Seriously, does my office look like a wal-mart???

DDRN4me · Feb 27, 2009

oh, it could have been me writing this. Kids are not an issue ..staff are !! they want everything from cough drops to safety pins to spatulas...hello we are not your personal supplier!!!

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Feb 28, 2009

So if I get blisters from my new sandles, you mean you don't have a new pair of tennis shoes and cushy socks for me?

cowgirlBSN · Mar 2, 2009

This is on my mind daily! If the kid rips his pants its a nursing issue??!! A 1st grader spilt milk down her shirt...go to the nurse!! Can we say dumping ground?

kidsnurse1969 · Mar 3, 2009

Although I don't enjoy these type of visits to the sickroom, I don't mind helping with the "accidents" in school. Who else could do it? I might be able to discover a urinary problem or other issue.

I am not very sympathetic, though, if the pants that a kid wears to school is too loose ( I do not keep a supply of belts) or they came to school with a huge hole in the crotch. It drives me crazy when a kid wears a tank top to school in February because yesterday was warm and today the temps are 20 degrees lower. Grrr!

SchoolNurseBSN · Mar 3, 2009

A lot of my kids come to school purposely out of uniform - hoping for a trip home. They end up being sent to me- I supply them with clothes I never get back. Then, I get a kid that has an accident and needs clean clothes - well, guess what? I have none left for the kid that truly needs it. :banghead:

bergren · Mar 7, 2009

Many PTAs will provide the following for the health office to make sure the kids who need it.

5. needle / thread

6. bottled water

7. food

10. clothes

DDRN4me · Mar 7, 2009

Many PTAs will provide the following for the health office to make sure the kids who need it.
5. needle / thread
6. bottled water
7. food
10. clothes

It is not the supplies that are the issue. Again; these are not NURSING issues. I know my staff has enough to do caring for the sick kids ..and if it is a medical issue, then by all means come to us. I hate to think another child who really needs us ends up waiting while we are tending to unnecessary needs.

bergren · Mar 7, 2009

Water, food and clothing are health needs. If you don't have a school social worker, where do you send the child?

Water is Cool in School website: http://www.wateriscoolinschool.org.uk/learning.html

Nutrition and Achievement http://www.frac.org/ESEA/recommendations.pdf

Test scores and snacks:

http://www.frac.org/ESEA/recommendations.pdf

SchoolNurseBSN · Mar 9, 2009

Water, food and clothing are health needs. If you don't have a school social worker, where do you send the child?
Water is Cool in School website: http://www.wateriscoolinschool.org.uk/learning.html
Nutrition and Achievement http://www.frac.org/ESEA/recommendations.pdf
Test scores and snacks:
http://www.frac.org/ESEA/recommendations.pdf

Thanks for the great info! However, as you can see from my original post - it is staff more than students who are a drain on my supplies. I try to save what little I have available for my students.

I am happy to give clothes to students who are in need or have an accident. What I have encountered is students who habitually come to school out of uniform because they know they will get to miss class time.

We have water fountains and I have dixie cups (bought out of my pocket). I cannot afford to provide bottled water.

I have safety pins (bought out of my own pocket).

The staff like to use my bathroom because I have real antibacterial soap / germ x (bought from my own pocket)

At PTA meetings, there are usually 20 staff members - and 3 parents! PTA is not a resource I can use. In fact, i am the one usually finding free resources for their use.

I give out cheese crackers (bought out of my own pocket). I have paid to have glasses replaced, etc because I hate turning away a student in need.

No offense.......but, if I buy anymore out of my own pocket - I will not have enough of a salary to provide these basic needs to my own 2 children.

I have some terrific resources that I refer families to- right in their own neighborhood. Mostly, they don't go!

bergren · Mar 9, 2009

Even if your PTA is not well attended, do take advantage of the mini-grants they offer in many schools.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Mar 13, 2009

I love it when little Johny pees in his pants and I give him a pair of pants to borrow but they are not his style. I tell him this is not walmart or the mall you can either wear these dry clean pants or walk around with soiled pants !

But yeah people think my office is walmart, a free clinic, a pharmacy, and so much more !