Students using cell phones to call home sick

Specialties School

Published

Hi

Does anyone an opinion on students by-passing the school nurse; calling the parent directly from school to be picked up because the student doesn't feel good? This is a growing issue and was wondering if anyone has any advise? Cell phones are here to stay, and though it is against policy, and the student is not medically excused, there doesn't seem to be concern by the parent or student.

I almost feel like I am missing an opportunity to implement a new procedure that incorporates the use of cell phones by students.

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
Exactly! This is really bad at my MS. In fact, every year my clinic traffic decreases because of it. I have learned to let it go as there is no back up from above. Doesn't seem to matter that kids are in class using their phones, even using classroom phones to call home sick. Here, if a parent picks up - they automatically excuse them anyway, no matter the reason.

I see kids here that have 15-20 all day absences, 20 more individual class absences, 49 tardies, etc.

Nothing at all happens to them. Unless the climate changes, for me it is not worth the battle.

We used to be very lax in attendance. Before I came, volunteers recorded it and no one really kept track of it. I took it over and do weekly audits to keep up to date and I call if no contact has been made after 3 days absent. Totally different culture, first year I had students with 35 absences/ year, down to 27 last year and now the most is 22, from a chronically ill student. Culture can be changed, but it takes a little while for parents to realize you aren't kidding.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I have this issue too and mine is a K-8 school. I had 3 incident this year with this and I tell the kids, PLEASE don't do this because not only will it confuse your parents and they think something is going on with their child, but I'll get in trouble and the school will get in trouble. I do this in front of the parent and the child apologizes and the parents will get mad at them because not only did they break a school rule, but they get their phones confiscated until they pay $10 that day or wait until the next day. And all we can say, "Sorry sir/ma'am, but it's school policies and its in the handbook on page X paragraph X."

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If I have not the child to determine if he/she needs to go home I do not excuse the child. If the parent is on the way and sends child to my office and kid does not have fever or other excusable problem I call and explain to parent this will not be a nurse excused absence and will count toward truancy.

Our state has a law that public school children can miss no more than 8 unexcused days before the school will turn the parent into the court system.

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I cover 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. From time to time a parent will show up and say the student texted they were sick and I never saw them. The parent is always informed that it is against our rules for a student to use a cell phone during the school day and that we have a school nurse in the building who may treat the child. If they still wish to take the student they must use a parent note to excuse the tardy, I do not Nurse excuse them leaving.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

Just had one today who decided to go over me and call parents with secretary. He's always coming in my office for something and I sent him back to class because I know he doesn't sleep much and/or doesn't eat breakfast, and this is why his head hurts or he feels sick. (I always give him snacks too and rest.)

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Has anyone drafted a notice to parents about encouraging student to report to nurse office when they are calling/texting them? My principal has asked me to do so and I am kind of stuck on how to go about it. I am in a middle school and if you think the kids are emotional and sensitive.. their parent are worse! Everyone is defensive, over protective, and enabling. Please help.. any advice welcomed.

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It's a battle I no longer fight. If Admin won't back me on this, then I'm not wasting my time.

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
Has anyone drafted a notice to parents about encouraging student to report to nurse office when they are calling/texting them? My principal has asked me to do so and I am kind of stuck on how to go about it. I am in a middle school and if you think the kids are emotional and sensitive.. their parent are worse! Everyone is defensive, over protective, and enabling. Please help.. any advice welcomed.

I am guessing this is also stated in the student handbook. I would simply re-state what it says. That should have been School Board approved/backed by Admin/parents should have signed a form that says they and the student has read it (not that they do, but still......). So, shouldn't be much room for the parents to get all defensive and nasty about it.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i don't argue about it either. My admin does get mad about it, but it usually doesn't have a big enough impact for it to stop. The bigger issue here was kids not liking my answer of me thinking they are fine to stay in school with cold/ allergies and bee lining to use the office phone to "talk to their mom" then pleading their case to go home that way. I talked them into creating a call log complete with reason for call. It's also explained that students calling themselves home does not create an excused absence. This really has cut down on this behavior.

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Thank you for the insight.. I have been a nurse 10 yrs and this is my first year as a school nurse. And boy oh boy what a difference it is from the hospital. I am doing my best to try not to piss people off.. but you cant please everyone.

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I am at Elementary so we don't have this problem often. The only thing I have to use to discourage this is that if a parent comes to pick up a student who used own phone to call home "sick" it is not considered an excused absence - where if the student came thru me and I called it is considered excused. The unexcused absences can become a problem for those with truancy issues.

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
Thank you for the insight.. I have been a nurse 10 yrs and this is my first year as a school nurse. And boy oh boy what a difference it is from the hospital. I am doing my best to try not to piss people off.. but you cant please everyone.

NurseLinville- Hang in there. Looking back on my 20 years as a school nurse- One of the most important parts of the job (and how to survive for the long haul)...is to learn how to navigate the world of education. YES>>>>>>>it is a whole different ballgame.

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