Ridiculous Reasons to See the Nurse

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So, we really need a place to log the ridiculous reasons some kids have to get out of class and come see the nurse. You know, those pressing medical problems like, "my lips hurt." I had that one today.

Earlier this year I had a student come see me because she had a hair on her tongue!!

Somewhere there is a teacher giving these kids a clinic pass for these visits!

What are the crazy reasons to see the nurse at your clinic??

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.
I have a student newly diagnosed with diabetes. Her BFF has been coming with her when she comes in and checks her blood sugar and covers for her lunch. Normally I don't have an issue with this, HOWEVER, new diabetic is asking her BFF to put the test strip in her meter, hand her the alcohol pad, hand her the bin with all of her supplies in it, hand her her lunch box AND go get her insulin. All of these things were, at most, 4 steps away from the student who needed them.

This same student calculated her insulin coverage to be 3 units for her 51 g carb lunch with an insulin to carb ratio of 1 unit per 5 g of carbs. "I'm really bad at math!" She's been diagnosed for less than 2 weeks. My magnetic calculator on my fridge is free for everyone to use!! Let's do this together shall we? Ta-da!!

I politely kicked the BFF out of my office today and told the newly diagnosed student that she really needs to get comfortable coordinating all of this care herself and to not be ordering BFF to do all of these steps for her. Plus BFF is a distraction and this student really needs to stop and think about what she is doing with her diabetes.

I don't mind when my DM students come with friends and if their friends want to be a part of their "team" that is fine - but there are certain things that are simply verboten in my office. Touching the meter is one. It gets blood on it. Yes, i tell the kids to wipe them down - but they are kids and they are not careful. Handling the insulin pens, needles, pumps, pushing buttons for their friends - also not done. Finally, the biggie that I have absolutely lost it over - absolutely NO testing your friend's blood sugar. Thankfully i think this only came up once in my career so far.

Friends can get the alcohol on the cotton, can record numbers, can tell me numbers for input, can hold books while they do their care.

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.
I don't mind when my DM students come with friends and if their friends want to be a part of their "team" that is fine - but there are certain things that are simply verboten in my office. Touching the meter is one. It gets blood on it. Yes, i tell the kids to wipe them down - but they are kids and they are not careful. Handling the insulin pens, needles, pumps, pushing buttons for their friends - also not done. Finally, the biggie that I have absolutely lost it over - absolutely NO testing your friend's blood sugar. Thankfully i think this only came up once in my career so far.

Friends can get the alcohol on the cotton, can record numbers, can tell me numbers for input, can hold books while they do their care.

So I talked newly diagnosed student's (let's call her Jane for clarity's sake) SPED teacher yesterday. Apparently Jane's new diagnosis has called ALL kinds of drama in that classroom, which spilled over into my office that day. Her friends are all worried about what they are going to do about Jane's diabetes when she is in school. The SPED teacher is reinforcing the "Teachers and nurse will worry about the diabetes. You guys just be a good friend to Jane." spiel in her class. And Jane is loving all of the attention, of course.

Jane and her BFF came in today before lunch and Jane managed to do everything without ordering the BFF around, and was able to concentrate on what she was doing, so I was OK with friend being here today.

And obviously some more education is necessary as SPED teacher told me Jane thought she could eat a banana without insulin coverage because "it's healthy". GAH!!!

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Per teacher (and same one), "please clean marker off their face", "needs a nap...seriously", "eye hurts, and please send me some cough drops back with student" Cough drops were for the teacher, student's eye was benign in appearance, and no way am I sending cough drops with a 5 year old, or any of the kiddos for that matter!

At least they did not blame marker on bad circulation. At least 2-3 times every year, I get some panicked student whose teacher told them they are not getting circulation to their hands because they are blue.

Every single time, it has been either ink or dye from a brand new pair of unwashed jeans. Easily treated with soap and water or a little alcohol wipe. No amputation needed.....

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"The teacher sent me here because my earrings hurt. She wants you to take them out."

"Can you take them out yourself?"

"Yes." And she did.

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"The teacher sent me here because my earrings hurt. She wants you to take them out."

"Can you take them out yourself?"

"Yes." And she did.

My favorite thing is when I have someone come in and they say their piercing hurts and THE BACK OF THE EARRING IS EMBEDDED INTO THE LOBE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO TO CLAIRE'S TO GET YOUR KIDS EARS PIERCED

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My favorite thing is when I have someone come in and they say their piercing hurts and THE BACK OF THE EARRING IS EMBEDDED INTO THE LOBE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO TO CLAIRE'S TO GET YOUR KIDS EARS PIERCED

Is there another place to go besides Claire's and other stores like Claire's?

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Stupid reason of the day for me:

5th grade girl sent up; note said for temp check. Note temp was normal.

me: So why are you here today?

her: well, I had to give a book report in front of the class and it made me blush. Then everyone said I turned red and it made it worse

me: ummh, OK, that's called blushing. Perfectly normal. I hated having to give oral reports to in class.

Student splashed cold water on her face and went back

The sad part was I was so busy, she had to sit and wait a good 20 minutes before I got to her...what the heck was the teacher thinking???

:facepalm:

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Is there another place to go besides Claire's and other stores like Claire's?

Indeed there is. Finally got up the nerve to get my ears pierces some time in my 50's. Went to The Lucky Devil Piercing and Tattoo Parlor (in an interesting part of town) and a girl named Chuck did a wonderful job. My sweet daughters' reactions were priceless :)

When you want something done right, go to a pro!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I took my daughter to a pediatrician that wasn't her pediatrician - if that makes any sense... i called around until i found one that pierced ears

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Indeed there is. Finally got up the nerve to get my ears pierces some time in my 50's. Went to The Lucky Devil Piercing and Tattoo Parlor (in an interesting part of town) and a girl named Chuck did a wonderful job. My sweet daughters' reactions were priceless :)

When you want something done right, go to a pro!

I took my daughter to a pediatrician that wasn't her pediatrician - if that makes any sense... i called around until i found one that pierced ears

I took both my girls to Claire's with no problem. But maybe non nurse parents are less diligent about after care :) Then my younger daughter let her holes close and my older daughter pushed the earrings through anyway.

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I took both my girls to Claire's with no problem. But maybe non nurse parents are less diligent about after care :) Then my younger daughter let her holes close and my older daughter pushed the earrings through anyway.

The jewelry from any good tattoo/piercing shop is going to have jewelry that is compatible with skin while at claire's you are risking an allergic reaction. Piercing gun is blunt force trauma while a piercing needle is super sharp and is almost painless. Then the other issue is swelling. A piercer would much rather do a piercing with a hoop or long post to give room for potential swelling. If the back part of an earring is fit against the ear then there is the risk of it becoming embedded.

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If the back part of an earring is fit against the ear then there is the risk of it becoming embedded.

I have definitely seen this on student's who come in with recently pierced ears!

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