School Nurse thinks I'm fat mom...

fetch, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2015

I kind of agree with the person in that article who said "why would you have your child read this on local news if you're worried about it affecting her self esteem?" Now she will DEFINITELY remember it. I also think it's silly to say "sealed envelopes aren't secure, this should be kept at school and the parent can pick it up." I can't even get parents to pick up their kids sometimes, let alone a letter. Teach your kids not to open envelopes meant for their parents!

On the other hand . . . I am severely opposed to tracking BMI in kids and calling them obese. There are a very few rare circumstances that I would think that's okay, and I'm talking pounds twice the height type of deal. Kids weight can change so much once they hit a growth spurt, and talking about food choices can upset parents, and you really can set kids up for an adolescence full of self-esteem problems if you start calling a kid who's a little chunky "obese". I track height and weight in my kindergarteners, 3rd graders, and new students as required -- but I don't do anything with that.

Farawyn · Feb 10, 2015

No, I don't.

I'll record the height and weight and let the doc/parents deal with it, unless I am specifically asked by a student, which does happen. If a kid comes to me, re: nutrition and a balanced diet, I will answer their questions best I can.

Hell, I'M overweight.

Farawyn · Feb 10, 2015

I kind of agree with the person in that article who said "why would you have your child read this on local news if you're worried about it affecting her self esteem?" Now she will DEFINITELY remember it. I also think it's silly to say "sealed envelopes aren't secure, this should be kept at school and the parent can pick it up." I can't even get parents to pick up their kids sometimes, let alone a letter. Teach your kids not to open envelopes meant for their pa
On the other hand . . . I am severely opposed to tracking BMI in kids and calling them obese. There are a very few rare circumstances that I would think that's okay, and I'm talking pounds twice the height type of deal. Kids weight can change so much once they hit a growth spurt, and talking about food choices can upset parents, and you really can set kids up for an adolescence full of self-esteem problems if you start calling a kid who's a little chunky "obese". I track height and weight in my kindergarteners, 3rd graders, and new students as required -- but I don't do anything with that.

Love your avatar. Mean Girls?

fetch, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2015

Mean Girls in Art History. It's an Instagram feed where they put Mean Girls quotes on old artworks, some of them really crack me up! And yes, that's where I got my username from, so it seemed appropriate. :-)

Kittery · Feb 10, 2015

I have to collect height/weight/BMI on certain grades as required by the state, but I'm not mandated to do anything about it (i.e., send letters home.) Having had to do this, though, has made me realize what an imperfect tool BMI is. I have kids who appear physically healthy, whom I wouldn't be concerned about from just looking at or talking to them, yet their BMIs fall outside of normal, sometimes by a wide margin. BMI is just one of many tools, and I no longer place as much importance on it.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2015

I have to collect height/weight/BMI on certain grades as required by the state, but I'm not mandated to do anything about it (i.e., send letters home.) Having had to do this, though, has made me realize what an imperfect tool BMI is. I have kids who appear physically healthy, whom I wouldn't be concerned about from just looking at or talking to them, yet their BMIs fall outside of normal, sometimes by a wide margin. BMI is just one of many tools, and I no longer place as much importance on it.

I, too, have to collect height/weight/BMI data on certain grades as required by the state, but I give parents the option to opt out in writing of the screening. I am also not mandated to do anything about it (i.e. send letters home, contact doctor).

BMI alone does not tell a story. Since I am mandated to do BMI screening for my 7th graders by the state, this year I will be explaining BMI and overall nutrition/exercise to as part of the closing health lesson I teach *before* the screenings. I do my best to make them private when required. I also email the teachers and counselor before I do the screenings to make them aware because of the emotional piece. I wish I didn't have to do this screening at all, but...

And wow about the letter in the backpack! But when the data had to send to parents in my state, it could only be send via stamped mail directly to the parent, never to the student in a fashion that all could see.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2015

I don't work in schools anymore and I never worked in an elementary school but that kid looks perfectly healthy to me. I did have a four old patient (Oncology patient, ALL, gets steroid pulses q 3 weeks) make a comment to me a couple weeks ago about how she needed to lose weight. That may have been the saddest thing I've ever heard a four year old little girl say. And, while she has gained some weight from her steroids, that is to be expected.

I have very specific memories of this kind of stuff from elementary school. I remember being weighed in gym class in 4th grade in front of everyone. I remember having to do a project in 5th grade where we kept track of our intake. I remember that my mother had injured herself/couldn't stand and my father bought us donuts for breakfast one day. I remember that the teacher called me up to her desk and berated me in front of the entire class because I ate a donut for breakfast one day.

Is it any wonder that, at 19, I was hospitalized for anorexia and bulimia?

kidzcare · Feb 11, 2015

I remember freaking out about our whole class being weighed in 4th grade. My oldest is in 4th grade now. Oh, Lordy!

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Feb 11, 2015

IMHO, the bigger fool is the mother who put her kid on TV! Seriously? She is just looking for her 15 minutes. My guess is that if the child was found to be at risk, based on a mandated program, and the parent was NOT notified, there would STILL be backlash!

I don't do the letters, if asked I will calculate a BMI as I have the ability to both weigh and measure.

Farawyn · Feb 11, 2015

KelRN125 :hugs:

kidzcare · Feb 11, 2015

I never weigh the students. I have a scale in my office, but it needs to be calibrated.

I don't know if it is "required" at any grade level. The sixth graders need a physical so, of course, they are weighed at the doctor's office. I know our junior high nurse does height and weight for the 8th graders but that is to order their graduation gowns.