Riley RN
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"my gums are irritated" had this today - a 5th grader and there's always the completely nonexistent "nosebleeds" - I would like to call in a forensic analyst to detect a speck of blood anywhere on them
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Bummer, I had a feeling they weren't very reliable. My Welch Allyn thermoscan 6000 - which I loved- didn't even last 18 months and it started giving me readings of 107 and up. Of course it's out of warranty by now and they can only offer to sell me a used one for $180. I might as well buy a new one and hope for the best. Thanks for your replies!
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I'm thinking of purchasing a wrist BP monitor for elementary school use. Does anyone currently use one and if so, do you recommend it? I'm also concerned that the wrist cuff may be too large for the little ones.
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Happy New Year! I'm off to a good start with staff so far this year. Teaching Assistant brings kindergarten student in right off the bus and says "I think she has the flu". I say ok, what's going on? "Well she says she's achy all over". Student appears alert, has good color, confirms she feels achy. No other complaints. Her temp is 98.5. I inform TA that she doesn't have a fever and is not exhibiting signs of the flu at this time but that I would be happy to recheck her later in the day if anything changes. TA shakes her head and walks out with student.
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Did he come to school today?
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Pet Peeve #17. Don't you love the kids that come in with a bleeding cuticle or tiny papercut and as you are preparing a band aid they say "My teacher told me to tell you to clean it first" Really? Gee thanks for that recommendation. Why don't you tell your teacher when you go back that I said to "make sure you teach this child something today" C'Mon now !!!
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I feel for the kids with seasonal allergies, I really do, but some of the repeat visitors aren't even showing any outward signs or symptoms. I get to the point where I nicely say that I wish there was more that I could do to help and send them to class. But the sheer persistence floors me! They just keep coming back. I could never in a million years imagine my own children being so persistent with a staff member in their school.
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This has probably come up before, but I have to ask: Does anyone have a good spiel for the kids who come in repeatedly in a day, who clearly are suffering from seasonal allergies BUT are on daily meds which are not providing enough relief. I'm talking kids whose parents have even called me to tell me how much their kids are suffering yet they have to go to school. They'll come into my office a few times a day and I'll try interventions but they keep coming back in. I'm not looking to send them home, I guess I'm looking for a suck it up buttercup response without actually saying that to the kids.....
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A teacher just sent a student to the nurse because....hold on to your seats.....his earlobe was RED (slighly at best). I asked him if it hurts: No. I felt it and said does it hurt when I touch it: No. I asked him if he asked to come see me: No. "My teacher told me to come down here". C'MON NOW!!
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So my colleague at the other school mentioned to her principal that having the "hot box" in the office could be a potential health code violation. They relocated the hot box from her office to another space. Does anyone know if there is any truth to that? I'm looking for a way to get this thing out of here
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Yes Old Dude there is lol. Last time that they came to my school I watched them search it was pretty cool. The Health Department is now working with the family to remedy the situation at home, but that will be a long process. The staff at my school loses it when there's dreaded lice so you can imagine how they are handling this. Just so bummed that this is on me. But we should be used to that as school nurses right?
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Have any of you had to deal with a bed bug issue at your school? We don't actually have them IN our school (yet), but a student has them at home. The dogs swept our school this morning and we are clear at the moment. This is my second time dealing with this issue. I have a "hot box" set up in my office right now with the student's clothes (she brought in an extra set to change into) and her jacket and back pack. Staff is looking to me to control the issue and prevent it from entering our school. So my issue is this....does anyone think that it might not be a good idea for the nurse's office to be ground zero for the mediation process? Honestly, I'm not crazy about having to cook her belongings everyday and exposing myself to this issue, but really, shouldn't the nurse's office be a CLEAN environment?!? Why does this fall under the category of school nurse problem. FYI, she has no bites that need treatment - if she did then I could understand my role as a nurse in this situation. And really, can you imagine if a staff member was expected to have this contraption in his/her classroom? They would never allow it.
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I've been following this post for a couple of days now and wouldn't you know it......a father walks in to pick up his "sick" son (who I have not seen all day). I call the teacher (bilingual class) and she says "Oh yes the student had teeth removed and he has some kind of big cyst or abscess on his mouth so I called dad (who speaks only Spanish). This is a kindergartener by the way. I said ok, but please in the future I should really take a look at the student. She says "oh but he was at lunch". HUH?
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Thank you for all the replies. Ticks are common here in NY as well and it's not something that I haven't personally dealt with before, but I will definitely try Old Dude's method the next time I encounter it. And MrNurse(2) you are spot on with the disclosure suggestion. I knew I had said too much too soon as the words came out of my mouth. You live and you learn........Thanks!
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Hello I'm in my fourth year of (elementary) school nursing and want to say how much I've enjoyed this forum. I learn something every day from all of you and appreciate your input so I'd like to get your opinion on this. Yesterday, a fourth grade student came in with her hair all pulled back exposing her scalp. She complained of a scab on her head. At first glance it did look like a scab, but because she has thick dark hair, I pulled out my trusty magnifying glass. Sure enough, it was a tick - not fully embedded and not at all engorged. She became very very upset (understandably so) and was now complaining that she could feel it biting her (?). I thought that I might have a chance at removing it since it was not embedded, so I gave it a shot. The tick was clinging on for life and the girl was flinching when I tried to remove it. I really did not want to try any further and take the chance that I may not be able to remove it in its entirety. Also, the nagging liability bell was chiming in my ear. I called mom to inform her that she should take her to a doctor or urgent care to have it taken care of. Mom was not at all concerned and said she'd be there in a half hour. So the girl is literally moaning and crying the entire time she was here waiting. She would not let me move farther than an inch away from her. I tried to put her at ease as best that I could. Mom finally shows up 50 minutes later and says that they have a doctor's appointment in 2 hours. Later that day I'm relaying the story to my husband and that I felt so badly for this student because she was so upset. My husband says "you told them to go to the doctor? I've removed ticks on myself plenty of times...what would you do if it was one of our kids?" I said that is completely different, this is not my child, and if I wasn't confident that I could fully remove one from my own child I would do the same thing. I told him that we really are not even supposed to remove splinters (although I do) and he looked at me like I'm crazy. He says "but you're the nurse" Unfortunately, liability is something we have to always keep in mind. Do you think that I handled this correctly?
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