parents won't pick up sick kid!

[nursekoll]

I have never had this happen before, and don't know what to do. The parents and both secondary contacts refuse to come get a sick child from school. They say that none of them can leave work. This child is 8 years old with a 103* fever. I told them they need to find someone to pick up the child, they say they have no one else to call. What else can I do?

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

A lot of this mess could be avoided if parents would stop sending their sick children to school! I cannot even count the times the student told me, "I told my Mom I was sick but she told me to just see the nurse when I got to school". Parents need to take responsibility for their sick children instead of just expecting the school nurse to do it. And then the kicker is, they don't answer the phone when you call. Ok off my soap box now :)

YES! I have a lot of parents on truancy watch who will knowingly send their kid to school sick (just long enough to infect others) so that I will send them home and it will be excused. They've said to me "Yeah, I knew he was sick, but if he gets one more unexcused absence we have to go to court, so I wanted you to send him home." Super frustrating.

Or the ones that knowingly send them to school sick and then can't be reached... What the focalin, guys.

[Farawyn]

Oh Far, I thought your pot stirring days were behind you. All jokes aside, yes WineRN you are right in what I meant. I totally went in another direction with my example. I was mentioning the crazy irony of leaving unstable patients to take your kid home just for having lice.

Far, there's paperwork? Other than the emergency contact forms and the annual physical form filled out by the doctor, I have never encountered any additional forms. Also, I never said my job was more important. I went off topic, but it's too late now. I have upset too many school nurses.

Things have definitely changed. I remember growing up and feeling so much better just being in the nurse's office. You guys rock and I have never felt any different. However, I never said you guys were babysitters and I am not sure how any of what I said may have indicated that's how I felt. I apologize if you perceived it that way.

Back to the thread. I wouldn't do anything different if my kid was at home with me with a fever. Medication is always a last resort for me. Rest, hydration and cooling methods are first while I keep checking the temperature.

We good.

*throws my spoon away*

Sowwey.

[Farawyn]

I think this is a symptom of a broader problem in our society--many, many families are isolated and have no one to turn to in times of need.

They rock along sorta okay until an emergency happens. Then they realize, the safety nets are fragile, at best.

Jobs have to be attended. Bills have to be paid. Bosses have to be appeased.

At the same time, children need their parents. Illness is unpredictable. Other children need to be protected from contagion.

All these things are true AT THE SAME TIME.

They days of having stay-at-home elderly (but still spry and can drive) neighbors is a distant memory. A lot of grandparents are now working until their bodies physically wear out.

I don't have a solution to this problem. Just wanted to share my observations...

Absolutely right.

Which is why I'm the sucker with the sick kids in my office.

[LM NY]

After speaking to some of my friends that have worked as school nurses or the agency ones filling in, I was shocked to hear that sometimes being in the nurse's office is sometimes safer for those kids than being home. I'm in my little bubble because I hate thinking about abused kids, but that is the reality. I don't know how you guys do it. I've always wanted to work with the pediatric population, but the thought of getting in contact with an abused child would break me down. I don't know if I am strong enough.

[OldDude]

After speaking to some of my friends that have worked as school nurses or the agency ones filling in, I was shocked to hear that sometimes being in the nurse's office is sometimes safer for those kids than being home. I'm in my little bubble because I hate thinking about abused kids, but that is the reality. I don't know how you guys do it. I've always wanted to work with the pediatric population, but the thought of getting in contact with an abused child would break me down. I don't know if I am strong enough.

You are, especially someone as passionate as you are about the little ones. You will rise to the occasion to advocate for those who can't for themselves. Go for it. Kids are tougher and more resilient than you think.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

I thought I was tough, until I had kids. Now everything hits me so much harder. But like OD said, you have to be their advocate. If you know they aren't getting love at home. Be their source of love. Change their life, and in turn yours will be forever changed, as well.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

I thought I was tough, until I had kids. Now everything hits me so much harder. But like OD said, you have to be their advocate. If you know they aren't getting love at home. Be their source of love. Change their life, and in turn yours will be forever changed, as well.

I don't have kids of my own and it hits me hard as well. (I often say "yes I don't have kids at home, but I have 500+ kids at school I adore.") Humans aren't made of stone. But kids are more awesome than we give them credit for. You can be the person whose small contributions actually made a huge difference to their lives.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Fevers come and go all the time. Why would I pick my kid up just for that?.

Because kids with fevers are sick, and possibly contagious. Sick and contagious kids should be at home getting TLC from a parent, not at school making others sick.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

Because kids with fevers are sick, and possibly contagious. Sick and contagious kids should be at home getting TLC from a parent, not at school making others sick.

One of my famous lines is "If the child sitting next to your son/daughter all day had a temperature of ___F, I am wondering if you would be ok with that child staying in school."

The parent usually finds a ride fairly quickly. Logic!!

[yasanservice]

Hello

This post was very encouraged and encouraged to participate in the forum. This is a great place to thank you.

My friends' feedback helped me a lot, and I could solve many problems myself

I have 23, and I can identify and use the good and the bad of all the things I mentioned in this post.

[MrsK_Nurse]

I had a 5th grade student that started vomiting 2.5 hours ago. She's been sleeping and vomiting in my office since then. I called mom she said what do you mean she is vomiting? Well give her some breakfast! I said I am not giving her breakfast she is vomiting!!!!! She said well this is unbelievable she was fine this morning. I said well she isn't now. She is puking and you have to come and get her! She said well I will come get her but it will be awhile I have some things to do first. This was the same parent whose other child got off the bus crying with an ear ache/ running fever. I called her and she was 3 hours getting to school that day.

When I asked her if her mom was at work she said no she's a stay at home mom.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

Well give her some breakfast

Sure, I'll give her something that will come back to me on my floor....

Sorry. This stinks, and it happens all the time. Kiddo is better placed with me than anywhere else. It's not an EMS emergency but it is frustrating. The only thing that makes it better is that I write on our illness policy sheet "Student may not come back tomorrow. S/he may come back (the next day) only if no vomiting or fever." Then I walk the parent to attendance and give a copy to the attendance clerk. Works like a charm.