Restroom Visits

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If a student tells you he is sick with diarrhea and/or throwing up while in the clinic bathroom... can you ask a high school student to show you in order to know if the students are faking?

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

My opinion is, in the name of

assessment," you can, since they are reporting a sign which could indicate an illness; all in your job scope.

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Specializes in School nursing.
My opinion is, in the name of

assessment," you can, since they are reporting a sign which could indicate an illness; all in your job scope.

This.

Also diarrhea is hard to miss when it is bad. I can usually smell it and/or hear it when it occurs or when student comes back my way. Vomit also has a "scent." My office restroom is only about 10 feet from my desk.

I have gotten pretty good at recognizing sound of forced gagging vs vomit as well. (Party trick? I can impress all my friends!) And being so close to the door, I have reminded students to "not flush" if I suspect something is up. But my population is small (~500) and I get to know them pretty well :).

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Specializes in NCSN.

I make all of my little ones show me, and if they are claiming it happened and no one saw them and they are clinically fine now, I have them sit in my office for 10 mins and then send them back

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Specializes in School.

Yes. My restroom is in close proximity to my office, so I hear and smell everything. When Little Darlings go into my restroom to vomit, I automatically tell them not to flush or lock the door. I have even had ones that I will not let shut the door due to the possibility of them gagging themselves. I usually have them use the restroom closest to my office, (which is closer than 50 feet) if they report having diarrhea unless they can't make it that far. I will take in account who the student is and if they are a frequent flyer who uses the same excuses.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

I love these answers! I also document "no emesis/diarrhea in clinic" after I allow rest in the clinic x 20 minutes because hey - maybe they got it all out and are ready to return to the world!! In high school, I'm still not sure they know what diarrhea/vomiting really is, unless I can see it or hear it in the clinic. Good luck!

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