Vague Absence Notes of illness

Specialties School

Published

Specializes in Med/Surg, Emergency Room, School Nurse.

Having to follow up with every student that sends a note/email stating "attending virtual due to illness.. not feeling well.. I'm sick"  Is anyone else doing the same? Do you have a standard message that you use?   

We are back in school 5 days in person, with an option to due virtual if they are not comfortable.  Because we have that virtual piece and have students that are doing virtual full time, sick days are something of the past.  Since every symptom of COVID is also a symptom of many numerous illness, the kids were instructed not to attend school with any type of symptom (of course now they listen) and if they are feeling up to it they may attend virtually for that day or days.   The students have to email their teachers that they are attending virtually and most of the time it is the statements above.    Because that is a blanket statement I have been requested to follow up with everyone of these notes/ emails to get more details on what is the symptoms/illness to verify when they may return to school.  

Is anyone else doing the same?  We are a small private school of only 260 students but I also have to follow up with faculty and staff when they are out sick.  

1 Votes
Specializes in kids.

I have to call the remote kids and those who don't leave a reason why Johnny is sick. Essentially I am explaining that due to C19 we are calling on all illness to assess and see if we need to refer for evaluation and/or testing. What are the sx, onset, duration etc etc....it is a pain, but I keeping a log sheet as  quick reference to see what the kiddos history is, and how that may play into that particulars days illness.

4 Votes

I was calling each parent children marked "illness" as reason for absence, but with so many kids out with sniffles/cold/cough I've started to email this:

 

Hello (Parent),

I received an email/was told by X/that (child) is out of school sick today.  Please read the below information and let me know if you have any questions.

If your child has any of the following symptoms, they cannot attend in-person lessons: 

  • Fever (temperature of 100.4F or higher) 
  • Sore throat or nasal congestion 
  • Cough 
  • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing 
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea 
  • Fatigue, muscle or body aches 
  • Severe headache 
  • New loss of taste or smell 

Your child may return to in-person lessons when one of the following events have occurred: 

  • Proof of a Negative COVID PCR Test and an alternative diagnosis is received by the school nurse

OR

  • Your child has been out of school for 10 calendar days, is 24 hours fever free without the use of fever-reducing medications, and has improved symptoms

 

 

If I don't receive a response by the afternoon I'll call.

7 Votes
Specializes in Med/Surg, Emergency Room, School Nurse.

If I have never talked to the parent I am calling the first time, but after that it is an email getting them to explain what the illness is.  I am starting to get repeat "offenders" that just want to stay home cause they aren't "feeling it today" and the parents are writing generic notes.

 

BrisketRN, BSN, RN do you mind if I use some of your content?   I have been trying to write the same email for over 2 hours ? Partly because I have to many jobs and mostly that my brain is so fried that I can't even keep my own name straight anymore. 

 

2 Votes
1 hour ago, msilcox said:

BrisketRN, BSN, RN do you mind if I use some of your content?   I have been trying to write the same email for over 2 hours ? Partly because I have to many jobs and mostly that my brain is so fried that I can't even keep my own name straight anymore. 

 

Go ahead! I'm happy to share.

0 Votes
Specializes in retired LTC.

Again kudos to y'all for what you do.

4 Votes
Specializes in Geriatric Home Health, High School Nurse.

I contact all call outs that sound like they may be Covid related or if the message is too vague.  We are doing synchronous learning in person/virtual, but our kids must be moved to eLearning due to quarantine/isolation.  They don't get to just pick each day.  That would be a nightmare!

3 Votes
Specializes in Med/Surg, Emergency Room, School Nurse.
9 minutes ago, SchoolNurseK said:

I contact all call outs that sound like they may be Covid related or if the message is too vague.  We are doing synchronous learning in person/virtual, but our kids must be moved to eLearning due to quarantine/isolation.  They don't get to just pick each day.  That would be a nightmare!

we are doing the same and it is a nightmare!  They were given the option if they stay home due to "not feeling well" but can still attend class they can do it virtually,  So I am finding that almost everyday I am contacting someone as to why they are doing virtual due to not feeling well.  

1 Votes
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

I believe our district doesn't let you go virtual for one day's illness. Or it would be madness and chaos...

3 Votes
Specializes in School nurse.

Yes, I am also having to call and check on any student absence due to illness whether they are in person or virtual. Our kids can choose to do virtual even if they are an in-person student.
I think we are getting a lot of "I don't want to do school today" illnesses and we are also getting a lot of "oh they weren't really sick" explanations after they realize they will be excluded from school.
Are they telling the truth? I have no idea. 
It's going to be like this all year... and I am already tired

1 Votes
Specializes in Med/Surg, Emergency Room, School Nurse.
50 minutes ago, bluebonnetrn said:

Yes, I am also having to call and check on any student absence due to illness whether they are in person or virtual. Our kids can choose to do virtual even if they are an in-person student.
I think we are getting a lot of "I don't want to do school today" illnesses and we are also getting a lot of "oh they weren't really sick" explanations after they realize they will be excluded from school.
Are they telling the truth? I have no idea. 
It's going to be like this all year... and I am already tired

This has been a crazy/ stressful year.  I am willing to bet that more than half of our "illness", "not feeling well" and "sick" are I just don't feel like coming in today.   The worst part is that the parents are the ones enabling them to do this.  

The other thing that is driving me crazy is sending kids home for things you normally wouldn't.  Yesterday I had to send a kid home for a runny nose.  The runny nose (allergy related) was a nuisance and disruption due to having to take off the mask continuously to wipe or blow their nose.   The only thing that I am grateful for this year is that parents are actually following policies for the first time since I started working here.

 

3 Votes
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
39 minutes ago, msilcox said:

This has been a crazy/ stressful year.  I am willing to bet that more than half of our "illness", "not feeling well" and "sick" are I just don't feel like coming in today.   The worst part is that the parents are the ones enabling them to do this.  

The other thing that is driving me crazy is sending kids home for things you normally wouldn't.  Yesterday I had to send a kid home for a runny nose.  The runny nose (allergy related) was a nuisance and disruption due to having to take off the mask continuously to wipe or blow their nose.   The only thing that I am grateful for this year is that parents are actually following policies for the first time since I started working here.

 

At this point, people have more ways to keep up with classwork than ever before. I suspect if you have one who has a lot of "not feeling well" that maybe that one should just go virtual, assuming it's an option? Much less distress....and you're right, I am sending kids home for stuff I never thought I would but I do not want to be That Nurse.

3 Votes
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