The Pacer Test

NurseBeans, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 10, 2017

In what I consider an all time low point, last year I was forced to give tylenol (per mom) to a student who had just run the pacer test and could feel her heart racing. It made her uncomfortable so she needed tylenol. :rolleyes:

ohiobobcat · Mar 10, 2017

Is this Pacer Test you speak of similar to the Timed Mile Run/Walk at my school? Which always turns into some sedentary kid deciding he will become the next Usain Bolt, not realizing that Bolt is a short distance sprinter. And you, my friend, are trying to "run" a mile, when the most physical activity you have done in the last 5 years is getting up from the couch to change your video game and/or get a snack. So sprint the first 50 feet, try your hardest to keep up that pace for the next 4 laps, and I will see you (and your friends) on the track after you puke and/or pass out somewhere in the middle of your mile.

Sigh.

iggywench, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2017

I cannot stand the Pacer test! It got to the point last year where I brought the PE coach a cooler with bottles of water and peppermints, and told her not to send me any students who don't have asthma. I had four crying fifth-grade girls in the clinic at one time who were out of breath after running.

BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN · Mar 10, 2017

I cannot stand the Pacer test! It got to the point last year where I brought the PE coach a cooler with bottles of water and peppermints, and told her not to send me any students who don't have asthma. I had four crying fifth-grade girls in the clinic at one time who were out of breath after running.

OOOO!!!!! I like that idea! :)

Jolie, BSN · Mar 10, 2017

My daughter, now a college freshman was in 1st grade when she outwitted the PE teacher and got her entire class out of the pacer test. It was one of my proudest Mama moments :)

On an unseasonably warm spring afternoon, the little darlings were informed that they were going to do the pacer test. It also happened to be picture day, so they were all dressed to the nines. My daughter, never one to shrink from a challenge, let Big Hulky Gym Teacher know that their mamas would be sooooo disappointed if they were all hot, sweaty and red-faced in their special spring pictures. He relented and let them play four square instead. Little did he know that pictures had been taken at 8:30 that morning, but then no one ever accused him of being overly-observant. Amazing that they managed to successfully enter 2nd grade that fall without a current pacer score!

BeckyESRN · Mar 10, 2017

My daughter, now a college freshman was in 1st grade when she outwitted the PE teacher and got her entire class out of the pacer test. It was one of my proudest Mama moments :)
On an unseasonably warm spring afternoon, the little darlings were informed that they were going to do the pacer test. It also happened to be picture day, so they were all dressed to the nines. My daughter, never one to shrink from a challenge, let Big Hulky Gym Teacher know that their mamas would be sooooo disappointed if they were all hot, sweaty and red-faced in their special spring pictures. He relented and let them play four square instead. Little did he know that pictures had been taken at 8:30 that morning, but then no one ever accused him of being overly-observant. Amazing that they managed to successfully enter 2nd grade that fall without a current pacer score!

Your daughter is true hero!

I loathe the pacer test! After 20+ years of being a PE teacher, you'd think he could tell them just to sit for a minute and take deep breaths, but nope. Pacer week means and endless number of "I can't breath" and "My chest hurts" and "my heart is beating too fast".

RNLisaC · Mar 10, 2017

Why the peppermints? I'm new to school nursing. I had at least two students last week that were sent to my office who were not asthmatics and were legitimately out of breath from PE (both significantly overweight as well). Thanks for any tips!

pixierose, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2017

My kids have done the Pacer test so many times that they actually memorized the darn dialogue. One long car trip a few months ago, my husband and I were "enlightened" (complete with music imitation).

FTR, it seems the gym teachers loathe doing it, at least the sane ones.

kidzcare · Mar 11, 2017

My daughter, now a college freshman was in 1st grade when she outwitted the PE teacher and got her entire class out of the pacer test. It was one of my proudest Mama moments :)
On an unseasonably warm spring afternoon, the little darlings were informed that they were going to do the pacer test. It also happened to be picture day, so they were all dressed to the nines. My daughter, never one to shrink from a challenge, let Big Hulky Gym Teacher know that their mamas would be sooooo disappointed if they were all hot, sweaty and red-faced in their special spring pictures. He relented and let them play four square instead. Little did he know that pictures had been taken at 8:30 that morning, but then no one ever accused him of being overly-observant. Amazing that they managed to successfully enter 2nd grade that fall without a current pacer score!

Awesome :) My friend and I got out of running every week on "fitness" day (alternating run/walk for the entire gym period) of our senior year of high school. A couple weeks before school started our PE teacher got a DUI in front of another friend of our's house. As in, he was at a party down the street, drunk, and hit my friend's brother's car that was parked on the street. He knew we knew and never made us run :)

Now I am a runner and I would LOVE if there was an hour that was designated to running built into my work day.

Why the peppermints? I'm new to school nursing. I had at least two students last week that were sent to my office who were not asthmatics and were legitimately out of breath from PE (both significantly overweight as well). Thanks for any tips!

Peppermint relieves nausea. Ginger too :)

Is this Pacer Test you speak of similar to the Timed Mile Run/Walk at my school?

Here's a breakdown of the pacer: The PACER Fitness Test / Fitness / Cardio

Eleven011 · Mar 13, 2017

I thought you were talking about the mile run too. But now that I read the link, I see its totally different. We don't do anything like that here that I am aware of. At least I've seen no complaints for it, nor heard about it from my own kids. Now the mile run - that's another story!

Running Cat Lady · Mar 13, 2017

I think my current school does some version of the pacer and they also make them run a mile every once in a while.

The middle school I was at last year would make them run a mile but not announce it until the day of. Those teachers would leave me a note saying "We're running the mile today!! :) " So I knew what to expect.

Lately I've taken to asking the gasping, side clutching kids if they play a sport. When they say not I suggest they take one up.