Splinters - To remove or not to remove

[halohg]

Do you remove splinters? Having a conflict with my co-nurse partner over this. She will place band-aid over the splinter and tell them to have Mom take it out at home. I would be more likely to remove if could be done easily or if the child is Middle School or older would allow them to use the tweezer and try themselves to take out after a good washing.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

Had a student last year come to me with a splinter in his palm near the thumb, pretty deep. Attempted to remove it w/o success. Mother called, because this mom makes helicopter parents look permissive, I call her an umbilical parent, and took him out of class! This boy was a sixth grader. Pediatrician, knowing mom well, referred kid to a hand specialist, at this point the child has missed 2 days of school, and a third to go to the hand specialist only to be told it will work its way out in time. That is what I told her on the phone. I so wanted to make those absences unexcused.

[halohg, RN]

I have heard of baking soda paste, but not vaseline before.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

There is an Amish drawing salve that I remember my Penna Dutch parents smearing over a splinter. I believe it worked, but may have been a placebo effect.

[Oma to 11]

I have heard of using Elmers Glue to remove a splinter. You put it on and let it set then pull. I haven't tried it yet but I would love to see if it works.

[schoolnurse61]

I always attempt to remove unless it is very deep and it would require uncomfortable digging.

[BeckyESRN]

My grandmother swears by Bag Balm drawing salve. She puts it on everything including splinters.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

I don't dig, if I can squeeze and pull it out with tweezers I will. Otherwise, band-aid and note home it is. I could just hear the parents now "You poked my child with a needle!!!???"

Wahh.

[kidzcare]

Had a student last year come to me with a splinter in his palm near the thumb, pretty deep. Attempted to remove it w/o success. Mother called, because this mom makes helicopter parents look permissive, I call her an umbilical parent, and took him out of class! This boy was a sixth grader. Pediatrician, knowing mom well, referred kid to a hand specialist, at this point the child has missed 2 days of school, and a third to go to the hand specialist only to be told it will work its way out in time. That is what I told her on the phone. I so wanted to make those absences unexcused.

OMG! That's a nutty mom! And haha on umbilical parent!

I heard the term "Lawnmower parent" recently too- defined as "don't just hover; they step out in front of their kids and clear a path, smoothing over any rough patches before their children even encounter them"

11 Signs You're a 'Lawnmower Parent' | The Stir

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

11 Signs You're a 'Lawnmower Parent' | The Stir

Had to share on FB, that is so accurate.