That Cough!!!

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Specializes in emergency room, TBI.

Ok, so what to do with that cough? Some of my students have a deep(sounding) congestive cough, it is going around, but no temp, it is not bothering them that much, but it is bothering my teachers! When the students go to the doctor, they get no meds, and are told to stay away from "cold meds"...they just have to let it run it's course. I tell the kids that come in to see me, catch your cough like a vampire (in the elbow) and to wash, wash, wash those hands...do you send them home? I do if it is the 2nd or third time to my office, but I don't want the teachers to "learn" that! What are your thoughts?

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I only send home for a cough with no other concerning symptoms if it is sooo bad that the student is unable to focus to get any work done, and it is sooo bad it is disruptive to the entire class. This is rare. I have the teachers allow the student frequent trips to the water fountain to keep the throat moist and that helps sometimes. In general, my policy is that if I see a kid for a second time in one day for anything I call home, give the parents my assessment and leave it up to them. Sometimes they just choose to come get the kid and I figure that's their right.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

this is where the cough drop rules really irritate the heck out of me. These kids are all coming in with the cough and clear lungs, no fever and no mucus production. All they need is a danged cough drop to soothe their throats and calm the tickle that is creating the cough. But in my state i can't even give out a cough drop without an order. Seriously considering buying some of those blue mint candies to offer the kids.

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What about those Halls Vitamin C drops. They contain no menthol and have daily nutritional value. Have thought about these. At the present time I use peppermints that dissolve.

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

I have LifeSavers and Lifesavers mints for coughs/sore throats. You just have to be careful about them coming constantly. I have to actually hear them cough for them to get one, I'm not a candy store!

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I am allowed to give out cough drops if I have a waiver signed by the parent. If I don't have the waiver, I also hand out peppermints. I rarely will send the student home with just a cough.

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Hmmmmmm if the cough is bothering the teacher, the child is not "ill", and the solution is a peice of hard candy, why doesn't the teacher hand it out? Is this really a nursing issue?

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Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

I give out lemon flavored candies and it seems to calm the cough, it also works well with a sore throat:nurse:

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