Parents STILL Sending Sick Kids to School

Updated:   Published

Specializes in School Nursing.

This is so frustrating. It's like we never experienced the pandemic. Parents still drop off sick kids (who pass the temp screening) with coughs, sore throats, headaches, sinus congestion, etc...   And of course, they're nearly impossible to reach. 

I really thought that they'd 'get it' at this point.. but apparently not. 

End Soapbox Rant

7
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

I still don't think parents (or anyone else for that matter) really get that the symptoms of covid are so broad. They're so much like the common cold, allergies, flu, etc, etc. It is an ongoing battle that requires constant reinforcement by us! 

8
Up Vote Up Vote ×
6 minutes ago, FixerofUhohs said:

I still don't think parents (or anyone else for that matter) really get that the symptoms of covid are so broad. They're so much like the common cold, allergies, flu, etc, etc. It is an ongoing battle that requires constant reinforcement by us! 

Definitely!  I hear a lot of "it's just a cold" "it's just allergies" "it's just..."  I've spent more time educating parents this year than I ever have.

9
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I send home kids every day.  I recently sent out a kid who was visibly unwell at 08:30 and was coughing uncontrollably EVERYWHERE.  What. The. Actual. ####. 

HS kid is already online half the week, has wifi, has the laptop....you couldn't keep him home with this? 

The teacher who brought him to my office was terrified, ashen, holding his backpack in gloved hands as far from her body as she could reach.  Parent of course did not answer the phone but at this point I've gone full stalker on these cases.  I call repeatedly, I text, I email, I call every emergency person on the list....if you're going to put this risk on our staff and kids, I'm not going to make it easy for you.

18
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School nursing.

Do you have any other screening but temp?

I have a symptom checklist - the screener goes out via text and email to parents each morning, they fill it out and get clearance or instructions to stay home. I fully screen any student that doesn't complete it. We have only had high needs students in person (and are now fully remote due to rising cases), and I was sure folks would lie, even in this small population sample, but they really don't! It is kinda the opposite - they were honest and calling me to check in. I was shocked. (I think it has a lot to do with the fact that my school is very diverse and COVID is sadly hitting the Latinx and Black communities very hard - we have several students who lost someone and/or knows someone that got/is seriously ill). 

But, really, UGH. This is why I actually don't want the ability to do symptomatic COVID testing in my office. Because then the number of sick students being sent to school increases because "the nurse can just test them in her office." (Not to mention increased risk to me and if I go down, really, we are screwed.) 

This is also why our teachers are terrified to a degree. At least the ones at my school. They trust either other, even trust the school to do everything they can. But they don't trust the families. (Which, of course, isn't super great for family relations, but that is another thread.)

 

6
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

Full checklist here, and the answer is yes, our parents are still sending kids who are sick. And yes, many of the parents know the kids are coughing/sneezing/what have you. If they have documented history of allergies or an alternative diagnosis (meaning, I sent them home for 10 days or until a doctor looks at them - hopefully doing a test for COVID-19) then we're stuck UNTIL they pop a fever.

I ditto the part about providing more education than ever. I was initially afraid that we'd have a bunch of asymptomatic kids here BUT the reality is that most kids have one or more symptoms of illness.

Hang in there.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 11/10/2020 at 6:46 AM, JenTheSchoolRN said:

I have a symptom checklist - the screener goes out via text and email to parents each morning, they fill it out and get clearance or instructions to stay home.

My school screens temps but also asks verbal screening questions at the door-- "do you have cough/sore throat/headache/congestion/etc," "have you been around anyone diagnosed with Covid?" 

This doesn't seem to matter, though.  Kids lie and answer no to the questions because they've been told to by their parents, or "it was just a tiny cough when they asked but now it's worse," or "I was afraid I'd get in trouble for saying yes."  

Seems there's no winning.  And then when I send a student home for symptoms my admin says "but they didn't have a temperature this morning when we checked???" Oh yes, I'm sure... because not everyone is getting a fever with Covid ?

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School nursing.
1 minute ago, Mavnurse17 said:

My school screens temps but also asks verbal screening questions at the door-- "do you have cough/sore throat/headache/congestion/etc," "have you been around anyone diagnosed with Covid?" 

This doesn't seem to matter, though.  Kids lie and answer no to the questions because they've been told to by their parents, or "it was just a tiny cough when they asked but now it's worse," or "I was afraid I'd get in trouble for saying yes."  

Seems there's no winning.  And then when I send a student home for symptoms my admin says "but they didn't have a temperature this morning when we checked???" Oh yes, I'm sure... because not everyone is getting a fever with Covid ?

Exactly. Folks keep asking about temp checks as if that is magic bullet for determining COVID status. Nope. Kids don't often have temps and test positive. 

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

This year has been "play stupid games, win stupid prizes."  So when the kid bee-lines to me with the laundry list of symptoms, they win themselves a 14 day exclusion which can only be broken with an alternate diagnosis MD note or a - covid test.  If the parent drops and runs, I've been putting it back on the admins.  They get notified if I can't reach anyone.  Kid gets put in iso room with nothing to do and no one to talk to.  

This year the kids have to be careful of what they wish for, because they'll probably get all the home time they want.  

12
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health.

Wait until you have teachers who doesn't believe in quarantine and send their kids any way. Then you have to get administration involved and still I feel like the bad guy. 

 

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nurse.
3 hours ago, JenTheSchoolRN said:

Do you have any other screening but temp?

I have a symptom checklist - the screener goes out via text and email to parents each morning, they fill it out and get clearance or instructions to stay home. I fully screen any student that doesn't complete it. We have only had high needs students in person (and are now fully remote due to rising cases), and I was sure folks would lie, even in this small population sample, but they really don't! It is kinda the opposite - they were honest and calling me to check in. I was shocked. (I think it has a lot to do with the fact that my school is very diverse and COVID is sadly hitting the Latinx and Black communities very hard - we have several students who lost someone and/or knows someone that got/is seriously ill). 

But, really, UGH. This is why I actually don't want the ability to do symptomatic COVID testing in my office. Because then the number of sick students being sent to school increases because "the nurse can just test them in her office." (Not to mention increased risk to me and if I go down, really, we are screwed.) 

This is also why our teachers are terrified to a degree. At least the ones at my school. They trust either other, even trust the school to do everything they can. But they don't trust the families. (Which, of course, isn't super great for family relations, but that is another thread.)

 

I think from reading previous posts that you're in MA. A while back, a town in MetroWest passed an ordinance to fine people that lied on the attestations. I'm not sure if something like that has any legal teeth, but the fact that it would even be needed...?

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×

My district is only sending kids home with temps or vomiting other than that they could be hacking a lung and have all the symptoms and they can stay in school, however I had a kid tell me today she threw up last night and her parents had to work and thats why she was at school....this might end up causing more covid  quicker in our district...we shall see

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion