So, this is a follow up to the thread last week when I asked for help with wording on a note to go home about parents not sending kids to school after giving them Tylenol/IB to reduce fever and help them feel a little better temporarily. I sent this home last Thursday (to the school I was at that day.) --
Dear Parents-
Over the past few weeks we have had several kids come to school feeling just barely well enough to stay at school. In general, we usually ask them if they had medicine at home that morning. It is very alarming, and happens pretty frequently, that we can determine that they most likely had Tylenol or Ibuprofen. This only reduces their temperature temporarily, but DOES NOT, reduce the risk of passing their illness to others.
We, of course, want students to miss the least amount of school as possible. However, we also know that students best recover from illness at home.
*** For the safety and well-being of students and adults: prior to school, please do not give them fever-reducing medications (Tylenol, Advil/Motrin, or any single ingredient or other combination over the counter cold/allergy medications that contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen.) Students must be fever-free for 24 hours without use of the above medications to attend school.***
Our current outbreak of illnesses cannot be contained without the cooperation of all families.
As a school, we are doing our part in increasing disinfecting of common surfaces, encouraging all to cover coughs/sneezes with elbow, and sending kids home who have a fever over 100*, and are exhibiting symptoms of illness, according to protocol and policy.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's health, I would love to visit with you.
Sincerely,
On Monday of this week - I got a group e-mail from and Admin. in one of my other buildings...explaining that she had a fever of 101., and had come to school...but she wasn't contagious as long as she was taking Tylenol.
This is still my expression..... and I am still Speechless. I haven't seen that Admin yet this week. Trying to figure out how to address it in a tactful way. That Admin. is a Dr...but not the kind I most closely identify with.
At this very moment, Doctors Without Borders is air-dropping cases of Tylenol across Africa, having found out that all communicable disease can be stopped in its tracks when everyone simply takes Tylenol. Wow!
Our district has been hit hard with norovirus and influenza. Up to 40 kids a day are out (including my 15 year old son).
At my son's basketball game Tuesday night, the coach looked like he'd been rode hard and put away wet . . . and told me he had a fever and had been vomiting all day.
We do need to do a better job of communicating to parents, teachers, and other staff about how contagious these illnesses are and not to just give your kids a fever-reducer and send them to school. They just pass that illness on to other kids.
If "Patient Zero" had just stayed home . . . maybe they could have nipped this in the bud.
I don't know how we can educate the public better. I am a bedside nurse and am constantly amazed how many of my patients believe the fever IS the illness. I spend a fair amount of time educating them that the fever is a symptom and actually the body's way of combating the virus or bacterial infection so it is "good" if you are sick...and which is why we are not allowed to give tylenol until a person's temp is 102.2 F (30 C) or greater.
We do have a problem because most jobs are not friendly to sick days...so parents tend to send the kids to school so they don't lose their jobs. Think about it, I am a bedside med/surg nurse in a 1100 bed hospital in a major metro area and I am constantly exposed to a huge variety of illness from the patient rooms, to the elevator buttons, to the door handles...and although I do wash my hands very frequently, someone is going to cough or sneeze in a confined area more than occasionally. I am allowed exactly THREE sick days a year before I can be called in for "excessive absences"...so of course we show up as long as we believe we can function for 12 hours...that may mean with a fever or a cough (overdosing on otc suppressants) or whatever. We know better and most do wear mask when doing patient contact, but if the medical field doesn't allow sick days...how can we expect non-medical people to understand that there is value in staying home from school and work.
I don't know how we can educate the public better. I am a bedside nurse and am constantly amazed how many of my patients believe the fever IS the illness. I spend a fair amount of time educating them that the fever is a symptom and actually the body's way of combating the virus or bacterial infection so it is "good" if you are sick...and which is why we are not allowed to give tylenol until a person's temp is 102.2 F (30 C) or greater.
We do have a problem because most jobs are not friendly to sick days...so parents tend to send the kids to school so they don't lose their jobs. Think about it, I am a bedside med/surg nurse in a 1100 bed hospital in a major metro area and I am constantly exposed to a huge variety of illness from the patient rooms, to the elevator buttons, to the door handles...and although I do wash my hands very frequently, someone is going to cough or sneeze in a confined area more than occasionally. I am allowed exactly THREE sick days a year before I can be called in for "excessive absences"...so of course we show up as long as we believe we can function for 12 hours...that may mean with a fever or a cough (overdosing on otc suppressants) or whatever. We know better and most do wear mask when doing patient contact, but if the medical field doesn't allow sick days...how can we expect non-medical people to understand that there is value in staying home from school and work.
This pretty much sums it up. I've tested positive for influenza more than once (shot wasn't effective). Obviously contagious. When calling in with evidence of a positive test I have had more than one employer say, "Well, how do you feel?"..."um, crappy and contagious"...I guess they thought taking some Tylenol and masking the symptoms would magically make the spread of infection impossible (not to mention the flu renders one useless).
I don't know how we can educate the public better. I am a bedside nurse and am constantly amazed how many of my patients believe the fever IS the illness. I spend a fair amount of time educating them that the fever is a symptom and actually the body's way of combating the virus or bacterial infection so it is "good" if you are sick...and which is why we are not allowed to give tylenol until a person's temp is 102.2 F (30 C) or greater.
We do have a problem because most jobs are not friendly to sick days...so parents tend to send the kids to school so they don't lose their jobs. Think about it, I am a bedside med/surg nurse in a 1100 bed hospital in a major metro area and I am constantly exposed to a huge variety of illness from the patient rooms, to the elevator buttons, to the door handles...and although I do wash my hands very frequently, someone is going to cough or sneeze in a confined area more than occasionally. I am allowed exactly THREE sick days a year before I can be called in for "excessive absences"...so of course we show up as long as we believe we can function for 12 hours...that may mean with a fever or a cough (overdosing on otc suppressants) or whatever. We know better and most do wear mask when doing patient contact, but if the medical field doesn't allow sick days...how can we expect non-medical people to understand that there is value in staying home from school and work.
You bring up a really valid point. I feel that even as a school nurse, it is almost impossible to take a sick day. Subs are impossible to find at the last minute, and feeling guilt about putting off your responsibilities on a secretary or someone else on campus who is overwhelmed with their own responsibilities.
When I do call in, it literally takes me 2 hours to make all the calls and send all the necessary e-mails. And I get calls and texts throughout day with questions. Umm, not really relaxing day to get better.
We come sick and work hungry while we tell our patients to stay home and eat regularly scheduled meals....
You bring up a really valid point. I feel that even as a school nurse, it is almost impossible to take a sick day. Subs are impossible to find at the last minute, and feeling guilt about putting off your responsibilities on a secretary or someone else on campus who is overwhelmed with their own responsibilities.
When I do call in, it literally takes me 2 hours to make all the calls and send all the necessary e-mails. And I get calls and texts throughout day with questions. Umm, not really relaxing day to get better.
We come sick and work hungry while we tell our patients to stay home and eat regularly scheduled meals....
I came in one day in December with what was obviously a GI bug. Body aches, nausea, diarrhea...you know the deal. But there have been no subs for me this year, even for planned (3 months in advance!!) MILITARY LEAVE days which legally I have to be allowed. Just, no subs. I know I was wrong to come to work but in this state the school has to have a nurse in the building for the school to be open for the day. So I sat at my desk with chills and aches and vomiting because I had to, and I knew it was either I work sick or 500 kids stay home from school. Sometimes people just are in a situation where they have to go to work, sick/sick kid or not.
You bring up a really valid point. I feel that even as a school nurse, it is almost impossible to take a sick day. Subs are impossible to find at the last minute, and feeling guilt about putting off your responsibilities on a secretary or someone else on campus who is overwhelmed with their own responsibilities.
When I do call in, it literally takes me 2 hours to make all the calls and send all the necessary e-mails. And I get calls and texts throughout day with questions. Umm, not really relaxing day to get better.
We come sick and work hungry while we tell our patients to stay home and eat regularly scheduled meals....
Bingo! My school has had a Norovirus outbreak for the past 2 weeks with about 25% of students affected. The principal said she would close classes at the 25% point and, when I gave her these numbers, she still chose to do nothing even when she got sick herself. Incredibly frustrating.
I woke up sick on Wednesday and couldn't get coverage. The idea of office staff trying to handle my med lock-up, kindergarten asthma kids, diabetics and seizures, or any potential emergencies pushed me in here. I got coverage on Thursday but admin still completely botched up what they considered a complete and total "lice outbreak" (one family) which I am cleaning up today although I still shouldn't be here.
Bingo! My school has had a Norovirus outbreak for the past 2 weeks with about 25% of students affected. The principal said she would close classes at the 25% point and, when I gave her these numbers, she still chose to do nothing even when she got sick herself. Incredibly frustrating.
I woke up sick on Wednesday and couldn't get coverage. The idea of office staff trying to handle my med lock-up, kindergarten asthma kids, diabetics and seizures, or any potential emergencies pushed me in here. I got coverage on Thursday but admin still completely botched up what they considered a complete and total "lice outbreak" (one family) which I am cleaning up today although I still shouldn't be here.
Truth about getting subs. I do have a non-nurse plan and there is one other nurse in our other school building about a 10 minute walk away. But it is a struggle. I have one sub who is friend so if I want to plan a day off in advance, I can reach out and see what days she is available to cover.
Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
At this very moment, Doctors Without Borders is air-dropping cases of Tylenol across Africa, having found out that all communicable disease can be stopped in its tracks when everyone simply takes Tylenol. Wow!
Oh my goodness. This absolutely makes my day! I just read it to my secretary (I am in the same building today at the good Dr. that I spoke of) We have nearly died laughing!! Thank you! Thank you!!
Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
I don't know how we can educate the public better. I am a bedside nurse and am constantly amazed how many of my patients believe the fever IS the illness. I spend a fair amount of time educating them that the fever is a symptom and actually the body's way of combating the virus or bacterial infection so it is "good" if you are sick...and which is why we are not allowed to give tylenol until a person's temp is 102.2 F (30 C) or greater.
We do have a problem because most jobs are not friendly to sick days...so parents tend to send the kids to school so they don't lose their jobs. Think about it, I am a bedside med/surg nurse in a 1100 bed hospital in a major metro area and I am constantly exposed to a huge variety of illness from the patient rooms, to the elevator buttons, to the door handles...and although I do wash my hands very frequently, someone is going to cough or sneeze in a confined area more than occasionally. I am allowed exactly THREE sick days a year before I can be called in for "excessive absences"...so of course we show up as long as we believe we can function for 12 hours...that may mean with a fever or a cough (overdosing on otc suppressants) or whatever. We know better and most do wear mask when doing patient contact, but if the medical field doesn't allow sick days...how can we expect non-medical people to understand that there is value in staying home from school and work.
Excellent post.
However, your finger slipped. I think you meant 39 C.
Perhaps you can find a couple of studies that support your position and give copies to the Admin parent. It won't guarantee that he will keep the child home but you will have made your point.
and I am still Speechless. I haven't seen that Admin yet this week. Trying to figure out how to address it in a tactful way. That Admin. is a Dr...but not the kind I most closely identify with.
LessValuableNinja
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