Vent Sesh

Specialties School

Published

It's one of those days. I feel myself being much less patient than usual. So now I'll spend a minute complaining about everything that's annoying me.

  • Administration moved the printer into my office. People won't stop asking me for printer help "how do I fix a jam? Where do we keep extra paper?" or chatting my ear off while I'm trying to work. Not caring when I say "sorry I can't help, I've got to get this done."
  • I'm keeper of the tissues. While on the phone with a parent a little (old enough to know better) came in and screamed "I NEED TISSUES" then beat the tissue box on my door frame (as I held a "one second please" finger up) until I got off the phone.
  • Multiple high schoolers telling me they feel sick but can't find any words to describe WHAT feels ill or HOW it feels ill. Then flabbergasted when I say they have to go back to class.
  • High schooler came in and reported symptom of "I feel like I'm being sucked to the ground like a vacuum. Like into a black hole." WUT.

Anyone else need to vent?

8 minutes ago, tining said:

sorry teacher not all vomit goes home.

I've quickly learned that this does NOT sit well with a lot of teachers. I even had a teacher tell me "she feels pukey and needs to go home." ummm what?? I was livid because she's telling me this in front of the student, whom I saw and cleared about an hour prior, and she wouldn't leave until I was on the phone with a parent.

1 Votes
Specializes in School health, Maternal-Newborn.

As a sub, fighting about keeping a kid in school isn't worth it to me. If the teacher wants them sent home I will. Know the regular nurse got a note and one of the TA's confirmed that I was doing the right thing. The teacher will have to sort it out.

The schools I go to vary in support. Some are superb, admins and counselors look in the office as they pass and will help by providing insights as to this child's normal state. In one school a certain child has been sandbagging subs with difficult to assess subjective symptoms. I was told the child's name and that unless I witnessed certain objective symptoms with my own eyes, or she had a fever I was to call the office and simply say "My friend --- is here"

Some schools leave me hanging more. It takes a while for it to sink in that I don't think the student is ill, but sending them back to class also has it's risks. Having a counselor or admin who knows the student better come and scoop them up usually ends the drama for the day, for everyone!

As far as boredom therapy in the nurse's office, Any time a kid has to wait a bit for pick-up I have crayons and loan them along with printer paper. None of this appears unless I decide. One elementary school has children who are written out of gym wait out that and recess in the nurse's office (Ugh!) They usually bring a book or their Chrome Book.

One of my daughters was having a short term issue. she tried not going to school, we turned off the internet for the day, and took whatever Nintendo away. School avoidance quelled (We did deal with her issue too) This is kind of what I mean by boredom therapy at home.

2 Votes
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i do not allow children written out of recess to hang in my office. I rationalize it by saying that it doesn't make sense to have a healthy kid sit in a room where students who are vomiting, have fevers, etc are.

5 Votes
Specializes in School health, Maternal-Newborn.
9 hours ago, Flare said:

i do not allow children written out of recess to hang in my office. I rationalize it by saying that it doesn't make sense to have a healthy kid sit in a room where students who are vomiting, have fevers, etc are.

I wish it wasn't the case, but for some stuff subs don't have choices...

0 Votes
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