sending sick children home

[Bulldogs, CNA, EMT-B]

Do you see every parent of every child you send home? Do you tell them the student cannot return the next day? I am thinking of printing up some type of postcard like thing that has the guidelines for returning to school. Sent student home yesterday with temp, kiddo was back today and had temp again sent him home. When I called mom she said she was unaware of the 24 hour fever free policy.

[tining, BSN, RN]

I remind them when I call to pick up. I then email teacher to send student if they show up the next day. I also tell student that as well.

I tell parents there are no Ferrari's or Harvard educations for perfect attendance.

[Bulldogs, CNA, EMT-B]

I usually remind them when I call, the speak to them when they come pick up. the mother today said she has never heard that and she was unaware. Now Im just wondering if I really did tell her. Some days are CRAZY

[BeckyESRN]

I have a slip that I either hand to the parent or have the kiddo hand to the parent that states our fever and vomiting/diarrhea policy. I highlight the section that applies and write the most recent temp/time or vomit/time.

[BrisketRN, BSN, RN]

It's in our student handbook (which parents sign off on "agreeing" to), I repeat the policy "Children must be free of fever (100.4 degrees or over) and vomit for at least 24 hours, without the aid of medication, before they return to school," in every illness notification email. I don't walk every student out of my clinic--especially if they're middle school or high school. But I do make a point to repeat the policy to parents of our new students.

[scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

For the most part I do not see the parents upon pick up, just given how my school is set up. But I do tell them on the phone when I call for them to pick up. Also, our Secretary sees them all, because they need to sign the child out, and she reminds them too, because she is totally awesome like that!

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

1 hour ago, tining said:

I remind them when I call to pick up. I then email teacher to send student if they show up the next day. I also tell student that as well.

I tell parents there are no Ferrari's or Harvard educations for perfect attendance.

Our district used to (and maybe still does) give out scholarships to those who had perfect attendance K-12. I think it's ridiculous. I also think it's unfair to those with chronic medical conditions (like T1D) that require frequent check-ups and don't have after school appointments.

[AdobeRN]

I see parent when they pick them up. I escort student to front office (I am next office door so not far) and tell parent face to face criteria for returning to school - inconvenient at times for me to walk the kid to front office but it really helps with communication and keeping the kids home according to policy.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

i mention it to parents when i call them. I have the office staff mention it to them again when they come and if i am walking the student up because they are little or i have another reason to, I will mention it again.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

Ha! My first month as a school nurse, the admin overheard me telling a parent that the child needed to be fever free without meds for 24 hours before returning to school...

She pulled me aside as asked me to provide that policy in writing. I looked for hours, then called the district 'health and medical' department, and learned there was NO POLICY in place by the district.

Turns out it's a CDC recommendation.. but since attendance and funding go hand in hand, the district has no set policy on the subject.

I was informed that "parents will keep their kids home for days" if we enforced such a rule, and that I should not instruct parents to keep their kids home from school unless they have a current fever.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

On 1/17/2020 at 8:56 PM, lifelearningrn said:

Ha! My first month as a school nurse, the admin overheard me telling a parent that the child needed to be fever free without meds for 24 hours before returning to school...

She pulled me aside as asked me to provide that policy in writing. I looked for hours, then called the district 'health and medical' department, and learned there was NO POLICY in place by the district.

Turns out it's a CDC recommendation.. but since attendance and funding go hand in hand, the district has no set policy on the subject.

I was informed that "parents will keep their kids home for days" if we enforced such a rule, and that I should not instruct parents to keep their kids home from school unless they have a current fever.

Our handbook says 100 degrees or above and student may return after being fever free for 12 hours without the aid of fever reduction medication. Kids can turn around fast and fevers can break fast, so this covers that.

Of course, parents and student sign our handbook all the time without actually reading it...

And no, I don't meet parents. My office is in the basement and often I have another student with me, so I can't op up. I will figure it out if there is a necessary reason for me to connect with the parent in person vs on the phone.

[CanIcallmymom, BSN, RN]

I usually walk my student to the front and talk to mom/dad there. I think a handout is a great idea.