Sending kids home

Tina, RN · Mar 13, 2015

I just looked up my kids. The last time my older son, now a senior went to the nurse, it was an abrasion in 2009. Last time he got sent home was 2006.
Last time my younger son, a sophomore, went to the nurse it was 2010. Last time he went home 2008.
Guess I baby the younger one, hmm?
It is my problem. I have to LET IT GO. I'm working on it. Thank God I have this place to vent.

Vent away!!! :)

kidfloat · Mar 14, 2015

Wish some of you were nurses at my kids school. One of mine went through a phase of frequency at the nurses office. Sorethroat, no fever an hour before end of day: Me: I think they can tough it out, SN: I think they should see their MD. Spitting a little blood, absolutely no other signs of distress. Me: They've had a cold, house is dry from heat. SN: They should probably have a chest x-ray.

AmyPie · Mar 25, 2015

If I don't send them home, it is unexcused. When they get their "high absence" warning letter they love to call and say their kid went home sick. I pull up documentation and tell them all the dates that they decided to pull the kid out of school for illness. Most of the time, these kids already have issues with unexcused absences.

OldDude · Mar 25, 2015

If I don't send them home, it is unexcused. When they get their "high absence" warning letter they love to call and say their kid went home sick. I pull up documentation and tell them all the dates that they decided to pull the kid out of school for illness. Most of the time, these kids already have issues with unexcused absences.

Ditto...we've broken down our clinic dispositions to differentiate between "Home" and "Home - Parent Choice"....this is quite helpful for the truancy hearings.

Kittery · Mar 25, 2015

Related question: Student's not exhibiting any s/s that would require him to go home, but parent has given in and will pick up. It will take at least 30mins for them to get to the school. Do you send the kid back to class and have them continue with their day until parent arrives since they don't seem to be contagious or really appear all that miserable? Or do they wait in your office/front office?

If they clearly look miserable and I agree with the decision to go home, I let them wait in my office. But if they seem fine and parents are coming anyway even after I've said they're fine to stay, I send them back to class to wait (unless parents are arriving in the next 15 minutes.) I think teachers and parents wonder why, if the student is going home, did I send them back to class. I'm thinking the student is missing the rest of the day when they really don't have to, so go back and get your 30 minutes worth. What are you thoughts?

OldDude · Mar 25, 2015

Related question: Student's not exhibiting any s/s that would require him to go home, but parent has given in and will pick up. It will take at least 30mins for them to get to the school. Do you send the kid back to class and have them continue with their day until parent arrives since they don't seem to be contagious or really appear all that miserable? Or do they wait in your office/front office?
If they clearly look miserable and I agree with the decision to go home, I let them wait in my office. But if they seem fine and parents are coming anyway even after I've said they're fine to stay, I send them back to class to wait (unless parents are arriving in the next 15 minutes.) I think teachers and parents wonder why, if the student is going home, did I send them back to class. I'm thinking the student is missing the rest of the day when they really don't have to, so go back and get your 30 minutes worth. What are you thoughts?

TOTALLY AGREE

SnowyJ, RN · Mar 25, 2015

I agree. If they aren't appearing sick and assessment is WNL, no reason why they can't get a little more schoolwork done while they wait for a parent.

I generally just make the decision on a case by case basis.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Mar 25, 2015

i agree -unless the kid is completely miserably they can go catch a few more minutes of content. I usually give the parents a heads up too if they tell me it's going to be a while before they can get there. I tell them that i'm going to send them back to class for a bit while they wait. Parents don't usually object.

SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN · Mar 26, 2015

I work in a Middle School. We have a written policy here that specifically states that students are not permitted to use their cell phone to request a parent pick-up due to illness. I have the policy displayed in my clinic. In the event a parent arrives to pick up a student for illness who is not in my clinic, the student is directed to me where I instruct him or her to read the policy. I give 1 warning. Repeat offenders are marked as unexcused.

Generally the above works very well but I still have my "You have got to be kidding me" moments. Just yesterday a student informed me that she and her mother had an "arrangement" for that day because she had the sniffles. The plan was for her to leave after 2nd bell and return for 5th and 6th bell! I informed her that if she is sick enough to go home, she is too sick to return. An hour and a half later Dad brings her back and then argues with the office staff. He stated that we were not using common sense because "everyone who gets sick eventually gets better". I could only feel sorry for the child :no:

SnowyJ, RN · Mar 26, 2015

Flare, I am sorry this is off topic, but your profile picture cracks me up! :laugh:

Flare, ASN, BSN · Mar 27, 2015

Flare, I am sorry this is off topic, but your profile picture cracks me up!

It's how i do my vision screenings :sneaky:

mc3, ASN, RN · Mar 28, 2015

If I don't send them home, it is unexcused. When they get their "high absence" warning letter they love to call and say their kid went home sick. I pull up documentation and tell them all the dates that they decided to pull the kid out of school for illness. Most of the time, these kids already have issues with unexcused absences.

That's what I do. There's no reason Johnny or Jane needs to sit in the clinic when they could be in class learning something.

mc:cat: