This is why everyone gets sick

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

Our front desk/office manager was late today- came in around 10:30. He called early to say he wasn't "feeling well" but would come in later. In the meantime, three other staff members rotated through sitting at his desk and answering his phone, using his computer, etc. So in he comes at 10:30 and tells me "I was up all night with vomiting and diarrhea, that's why I came in late"! :banghead: Waiting to see how long before those who covered for him come down with the same. I told him it was great he wanted to come in despite his illness, but that he should have told us when he called in WHAT he was ill with and I would have told him not to come in.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Bleh - i have become a big fan of allowing the kids that are sick in my office or potentially sick speak on my phone via speaker if i call and the parent asks to speak to them. I tell the parents straight up that I can't afford to get sick. I also keep a bottle of alcohol and cotton balls so I can disinfect my phone several times a day. The entrie office gets lysoled on a regular basis and I try to prop my door open when logical to do so so that less sick or bloody handed children (usually from gushing epistaxis) handle the knob.

Here's to hoping that Mr. Office manager keeps his germs to himself

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I know the feeling. I have this teacher here, who has the flu, but refuses to go home. And she's coughing hard and everywhere! Not covering her coughs! I tried to give her a face mask and nicely said to cover her coughs, but she refused. So now I'm just counting the days where I got a lot of kids coughing and with the flu...

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
I know the feeling. I have this teacher here, who has the flu, but refuses to go home. And she's coughing hard and everywhere! Not covering her coughs! I tried to give her a face mask and nicely said to cover her coughs, but she refused. So now I'm just counting the days where I got a lot of kids coughing and with the flu...

Good Grief!! No Admin. will back you to get her outta there?? :nurse:

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.
I know the feeling. I have this teacher here, who has the flu, but refuses to go home. And she's coughing hard and everywhere! Not covering her coughs! I tried to give her a face mask and nicely said to cover her coughs, but she refused. So now I'm just counting the days where I got a lot of kids coughing and with the flu...

WOW!!!!! That is crazy!

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Specializes in School nursing.

This is way I have a bottle of Clorox wipes next to my phone. As did both of our office managers ;).

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I told them, but they can't force her out but suggest it.

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Specializes in School nursing.
I told them, but they can't force her out but suggest it.

Does she have a diagnosed case of the flu?

If so, I can make her go home. And all it would take is a call to admin and public health guidelines. That spread could easily turn into widespread illness that can force a school to be shut down for a few days by the department of public health.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Does she have a diagnosed case of the flu?

If so, I can make her go home. And all it would take is a call to admin and public health guidelines. That spread could easily turn into widespread illness that can force a school to be shut down for a few days by the department of public health.

Not diagnosed, she just says she has the "flu".
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