Throwing up

[Amethya]

So what do you guys do if you have a child who threw up once, no fever? I don't feel they need to go home, especially after throwing up once. I do call the parents, but should they stay in class?

[OldDude]

... but it makes me mad when I'm trying to do my job, but instead of communicating with me, they're talking behind my back. If there's something wrong, I want to know, because maybe I can explain or help.

There will always be talking behind your back in the position you're in on campus and trying to explain every circumstance won't make it go away. Don't worry about it. Just treat them like you would your kids...set the rules and be consistent.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

In general I have the "if you don't throw up in the clinic you're probably fine" rule. Unwitnessed emesis and whatever happened just before it...nope. Afebrile kids get to rinse with mouthwash and try to make it until lunch. However, I have started writing the results of assessments on the backs of passes so that the teacher knows the student's temperature was normal and no emesis in clinic...

[Eleven011]

I was allowed to update the Health section of our handbook at the end of my first year, and this is what I put in for vomiting:

Vomiting: Student who vomit in school (witnessed) will be excluded and parents/guardians notified. There may be exceptions if it can be determined that vomiting was caused by factors such as nervousness, excessive crying/anger, phlegm in throat, ect. Children who vomit at home should not come to school until free from symptoms for 12 hours.

[SaltineQueen]

I was allowed to update the Health section of our handbook at the end of my first year, and this is what I put in for vomiting:

Vomiting: Student who vomit in school (witnessed) will be excluded and parents/guardians notified. There may be exceptions if it can be determined that vomiting was caused by factors such as nervousness, excessive crying/anger, phlegm in throat, ect. Children who vomit at home should not come to school until free from symptoms for 12 hours.

Stealing this!

I'm in a K-3 building so I have lots of instances where kids will eat lunch and then go play on "the spinny things" on the playground. Often does not have a happy ending.

[Amethya]

I re-read the handbook.

Clearly, it states on both sides of what I wrote, that unless it's illness-related, they are to go home. The child threw up yes, but aftewards, she felt fine. So my judgement call, was right. Unless she throws up again, then it was really illness-related, it just didn't show at the time. But I did let her parents know, like protocol was said to do.

But back to y'all, it depends on everyone. But what exactly do you do to make a child feel better if they are sick? I feel bad to let them sit there in pain and throwing up.

[Supernrse01, BSN]

And now they called the dad to get her, but she's fine! It's like, why are they going over my judgement? The father called me and asked me if he should get her, but I told him no, unless she throws up again.

I already told my office manager to tell them that my decision is my decision, they aren't the medical aide, so they can't make that decision.

The last time that happened to me, I went to the teacher that called home and told her from that point on, I would be sending her that particular student to complete the medical assessment from that point forward, since she felt her judgment was better than mine. Stopped her in her tracks and she never went over my head again.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

That's flippin' brilliant!! love it!!

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

And now they called the dad to get her, but she's fine! It's like, why are they going over my judgement? The father called me and asked me if he should get her, but I told him no, unless she throws up again.

I already told my office manager to tell them that my decision is my decision, they aren't the medical aide, so they can't make that decision.

That is insane. Why have a nurse? Man, if I sent kids home every time they threw up after breakfast or lunch I'd be sending multiple kids home a day. One puke, no fever and no other symptoms (especially when they say they feel fine), and I don't even call home.

[cooties_are_real]

I have kept some Little Darlings after they vomited several times, but I knew it was not an illness. Fever with vomiting gets you a ticket home for that day and the next. I have some diagnosed with acid reflux and will come in vomiting and depending on the severity they may or may not get to go home. I have LD that can vomit on demand, so I am constantly learning who is who.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I have kept some Little Darlings after they vomited several times, but I knew it was not an illness. Fever with vomiting gets you a ticket home for that day and the next. I have some diagnosed with acid reflux and will come in vomiting and depending on the severity they may or may not get to go home. I have LD that can vomit on demand, so I am constantly learning who is who.

I have a couple of these! lol

[ArryOtter]

Depends on the time of day, if it's the first thing in the morning, recess, or lunch I generally send back to class if there's no fever and to let me know if it happens again. Our official policy is three times and they MUST go home, but I usually call at 2 times and tell the parents to head our way. If they've had vomit in conjunction with diarrhea (even if it's 1 bout of both) I call home and request them to pick up.

ETA- Also if they're diagnosed with reflux we don't send home unless they have a fever. We are a special needs school and have a few that will frequently vomit due to their reflux and meds/feeds/direction of the wind. Also if they're habitual vomiters, anxious vomits, etc they stay.

If it was one time and clothes/hair are soiled, they go home.

[NurseHart]

It would not be an excused Nurse Absence if other staff dismissed a student for the day without your nurse signature.  I had this problem when I first started at the school I am currently working.  The teacher said 'she has to go home because she threw up'.  I stated, "No, the student is dismissed if contagious." Not every incident of a student 'throwing up' is a contagious event.