Ridiculous Reasons to See the Nurse

mc3, ASN, RN · Mar 16, 2015

I had a student come up at 3:00 (dismissal is at 3:15). Reason? "I sneezed hard". I said "and...". He said "nothing else, I just sneezed hard". I can't (no wait, I can)believe our teachers sometimes. I think they're getting tired, so send they send up all the whiney kids to me to deal with. After 2:00. :banghead: How do I get them to stop doing this???

:cat:

mc3

SnowyJ, RN · Mar 17, 2015

I wish I had an answer to stop the nonsense visit. My teachers see EVERYTHING as "nurse worthy." I think they just don't want to be bothered. Easier to say "go to the nurse."

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2015

I had a student come up at 3:00 (dismissal is at 3:15). Reason? "I sneezed hard". I said "and...". He said "nothing else, I just sneezed hard". I can't (no wait, I can)believe our teachers sometimes. I think they're getting tired, so send they send up all the whiney kids to me to deal with. After 2:00. How do I get them to stop doing this???
mc3

2:00 syndrome. Ah. Even the best teacher who has been holding on unnecessary nurse's visits can cave in when it has been a tough day in that period. I try and remember that and will check in with the teacher if it is a habit and especially if it is the same student. Usually the teacher just needs to hear "that student doesn't usually have a medical reason to see me. If something sets off a red flag, give my office a call first." For the most part it works. Not always, but mostly .

Wanderlust, RN · Mar 17, 2015

I am having a huge problem with this as well, particularly at one of my schools. From what I understand (as I am not there every day and do not attend staff meetings there since this is not my home school) the principals have instructed the teachers to send kids to my office when I am there no matter how minor the complaint as liability coverage. When I am not there I hear that the kids are allowed to come to the office and their parents are told, "I am sorry, we do not have a nurse today, you have to come pick up." So basically, I am being used as the "pass the buck" person at this school.

I am perturbed about it. After all, I spend a reasonable amount of time educating the teachers and admin about emergency situations and legit reasons to see the nurse. It's like all common sense has completely gone out the window.

For example: I overheard a teacher talking with a secretary about how she thought a child in her class who had "vomited" was faking. Then she said, "Oh she's fine, but that's not my call. That's the nurse's job." :bored:

Farawyn · Mar 17, 2015

Frequent Flier: My head hurts.

Me: What happened?

FF: I had these really REALLY tight pigtails on either side of my head and I think that caused it. I feel better now that they are out.

Me: Get out.

Farawyn · Mar 17, 2015

Smiling Kid at 2:10 (School gets out at 2:16): My thumb always cracks.

Me: Does it hurt?

SK: No.

Me: Bend it for me, does that hurt?

SK: No.

Me: It doesn't look swollen or red, you can move it and you have no pain, so what can I do for you?

SK: Can I have a splint?

Me: :/

SchoolNurseTXstyle · Mar 17, 2015

A student came in carrying his lunch tray yesterday. "I bit my tongue."

1. That's life, everybody bites their tongue.

2. Let the kid eat their lunch first, if they still have pain after - then, send them.

3. Food and the nurse's office is not a good combo

fetch, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2015

Yesterday in the last 20 minutes I had a student sent to me, very worried - and with a note from her teacher even! - about these strange yellow dots that suddenly appeared all over her face.

It was paint. Wash your face.

chasinRT · Mar 20, 2015

Well, I got one yesterday....her hands hurt from clapping too hard at the party she just attended. Yep, a clapping injury.

NanaPoo · Mar 20, 2015

How do you treat a clapping injury?

I would go with "ice pack." Always go with ice pack.

Did I mention the student that came to me because she'd been carrying heavy bags of candy on her arms? Yeah, I just told her to stop carrying heavy bags of candy on her arms.

Tina, RN · Mar 20, 2015

A student came in carrying his lunch tray yesterday. "I bit my tongue."
1. That's life, everybody bites their tongue.
2. Let the kid eat their lunch first, if they still have pain after - then, send them.
3. Food and the nurse's office is not a good combo

Why, why, why do they send kids into the health office, with their lunch trays?? I don't even want to eat in my petri-dish of an office...

rbytsdy · Mar 21, 2015

How do you treat a clapping injury?

The Clap. Isn't that gonorrhea? I'd guess antibiotics. :sarcastic: