SERIOUSLY, sometimes I just surrender!

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I don't post too often, but I have to vent today. I am soooo frustrated with the students who are completely unwilling to try to make it through the school day. Typically they are frequent fliers that are not so frequent to arouse too much suspicion; they often come early on in the day. They often have a stomach ache (or any other complaint, really) that is completely asymptomatic- no fever, abd nontender, + bowel sounds, no N/V/D, had breakfast. So, let them rest- not helping. Use the restroom- not helping. Drink some water- not helping. I give them saltines (yes, those saltines)- not helping. I give them Tums (yep, I can give that with parental permission)- not helping. I give them juice- not helping. At this point, it has been an hour!!! Finally, I get so frustrated that I have them call their parents who will pick them up, after I describe to them their (lack of) symptoms.

Really?!

I just had a student who stated he had 'uncontrollable barfing.' I told him to rest for a bit. No barfing. Not even dry heaving. He didn't even run to the bathroom and pretend that he puked. Hey kid, have you ever heard of the Noro Virus?! Now THAT is uncontrollable barfing. Show me that, and you can go home. Actually, please don't show me that.

For the record, I love my job. My worst days as a school nurse and infinitely better than my best days at the hospital.

Sorry.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I hear ya, these kind of things will suck the life out of you. I've evolved into not putting much effort into such complaints from club members. I used to play 3 strikes but now if I see a club member twice, I check their temp and call a parent. If I get the parent I'll tell them their child has visited me twice for a "fill in the blank," they don't have a fever, please talk to them and decide if you need to do anything about it. If I don't get a parent on the phone I'll leave a voice mail asking for a return phone call and tell the kid to go back to class until I hear from their parent; every time that child returns I'll turn them around at the door and tell them I had not heard from their parent.

This of course hinges on no sign of illness.

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I feel your pain. Truth is, I try to be tough and keep these kiddos in class but when they just keep coming back, what else do you do? They certainly aren't learning a thing that day if they are wearing out the floor from their classrooms to your clinic. Let their mommas deal with!!

I will give them this - they have no pain tolerance AT ALL but wow - THE PERSISTANCE!

I had one come to see me at the very end of the day yesterday with ankle pain. No swelling, full ROM, blah! blah! Back this morning before school even started to give me a note dad wrote stating it is sprained (his diagnosis) and no PE for her. Still not swollen, etc, etc. Did not go for a medical evaluation. Tells me at this time that she had an ace bandage on it last night but did not wear it today. Told her to give the note to her PE coach and recommended she wear the ace bandage during the school day. Leaves, back in five minutes "my teacher wants to know if you have an ace bandage to give me." Told her no, she had already texted dad to bring her one anyway. Next period, "I need ice." Period after that, "my teacher told me I need Advil." Dad still had not brought ace bandage, so I called and left a message about maybe he could bring advil and ace bandage. Dad never returned call or showed up. She actually skipped coming a period and then comes back "My teacher said I really need some crutches.

REALLY, because you have been walking up and down the 1/2 mile hallway that is at my school (very spread out 1 story building) ALL DAY LONG. Seems like you have no problem bearing weight on your ankle AT ALL!!!!

Now, part of that is the kid being a whiny kid. However, the staff keep it going by telling the kids they need__________, even thought I have old them 17 ways from Sunday that I do not have any of the above.

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I saw 16 kids and one teacher today. One crisis with SW. Had a meeting. Made a TON of phone calls. Easy day, yes?

I sent home 4 kids, just because I knew I couldn't fight them today. 4 of 16. 1 was sick.

Fine. Go home. Call your parents, have them pick you up, and go home and play video games because you have your period. You know this happens every month, right?

*deep shuddering sigh*

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Funniest thread I've seen on all nurses, hang in there [emoji106]

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Funniest thread I've seen on all nurses, hang in there [emoji106]

You don't get out much, do you?

This is good, but we are much funnier than this. Check out "The hamster is loose thread."

You won't be disappointed.

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She actually skipped coming a period and then comes back "My teacher said I really need some crutches.

Oh, you run an orthopedic clinic as well? Impressive.

:banghead:

Yeah, these are the cases that suck the life out of you. I've gotten more into the "I'll call your parents and see what they want to do."

Yesterday I had a kid come down in full blown status dramaticus r/t feelings of nausea. Called mom who came in to get him. She said they were with a friend the other night whose kid had a stomachbug. Repeat performance today. I specifically said I don't need to send him home but if "you feel that he is really sick, you can make that decision." She talked to him and reluctantly picked him up. She came back this afternoon to pick up a neighbor's child at dismissal and told the teacher she had to pick her son up earlier since it was stomach issues and he wasn't allowed to stay. Right... yeah...of course.

I'm less and less inclined to fight with these kids.

On a brighter note, I called a mom because a kid bumped another kid with his mouth. Teeth seemed intact but I called mom just in case. She said, "I believe he was in your office yesterday?" I launched right into, "Yes, he had a headache, he rested, had water, no fever, and I sent him back." He returned 30 minutes before dismissal but I sent him right back since he said he doesn't go to aftercare.

Mom said she was going to have a talk with him about trying to come see me because I am busy enough (I so wanted to give her a virtual hug). I did say his teacher tends to be cautious and send kids and mom assured me she knew that but didn't believe he needed to be wasting my time. Again - virtual hug! Love those parents!

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The one kid who threatened to puke outside my office? He really was sick, but the mom had had ENOUGH of him.

She made him a deal- "You can come home, but it is straight to bed. No video games. No phone. No computer. You may rest. You may read. You may watch TV."

The boy stared at her incredulously, snot dripping slowly onto his top lip, for a FULL 3 beats, wiped off his nose with his sleeve, and flounced off to class.

I didn't see him again today.

I'm a bit twitterpated with his mom. :inlove:

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
I'm a bit twitterpated with his mom. :inlove:

Twitterpated? What the heck does that mean?

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Specializes in Special Procedures.

I have been reading quite a few School Nurse threads (you guys are the most involved on allnurses I think) and it has opened my eyes as the parent of a 1st grader who has frequent respiratory issues and is honestly kind of dramatic about everything.

It had always been my feeling when I would get called by the school and I declined to pick the kid up (because I think they needed to tough it out and are pretty much being dramatic) that I was going to be perceived as a bad mom. I thought that the nurse filtered out all the bs/dramatic/faking to get out of school complaints and only called parents when they were convinced the kid was the real McCoy.

I now see that much of the calling you do is basically because staff/students pesters you to the point that you have to give them SOME intervention lest you appear that you're not doing your job.

Next time I get called for a headache after a very vigorous Recess in the cold with normal VS I will be much more confident saying my kid needs to suck it up and leave the nurse alone lol

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Twitterpated? What the heck does that mean?

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I think Pewp should be an honorary SN member.

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