Shake it off

Specialties School

Published

First, let me say that I devote time and effort to each child that comes in my office. BUT, I will flat out tell the students, whom I see daily for random reasons, that they are coming to the clinic too often.

I see numerous 4th and 5th graders for the most random stuff.

"My arm hurts" (no known injury, no visible swelling, moves extremity well)

"I bumped into the door and my shoulder hurts now" (no visible injury, moves extremity well)

"I have a scab on my ear"

"Can I have water?" (um, you passed two water fountains on the way to my office)

"My ear feels cold"

I just feel like children don't know the difference in "discomfort" and "pain". I often ask what would their mom do if they were at home and they look at me like I have two heads. I will continue to document every office visit, but I would love to know what to say to these 9-10 year old children who act like the world is ending 24/7.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

every single day

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I see this at the high school level too. And, since they're older, I try to teach them that they won't be able to lay down for 30 minutes or call mom to come get them when they're at their job out in the real world. Sometimes you gotta hydrate and try to deal with that headache.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Any intervention on your part at this stage of their life is going to be like trying to nail Jello to a tree. Just "shake it off" and be thankful the little snowflakes don't belong to you. When they move on there will be others just like em to take their place.

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

While I love my job, and kids coming to me is job security, at times I feel having a school nurse adds to the instant gratification/sense of entitlement kids have these days. A headache that started two minutes ago, a knee that grazed the desk. C'mon now.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, School Nursing, OB.

Yep! I think many kids will do anything for attention because they don't get any at home. Then the more you give, the more they come back. LOL! Of course there are those that get LOTS of attention at home and just feel so special they want even more. Those are the ones that annoy me the most. I also get annoyed at teachers sending kids for belly aches, headaches, earaches, etc that JUST began 2 seconds ago and the "injuries" that are invisible.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
33 minutes ago, OyWithThePoodles said:

While I love my job, and kids coming to me is job security, at times I feel having a school nurse adds to the instant gratification/sense of entitlement kids have these days. A headache that started two minutes ago, a knee that grazed the desk. C'mon now.

Beautiful synopsis of why I am tired, why I am irritated with teachers, and why I feel like I'm swimming upstream most days. Not everything needs an ice pack, sweet pea, but it's easier to give one than to explain this. Come to think of it, this is why we have antibiotic resistance, right?

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36 minutes ago, OyWithThePoodles said:

While I love my job, and kids coming to me is job security, at times I feel having a school nurse adds to the instant gratification/sense of entitlement kids have these days. A headache that started two minutes ago, a knee that grazed the desk. C'mon now.

Well said, I often think this. I am full time this year at a school that has always had only a part -time nurse before. The office manager was the stand in and just sent them right back when they complained of silly stuff. As nurses though, we are required to assess / document and that takes so much time away from the nursing specific tasks that need to be done. In a way, it defeats the purpose.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
58 minutes ago, EnoughWithTheIce said:

Well said, I often think this. I am full time this year at a school that has always had only a part -time nurse before. The office manager was the stand in and just sent them right back when they complained of silly stuff. As nurses though, we are required to assess / document and that takes so much time away from the nursing specific tasks that need to be done. In a way, it defeats the purpose.

A long time ago I worked almost non-stop around EMTLA rules. You're entitled to an assessment by a qualified professional. That doesn't mean your condition warrants immediate treatment. Which is how I roll as a school nurse.

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Specializes in School health, Maternal-Newborn.
On 4/18/2019 at 9:15 AM, ruby_jane said:

Beautiful synopsis of why I am tired, why I am irritated with teachers, and why I feel like I'm swimming upstream most days. Not everything needs an ice pack, sweet pea, but it's easier to give one than to explain this. Come to think of it, this is why we have antibiotic resistance, right?

Fortunately for all of us "Ice pack resistance" will never be a thing.

At a "No throat drop" school I had a kid with a sore throat refuse a salt water rinse. Tonsils somewhat swollen, no temp. I said "If you won't do a salt water gargle I have nothing for you, go back to class." I was later thanked by the teacher, "He was avoiding a math worksheet."

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Specializes in Peds, MS, DIDD, Corrections, HH, LTC, School Nurse.
On 4/18/2019 at 8:45 AM, Blue_Moon said:

Yep! I think many kids will do anything for attention because they don't get any at home. Then the more you give, the more they come back. LOL! Of course there are those that get LOTS of attention at home and just feel so special they want even more. Those are the ones that annoy me the most. I also get annoyed at teachers sending kids for belly aches, headaches, earaches, etc that JUST began 2 seconds ago and the "injuries" that are invisible.

The teachers that's what I'm trying to figure out. ? Do they send them to us because they are tired of the LDs whining? I've actually had teachers tell me they are "afraid of getting sued if they don't let them come to clinic". Really, it's just a splinter!

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Specializes in school nursing/ maternal/child hospital based.
On 4/18/2019 at 8:15 AM, ruby_jane said:

Beautiful synopsis of why I am tired, why I am irritated with teachers, and why I feel like I'm swimming upstream most days. Not everything needs an ice pack, sweet pea, but it's easier to give one than to explain this. Come to think of it, this is why we have antibiotic resistance, right?

100% The battle is real. At this point in the year, I feel like I am throwing up the white flag of surrender. Amazing how we can recharge and come back loving it all again after summer break! I crossed the 6,000 nurse clinic visit on Thursday. Still have 28 school days to go. This is a school of 470. I have sent 3% of those visits home, if that tells you anything. No diabetics this year, No seizure kids. UGHGHGHGGHH is all I can say!!!!!

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