Snacks?

Published

Good morning,

I have enjoyed reading all the posts and just joined to ask about giving out snacks. Who gives out snacks? I'm a new float school RN and am amazed at the amount of kids that come asking for a snack. Today I have turned away 20 kids so far. I just had one student ask for 4 snacks for her classroom. It's only the elementary schools that seem to give out any snacks. I'm sure there are some students legitimately hungry(maybe do not have enough at home/lack resources) and I am sensitive to that. But I've also had kids say, "I don't like the snack I have". I also think that some nurses buy the snacks and then spend time putting snacks into plastic baggies. They are always nutfree(saltines, cheerios). Because I float and fill in when needed I don't feel like I can really try to change the situation. But when I sub for people I have a no snack policy unless there's an obvious need. I also can't imagine the teachers would want the disruption of kids leaving twice a day to get a snack. I just don't feel like it's the nurse's job. Am I way off?

Specializes in Peds, MS, DIDD, Corrections, HH, LTC, School Nurse.
19 hours ago, Flare said:

on occassion, I get an abundance of unopened packaged foods which i will happily give out for snack. But I make it clear, that I don't stock this food myself - it's usually food that is set aside by students that don't want it from the breakfast program. Unopened, but can't be resold or recycled for another breakfast.

Same in our school district

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Children are like feral cats, feed them and they won't go away.

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3 minutes ago, MrNurse(x2) said:

Children are like feral cats, feed them and they won't go away.

Is that why those tiny humans won't leave my house?

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Just now, jess11RN said:

Is that why those tiny humans won't leave my house? They even follow me around public places calling me mom. Is that some sort of code for food?

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Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.

I only have snacks available when there are "leftovers" from the cafeteria from lunch, and then, only things we can clean off - prepackaged goldfish crackers, or baby carrots, yogurt, applesauce, etc.

Most of the teachers ask for parent donations to have snacks on-hand in class, however.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

My district gives free breakfast, lunch and snacks. I do have a tiny supply (graham crackers, cheerios) that I get from the cafeteria to have on hand "just in case" (diabetic, upset stomach..etc). BUT I do not give out snacks generally nor do I have kids asking for them. I feel like they give the kids plenty of opportunity to have food during the school day, if kids refuse it, there is nothing better I have to offer.

Water on the hand....I have the "coldest best water in the world" (according to the entire 6 th grade) so I get a ton of requests for that! LOL.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
1 hour ago, scuba nurse said:

Water on the hand....I have the "coldest best water in the world" (according to the entire 6 th grade) so I get a ton of requests for that! LOL.

It's nurse water. It is the best!

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We don't have a cafeteria. I give out snacks to anyone who forgot one at home. The good thing is a forgotten snack then clues us in that the child probably didn't bring lunch so we can call home for someone to bring them something by lunchtime. My snacks are donated to me by PTA, other staff members, my superintendent, myself, etc.

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.
22 hours ago, scuba nurse said:

Water on the hand....I have the "coldest best water in the world" (according to the entire 6 th grade) so I get a ton of requests for that! LOL.

I have crappy sink water. No one wants it.

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2 minutes ago, Eleven011 said:

I have crappy sink water. No one wants it.

Haha same here - sometimes kids & parents look at me like I have 2 heads when I tell them to get a cup and get water from the sink tap.

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1 minute ago, AdobeRN said:

Haha same here - sometimes kids & parents look at me like I have 2 heads when I tell them to get a cup and get water from the sink tap.

Yes! I had a mom flip out that we let kids drink tap water and offered to donate water. She was ranting about the town water report. Something about salt. Um. I live within 10 blocks of the school and our water reports are just fine? But feel free to stock us with bottled water so we don't poison your child with the one ounce of water her drinks with his meds. (I didn't ask. Don't want to know. But I suspect that she blames tap water for causing ADHD and austism)

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On 5/1/2019 at 7:32 PM, aprilmoss said:

I am under the strong opinion that food of any sort, be it snacks or party food or whatever, does not belong in the classroom. The sanitation just isn't there.

YES, YES, and YES! For several reasons.

1. Allergy concerns

2. Huge class distraction.

3. Why are we still using food as a reward system as opposed to teaching healthy eating habits?????

I only give out saltines and if I feel there is a medically therapeutic need. Could that be including hunger, of course! However, there is an assessment process as with any other treatment I provide.

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