Throwing up policy

SchoolNurse2017 · Oct 19, 2017

FYI this is for high school kids!

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Oct 19, 2017

Like fighting a tsunami, especially since they have the ability to txt and call. I do ask to to see the child before they go and explain the process to them. Most often falls on deaf ears. The parents will do what they will. I try to explain the public health side of it to them...again. Deaf ears.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Oct 19, 2017

I look at it this way, a parent has the right to pick up their child, but i don't have to make it an excused absence. If i don't get the opportunity to make the assessment and determination of excusal, then i don't excuse the absence. If the parent wants to bring in a doctor's note for absence excusal, then that's fine, but otherwise they do not get my SHBN coding and the free pass for tomorrow.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2017

I look at it this way, a parent has the right to pick up their child, but i don't have to make it an excused absence. If i don't get the opportunity to make the assessment and determination of excusal, then i don't excuse the absence. If the parent wants to bring in a doctor's note for absence excusal, then that's fine, but otherwise they do not get my SHBN coding and the free pass for tomorrow.

Yep.

My office checks with me if a parent shows up to pick up a sick student. If I've seen that student, I give the office a heads-up, so they are calling me because they suspect a student called home without permission themselves. And then they pass it on to the Dean. I love my office staff.

As for the vomit...

Student: "I threw up in the bathroom." Student has arrived in office with no phone call from staff (which usually comes with a witnessed vomit session, as vomit has all the cooties, of course!)

Me: "Okay. Why don't you get a cup of water and sit with me for a few minutes."

I take that time to observe the student. That observation often yields the data I need to determine if vomit session actually occurred and if it may be viral. I have a lot of anxiety puking in both MS and HS. If student is having active conversation, downs 3 cups of water with no issues, they go back to class. Even if a student doesn't vomit in front of me, if they have just recently vomited due to illness, I will see something during my observation (won't drink the water, for example, head down, pale, very quiet when I know the student to be anything but quiet).

cooties_are_real · Oct 19, 2017

Just wanted to see what others think about students going home with stating "I have already talked to my parent, they said I could go home!" And the "I threw up in the bathroom!" Policies.... do you let them go home or assess them and see what you think?

About call or contacting parent, I just let them know there is nothing else I can do for them and it will not be nurse excused. Policy on this one is we have to assess and call the parent if needed for it to be excused by the nurse. A parent can come pick up a student when they want to, but they cannot say it is due to the nurse sent them home.

"I threw up in the bathroom...." For me it's a case by case issue. If they talk to me and I can smell it on their breath, I tend to believe them, offer a peppermint and then call mom. I have some that I will not just take their word, because it is a common thing with them. Acid reflux is a frequent diagnosis I have here on my campus. So we attempt to keep these Little Darlings and teach on what to eat and not to eat and discuss anxiety and worry.