"Gift" Ideas

Specialties School

Published

SO, I'm expecting kids to be bringing gifts in a couple of weeks and, even if they didn't, I'd love to have little Christmas handouts for my kids. I know, I'm cheesy like that.:)

But, considering, I have nearly 400 kids it would need to be a small, inexpensive gift and I'd prefer it be something healthy and definitely cute. I'm insanely uncreative and that's why I'm asking for ideas. Got any??

I thought Clementines would be nice but even 400 of those would be pricey. But, say I gave out small oranges or another type of fruit, what would be a cute way to package them up in a Christmas-y way??

I'm getting ready to check into Pinterest for some cutesy ideas.

Specializes in School Nursing, Hospice,Med-Surg.

I can and do hand out cough drops like oxygen.

Well, actually, I have to keep them under lock and key because kids began to treat them like candy. Popping by for a Luden's like it was Nurse K's candy bowl. I keep Luden's for the little kids who can't withstand the "heat" of the menthol cough drops. I've decided 4th grade is the year kids should grow up and, if you REALLY have a cough, you'll deal with the drug store brand hard core cough drop.

The bad thing about being able to give out cough drops is then standing as judge and jury as to whether a kid really needs one (are you just using me for candy???) and the budget issue that comes up with always buying more, more more!!! Especially this time of year. I should buy stock in Luden's...seriously.

Again, I am the only nurse in a 350+ student private school K-8). At the beginning of the school year our parents complete a health information card on their student giving me permission to administer (or not) each of the OTC meds I administer here in the clinic. I have, at my disposal, most OTC meds like Advil, Tylenol, Tums, Kid's Pepto, Regular Pepto, Cough & Cold Liquid, Chloraseptic Throat Spray, Midol, Benadryl, Immodium Liquid, Zyrtec, Claritin, Muscle Rub Cream, Cortisone Cream, Neosporin, Anbesol, Tinactin, Visine...basically your general kid's and adult's home medicine cabinet.

I also dispense any needed Rx meds when parents complete special permission slips for that to be administered. I have a very small handful of kids that receive daily meds at school then, of course, the drawerful each of inhalers and Epi-Pens.

But, I appreciate the convenience of being able to help kids with their basic headaches and stomach aches, sore teeth from orthodontic adjustments so they can get back to their school day. I also am aware of the huge responsibility this means for me when medicating students throughout the day! But I send very, very few students home because I'm able to assess, treat, and return to class most of the time. In a small school it becomes a family community and I've gotten to know many of the kids as my own and therefore treat them as my own. If a parent has questions about my care they don't hesitate to call me at home...I welcome it because I want them to know I care for their kids just like I would my own. I want them to rest easy when their kids are at school under our care.

How did I get off on this tangent??

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I've heard of the "Keystone Cops", now we have the "Cough Drop Police". :cheeky: "Cough Drop Kids' sounds like a neat name for a movie.

I was very serious about using cherry Lifesavers for cough drops. I do for myself. They really do take care of the throat 'tickle/scratch'.

Butterscotch drops also work well. Just a suggestion for an alternative for cough drops that are legal.

Re Preparation H - maybe it's urban legend but I believe it is used NASALLY to shrink swollen & inflamed nasal mucosa and assoc pain when used by 'bad guys' who 'snort nose candy' (cocaine). I will apologize and stand corrected if wrong but I really think I'm right. Maybe staff who work in D&A can respond ...?

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Specializes in School Nursing, Hospice,Med-Surg.

Cough Drop Police is on my job description

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

...bad coughs, bad coughs whatcha gonna do? whatcha gonna do when they're coughing on you??

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Flare, now that's funny!

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I can and do hand out cough drops like oxygen.

Well, actually, I have to keep them under lock and key because kids began to treat them like candy. Popping by for a Luden's like it was Nurse K's candy bowl. I keep Luden's for the little kids who can't withstand the "heat" of the menthol cough drops. I've decided 4th grade is the year kids should grow up and, if you REALLY have a cough, you'll deal with the drug store brand hard core cough drop.

The bad thing about being able to give out cough drops is then standing as judge and jury as to whether a kid really needs one (are you just using me for candy???) and the budget issue that comes up with always buying more, more more!!! Especially this time of year. I should buy stock in Luden's...seriously.

I hand them out all day too! I order them in bulk from our supplier. A case of 600 is $26 and think 2 or 3 get me through the year

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Joke's on me- I HAVE gotten gifts.

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