I swear my kids are the nosiest...

Specialties School

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The students, I mean. My own kids know better by now. But does anyone else have trouble protecting student's privacy because of other students? I'm thinking specifically of my diabetic. When I am having him check his blood glucose and then giving insulin (not very independent yet), I have trouble keeping other students from butting in and asking questions. My office is very wide open and I did ask the student if he would prefer I give his insulin in my curtained area, but he said it's ok.

So he stands next to my desk and we chat and discuss his lunch/snack and decide together how much insulin he needs (he's learning how to dose himself), but other students often try to stand next to him while I give insulin and I have to ask them to step away. Sometimes they ask me why he needs a shot and my standard reply is "to keep him healthy". He doesn't usually answer their questions so I take it he's not comfortable disclosing his health information.

In other words, I take my cues from him and do everything to protect his privacy, but I wonder if it's just my students at my school or if I could be doing more to protect this kid.

As an aside, once the student and I told another student that it's Captain America serum, and to check back with the student later to see if he had huge muscles yet...he thought this was a great prank to pull and laughs about it still. :laugh:

SaltineQueen

913 Posts

Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

My standard reply is - He/She can tell you if he/she wants to.

ana010

99 Posts

My first job was at a middle school. I had a poster that stated the rules of the health clinic. One of the rules was not to ask anyone why he/she was in the health office. I would just point at the sign. Took a while for some to catch on, but once they did, they would stop others from asking questions.

Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

My two younger diabetic kiddos usually pipe in before I have a chance, and they will tell the other student they have diabetes and what it is. One always adds "AND I COULD DIE!" to his. They are very comfortable with their diagnosis and will give their own shots in front of the other students. Then the student will usually say something like "oh yeah, my uncle has that..."

My older and most recently diagnosed diabetic is still new to it, so he will simply say, "I have diabetes and it means I have to poke my finger and get shots."

But if they hesitated for even a second I would tell the other student that it is none of their business, which I do when they ask why Sally is laying on the cot or why Johnny takes medicine. "Same reason you're here, they LOVE seeing me!" Mind yer business kid.

WineRN

1,109 Posts

Specializes in NCSN.

I have a bunch of nosy ones too.

They question who I am on the phone with, try to read my computer, one who goes through my drawers if I don't give him 100% attention the moment he walks in.

And I constantly remind them that it's none of their business, but they just don't care.

abc123RN

506 Posts

My standard answer is "that's not my business to share" ever noisy teachers get that reply. My youngest diabetic is all about telling anyone that will listen about finger sticks and shots, she tells her class that they make her pretty. LOL, All the kindergarten class want my magic shots thanks to this little diva!

tamarae1

116 Posts

I have kids ask about mine sometimes. Usually he will tell them himself. When he doesn't I just say, "He's taking his medicine just like you are, now go back to class and stop being nosy." That typically gets them moving.

allnurses Guide

Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN

11,304 Posts

The student I followed (who had an insulin pump) since he was in Kindergarten had parents who wanted each of his classmates each year understand about diabetes so we would have a teaching session with his older sister who was in high school. She had gotten education regarding diabetes as did the rest of their family. I just stood in the back of the room and watched. She did a great job. They wanted the kids to know what to do if their son exhibited any signs of low blood glucose. The kids were allowed to ask questions and it became pretty much the norm as we checked his BG and gave insulin in the classroom/lunchroom. Pretty soon, the kids just saw it as normal.

I liked this family's approach. I miss that kiddo. He's in 5th grade now and when I see him in the community, I give him a hug.

Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

Yes all the time, and we are a neighborhood school, so everyone pretty much knows everyone. I usually say "it is not your business" or "you worry about yourself".

BeckyESRN

1,263 Posts

"Not your business" and "I wouldn't tell anyone why you were here, you don't need to know why they are here" are my standard answers. With my diabetic kiddos or kids using a nebulizer, I usually say "they are here because they need the nurse's care, same as you" if the kid s ask a specific question will answer with a yes or no when appropriate (is that for her breathing, is that a real needle). My previous diabetic kid hated the constant questions, so he'd answer in weird ways, like saying the shot was to keep him from becoming a werewolf since the full moon was near...

kidzcare

3,393 Posts

My previous diabetic kid hated the constant questions, so he'd answer in weird ways, like saying the shot was to keep him from becoming a werewolf since the full moon was near...

I like this kid.

moreoreo

218 Posts

Specializes in School Nursing.

My daily kids tend to eyeball anything out on my desk so I have to keep papers and the visitor log covered.

Some of them are genuinely sweet/concerned about their friends and ask if so and so is coming back to school or if they are OK. I just tell them it is kind of them to worry but to ask that friend any questions because health information is private. "If you were here vomiting and I told everyone that, it wouldn't be fair to you."

They are also just generally curious though. "Do you have kids?" "Are you married?" "What's your husband's name?" One student literally asked, "have you ever gotten a present and cried? What if someone gave you a car?" I know that they don't know about HIPAA so when it comes to health info I try to teach them to be direct and compassionate and to show they care about their classmate to their face rather than just asking the nurse :up:

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