School Culture - can we shift it? maybe a little?

[CAdreamerRN]

I help out at other schools in my district some days and the culture from school to school can be night and day – some health offices see hardly any kids at all, some see only injuries at recess, and others have kids coming in all the time for math-aches, I mean stomachaches!

One of my schools has a lot of… sensitive” kids?!! And the staff coddle them to the point that I would be weirded out if that was my kid – not sure if they are seriously that concerned or if they learned to CYA because of some of our parents – either way it makes for a looooot of unnecessary health office visits and time away from class.

I know sometimes kids need a mental health break like the rest of us and I'm happy to have them take a breather in the health office. But what about the rest? Any tips on how you've worked with teachers and playground staff to curb the numbers and keep kids in class? I googled around and one nurse made a memo with reasons to send to the health office” (vomiting, head injury etc.) and things that can be taken care of in class” (this list included nosebleeds and nausea – which I feel like would never fly in my sensitive” school). Thoughts??

[steffyh]

When I did sub school nursing, I swear an announcement was made the day before b/c I would be so busy with kids. I subbed in various schools across my town and there was no difference b/w the elementary, middle, or high schoolers.

After my first few months, I was able to quickly learn that most of these kids needed TLC or a breather so I'd do what I could, gave them reassurance, and sent them back to class.

For the ones who liked to fake (and think I was too stupid to know they were), I made them go back to class, get their coursework, bring it back to my office, and do it while they waited for their parents. That quickly got across the schools that I wasn't the sub who was a sucker and wasn't going to let them use my office as a way to cut class. If they grumbled, I would ask them if they needed help and help them out, which was what some of them needed, but were to embarrassed to ask. Overall, the fakers learned that the nurse's office and the classroom were no different in terms of school work. I felt like part of my mission was to support the teacher in their efforts since they're balls-to-the-wall with all of this going on in the classroom.

It was a tough, but fun job. I give the school nurses credit. It's not easy with the way kids are raised today.

[Farawyn]

Yea, no. I'm not doing their homework with them. You are way nicer than me.

[100kids, BSN, RN]

When I did sub school nursing, I swear an announcement was made the day before b/c I would be so busy with kids.

It's the opposite here. Once the kids see there is a sub they somehow remain healthy until I'm back.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

It's the opposite here. Once the kids see there is a sub they somehow remain healthy until I'm back.

Me too. And then my frequent fliers come in the next day complaining that I took a day off.

That being said, I work with the older kids and most teachers don't coddle. I don't either. I have sent a kid back to class to get work (and I don't help them with it), hell even a test! I do this after calling a parent. Sometimes after the student realizes I'm not getting them out of that math test, they just shake their head and agree to take that test in class after all...