are actually for, and the sugar content of our donuts (they are really more like bread rolls, I had a similar concern until I bought one), I encouraged mom to talk to her student about healthy choices. He's in 5th grade, he is old enough to take responsibility for food choices.

Anyone else have a recent parent encounter that makes you shake your head and giggle?

Specializes in Pedi.

Not in a school but I had the mother of a child (who's s/p heart transplant) ask me if they could have a Christmas Tree last holiday season. "Won't it take oxygen away from him?" she asked. Seriously. 7th grade science for the win.

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

Student's parents call in AM stating student "Joe" is sick and will be staying home with a fever.

Joe shows up at noon stating "I feel much better." His cheeks are flushed. Attendance sends him to me for assessment. Student reports having a fever of 102 that morning. "But I don't have a fever now!! I took medicine and I feel better." Student took some Tylenol around 9 am. No wonder you feel better, buddy!

Call to mom:

Me: "Hi. I know you just dropped Joe off at school, but he needs to go home. The only reason he doesn't have a fever now is because the Tylenol is working. He needs to be fever-free without medicine for 24 hours".

Mom: "But he feels much better now!!!"

Me: "I understand, but he is still contagious, spewing germs all over my school, according to school guidelines, he needs to go home."

Mom: *Sigh* "Well I just pulled in my dooryard. I haven't even gotten out of the car yet"

Me: "Great! You can come right back to get him. Thanks!"

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

I had a parent call me a few years back bc she was not happy that the Asst Principal had administered her child's medication the previous day. She was upset even though the principal is trained AND Mom had signed our medication form, granting the principal permission to administer. Anyway, during this whole conversation, Mom says, " I just worry about people, even nurses giving the medication. The last school nurse FATALLY overdosed her and we don't want that to happen again." Say what?!?

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I had a parent call me a few years back bc she was not happy that the Asst Principal had administered her child's medication the previous day. She was upset even though the principal is trained AND Mom had signed our medication form, granting the principal permission to administer. Anyway, during this whole conversation, Mom says, " I just worry about people, even nurses giving the medication. The last school nurse FATALLY overdosed her and we don't want that to happen again." Say what?!?

Lol. Does mom know what the word 'fatally' means?

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Student's parents call in AM stating student "Joe" is sick and will be staying home with a fever.

Joe shows up at noon stating "I feel much better." His cheeks are flushed. Attendance sends him to me for assessment. Student reports having a fever of 102 that morning. "But I don't have a fever now!! I took medicine and I feel better." Student took some Tylenol around 9 am. No wonder you feel better, buddy!

Call to mom:

Me: "Hi. I know you just dropped Joe off at school, but he needs to go home. The only reason he doesn't have a fever now is because the Tylenol is working. He needs to be fever-free without medicine for 24 hours".

Mom: "But he feels much better now!!!"

Me: "I understand, but he is still contagious, spewing germs all over my school, according to school guidelines, he needs to go home."

Mom: *Sigh* "Well I just pulled in my dooryard. I haven't even gotten out of the car yet"

Me: "Great! You can come right back to get him. Thanks!"

OR, I will get the opposite of this. Student presents to me at 7:45 (school starts at 8:30) and 3 minutes after getting out of parent's car. No fever, nothing. What did mom do/say? Nothing, just that I HAD to go to school. So, I agree and send them on their merry little way. 14 minutes later (school still has not yet technically started) the front office calls looking for them because mom is here to pick up. SAY WHAT????

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Specializes in kids.

Had a student with a concussion from the weekend who was not in great shape, I said

"I think s/he needs to go home"....

"XYZ can have a headache at school just as easily as at home!!!!"

Yep, it took that kid months to recover from the side effects...

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I have said it before, you school nurses have my greatest respect for what you deal with. Kudos &TY.

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Specializes in Pedi.
I had a parent call me a few years back bc she was not happy that the Asst Principal had administered her child's medication the previous day. She was upset even though the principal is trained AND Mom had signed our medication form, granting the principal permission to administer. Anyway, during this whole conversation, Mom says, " I just worry about people, even nurses giving the medication. The last school nurse FATALLY overdosed her and we don't want that to happen again." Say what?!?

That's the best thing I've ever heard.

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I once had a Mom who was very upset with me, to the point she requested via the AP that I no longer care for her child. Apparently she felt insulted and was quite angry. Reason? I'd called home regarding possible ringworm on her daughter's cheek. I explained what I thought it was and suggested MD follow up, and she said "I don't have a dirty home! I don't let no worms into my house" then launched into a tirade against me before calling the AP. Of course she was going to call the school board, etc. because I "insulted" her by implying she had a dirty home.

Some days I just give up!

:)

mc3

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Specializes in School Nursing, Hospice,Med-Surg.

I emailed a mom regarding her 10 yr old Precious Princess' chronic headaches. After twice daily visits to the clinic, I decided to suggest she take her for a doctor visit.

Mom responded, "Yes, we are aware of Princess' headaches. She seems to only have them at school or when she is under a lot of stress. We think they are due to anxiety. She happily plays at home until she is asked to clean her room or go to bed then that's when she gets these headaches. So, obviously anxiety is causing these headaches."

Perhaps we should remove the stressors from Princess' life...like room cleaning, bed routines, Science, and math.

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I emailed a mom regarding her 10 yr old Precious Princess' chronic headaches. After twice daily visits to the clinic, I decided to suggest she take her for a doctor visit.

Mom responded, "Yes, we are aware of Princess' headaches. She seems to only have them at school or when she is under a lot of stress. We think they are due to anxiety. She happily plays at home until she is asked to clean her room or go to bed then that's when she gets these headaches. So, obviously anxiety is causing these headaches."

Perhaps we should remove the stressors from Princess' life...like room cleaning, bed routines, Science, and math.

WHY are you being such a hardass???? You should definitely be doing Princess' homework for her in your office.

**sarcasm**

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Specializes in hospice.

I really wish fertility came with with an intelligence/responsibility trigger.

But then the species would be extinct....

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