Tiredness?

Specialties School

Published

Welcome back everyone! Hope all of you have had a goooood break!

Current problem - teachers have been sending students who are tired or sleepy AND demand me to send them home! What do you guys do in this scenario?

I did not send 2 kids home today. Send by the same teacher. the first kid freshened up well after 1 hour of nap. the second kid wanted to go home and rest BUT wants to come back at 4pm for her soccer match. ?????!!!!!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Of course I first rule out illness or other issues...but assuming a negative assessment...Sleepy is not a medical condition. If it is a one time thing, the kid has to suck it up and stay in class. If it is happening repeatedly, I call the parents and discuss the situation, perhaps involving the principal. There is no way I let teachers bully me into sending a student home because they are tired, and I do not let them nap in my office. They are here to learn and I encourage them not to interrupt instructional time for minor discomforts. Sleepy is a minor discomfort, and it will pass without harm to the student! I think the teachers just don't want to deal with them, and if they pass it off on the nurse they do not have to deal with the discipline issue behind it.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

If students are truly exhausted (i.e. recovering from mono type thing) and not just in their perpetual states of simply wanting to go back to bed, i will allow then to rest for 20-30 minutes max but only during a non-academic period and only if the office can accomodate it at the time.

Beyond that i will allow them to freshen up, splash cold water on their face.

I don't sleep well and i'm often tired during the day... if i've gotta be there :yawn:... they've gotta be there

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Specializes in School Nursing.

allowing tired/sleepy kids to sleep in the clinic is a bad thing to start. they will be exposed to lot's of illness's while they are there taking a nap. they will leave there with more than just sleepiness ! :eek:

praiser :redbeathe

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I will allow kids to come in and sleep ONLY DURING lunch and recess

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I'm so glad this was posted. I was about to ask a similar question. There are lots of kids that want to do this. But, what about a student who has a 504 for a medical condition that affects stamina (cystic fibrosis)? In middle school, they don't have recess times so would have to miss class. I've been letting him rest for maybe 20-30 minutes. I was just thinking, though, that they will have to learn eventually that most bosses won't give them time off work for a nap.

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504's completely different topic. Cystic fibrosis can rest anytime, but the routine run of the mill middle schooler (who stayed up late last night playing XBOX) who is falling asleep in class does not rest in my office , unless you come in at lunch or recess, which is half the lunch period. If they do not show up during lunch, they know better than to come in after lunch, because they will just be sent back. If the teacher has a problem, tell her to talk to the prinicipal.

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Specializes in Coronary Care, School Nurse.

If the student does not have a health concern but "needs" to go home then the teacher or administrator can call the parents and force the issue.

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