I get wanting to believe your kid, but I also know as a parent, that 99% of the time, you are NOT getting the full story.
I got an angry call from a mother of a first grader I saw yesterday, asking why I didn't call her yesterday to tell her that her snowflake had a fever. Apparently when she got picked up from her after school program at 6:00 pm (I saw her at 11:20 am) she had a fever of 103. I pull up my note from yesterday and say "because she did not have a fever yesterday. If she had a fever I would have sent her home". So mom says "She told me she came to see you yesterday and you told her she had a fever and sent her back to class". So I read her the end of my note out loud "Allowed student to sleep for 30 minutes and re-checked temp- 99.2. Student stated she feels better so sent her back to class". Mom was silent after that
Edited to add that I also made sure mom understands that a fever is anything over 100.4 at our school, in case she mistakenly thought the 99.2 was a fever.
I had a mom call me and chew me out for not calling her once when her kid , who is a total FF by the way, came to see me about a scratch on his back that I could barely see. I put lotion on it to make him feel like I did something and she was mad that I put something on it and did not inform her. So I apologized and told her I would call her whenever he came to see me. I think she is now regretting telling me she wanted that because he comes all the time and I call her every,single.time:laugh: She also now realizes what a real PITA he is and hoe often he leaves class for stupid stuff.
This boy might do better in some other school setting. Just thinking out loud...
Specializes in Prior Auth, SNF, HH, Peds Off., School Health, LTC.
Wow! And I mean seriously, WHY would the nurse refuse to give meds ever? I seriously think these parents don;t use their common sense when listening to their kid's stories. Maybe I am just mean, but I usually assume 1/2 of what my kids tell me is skewed and always ask for clarification before coming to any conclusions.
More often than not, they are simply *devoid* of common sense.
Can't use what you don't have.
And no, you aren't mean... I was the same way.... i once told my son: "I'm sure your teacher doesn't hate kids... I promise you she didn't decide to be a teacher because they're paying her enough money to put up with 30 smart-mouth, bratty kids every day.
OP: But the satisfaction of having excellent documentation does help in these situations.
I will never forget this incident during my first year of teaching on parent/teacher conference day. We usually had team conferences. Individual conferences occurred only if there was a specific issue to be addressed. One of the teachers on my team had taught for thirty years and was planning on retiring at the end of the year. The parent said, and this is a direct quote, "I know my baby lies but I have to believe her anyway." She then turned and looked directly at this older teacher. "I don't blame her 'cause I didn't like you when you was my teacher either."
This is what anyone that deals with other people's children has to put up with in today's world. I'm sorry you know this frustration first-hand.
I get wanting to believe your kid, but I also know as a parent, that 99% of the time, you are NOT getting the full story.
I got an angry call from a mother of a first grader I saw yesterday, asking why I didn't call her yesterday to tell her that her snowflake had a fever. Apparently when she got picked up from her after school program at 6:00 pm (I saw her at 11:20 am) she had a fever of 103. I pull up my note from yesterday and say "because she did not have a fever yesterday. If she had a fever I would have sent her home". So mom says "She told me she came to see you yesterday and you told her she had a fever and sent her back to class". So I read her the end of my note out loud "Allowed student to sleep for 30 minutes and re-checked temp- 99.2. Student stated she feels better so sent her back to class". Mom was silent after that
Edited to add that I also made sure mom understands that a fever is anything over 100.4 at our school, in case she mistakenly thought the 99.2 was a fever.
As a new high school English teacher I was stunned by the phone calls I would get.
"You know how my daughter was out of school for 3 weeks with the plague? Well, she says you won't let her make up any assignments."
"Er. . . .no, I sat down with her and went over her make up work."
On the other hand, they would spin yarns about how their evil parents made them dig and sleep in a ditch last night even though the student pleaded and begged to finish their essay.
So I would always start my open-house/back to school night saying, "If you don't believe everything your kid says about me, I won't believe everything they say about you."
Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.
If I went to my parents with something like that as a kid I would have gotten "uh huh", and nothing done. The nurse is the adult and not doubted unless there is reason to. Even as a kid my parents made it clear that I needed to learn to deal with things myself. It was MY behavior that was questioned and how I reacted/responded to things and solved problems.
Now everyones kid is perfect. It is the blame game. Schools now have designated "peanut tables" with a monitor for kids allergic to peanuts (even into MIDDLE SCHOOL) because of course, it can't be the childs fault if they mistakenly eat something they shouldn't have it is the school.
A child with peanut and nut allergies does not have to eat either to have a reaction---they only need to be nearby. My daughter is highly allergic to walnuts. Her dad loved to buy the ones in shells and crack/eat them, daily. One day, she walked into and through the room where he was doing so, and by the time she got into the kitchen she was in distress. My grandson has a friend who, even sitting next to someone eating a pb&j sandwich at school would go into a severe allergic reaction, needing an epipen. So, those "peanut tables' as you call them are not farfetched.
Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.
I get wanting to believe your kid, but I also know as a parent, that 99% of the time, you are NOT getting the full story.
I got an angry call from a mother of a first grader I saw yesterday, asking why I didn't call her yesterday to tell her that her snowflake had a fever. Apparently when she got picked up from her after school program at 6:00 pm (I saw her at 11:20 am) she had a fever of 103. I pull up my note from yesterday and say "because she did not have a fever yesterday. If she had a fever I would have sent her home". So mom says "She told me she came to see you yesterday and you told her she had a fever and sent her back to class". So I read her the end of my note out loud "Allowed student to sleep for 30 minutes and re-checked temp- 99.2. Student stated she feels better so sent her back to class". Mom was silent after that
Edited to add that I also made sure mom understands that a fever is anything over 100.4 at our school, in case she mistakenly thought the 99.2 was a fever.
It's a little disturbing that you call a child a "snowflake". First graders? Seriously? Maybe a review of growth and development would do you some good.
... So, those "peanut tables' as you call them are not farfetched.
Food allergies are very scary and,obviously, have the potential to be fatal. My heart goes out to those affected by such allergies. Most school districts have designated peanut free areas or other allergen free areas as the need arises.
It's a little disturbing that you call a child a "snowflake". First graders? Seriously? Maybe a review of growth and development would do you some good.
Yes, seriously...and identifiable by a review of "growth and development" which is impacted by parenting - or the lack of parenting I might add.
A child with peanut and nut allergies does not have to eat either to have a reaction---they only need to be nearby. My daughter is highly allergic to walnuts. Her dad loved to buy the ones in shells and crack/eat them, daily. One day, she walked into and through the room where he was doing so, and by the time she got into the kitchen she was in distress. My grandson has a friend who, even sitting next to someone eating a pb&j sandwich at school would go into a severe allergic reaction, needing an epipen. So, those "peanut tables' as you call them are not farfetched.
I agree it might be necessary for some kids but schools are so afraid of lawsuits (at least here in NY) that as a parent you can't even opt-out from it with written consent and let your kid sit with their friends :/
A child with peanut and nut allergies does not have to eat either to have a reaction---they only need to be nearby. My daughter is highly allergic to walnuts. Her dad loved to buy the ones in shells and crack/eat them, daily. One day, she walked into and through the room where he was doing so, and by the time she got into the kitchen she was in distress. My grandson has a friend who, even sitting next to someone eating a pb&j sandwich at school would go into a severe allergic reaction, needing an epipen. So, those "peanut tables' as you call them are not farfetched.
I was going to put on my sarcasm hat to answer this, but decided...what the heck, it's the holidays. We are all WELL aware of the fact that an allergic person doesn't have to eat their allergen. It's not our first days (oops...a little bit snuck out there). The problem I have with allergy tables is that it gives kids somewhat of a false sense of security. Yes, I'll protect them as much as I can when they're here. But they need to learn to manage their allergy and protect and advocate for themselves. The world is not allergen free.
It's a little disturbing that you call a child a "snowflake". First graders? Seriously? Maybe a review of growth and development would do you some good.
Kooky Korky, BSN, RN
5,216 Posts
This boy might do better in some other school setting. Just thinking out loud...