What would you do in this situation?

[Stitchy's mom]

A teacher came in with a student telling me that he had ringworm and that mom needed to come and get him...now! I said that I would take a look. I looked at his head and nothing. He had a small area, tinier than my pinky had no hair. No redness. No edema. No scaling, nothing. The area in question looked like the back of my hand. I asked her if this area was what she was talking about and she said yes, this is how the ring worm started last year and that I needed to call the mom now. Well, I didn't think that it was ringworm so I wanted to look it up on the internet. She kept telling me to call the mom (Her exact words were, "No, No, call his mom." with a wag of her finger.) I told her I was gathering information. So she decided to speak to Mr. X (He's in charge when our principal is gone. She came back in and said that Mr. X wanted to see me now. By the way the student was there the whole time (so unprofessional, it was killing me). Mr. X greeted me with (in a very condescending tone.) "Call the mother." To which I responded, "I am doing an assessment, the way I was taught in school. If you do not like it I can leave right now." I said it in a very low voice, his door was open and I don't think the secretary could have heard. He told me not to yell at him...I'm a mom, he has no idea how loud I can be when I am yelling. I told him that I would walk out right now, except I don't want to leave these kids without a nurse. I walked back to my office and continued my assessment. I did call mom to ask her about it, after speaking with the student and finding out what was going on and how the area was being treated. Oh, wait, mom confirmed everything that he said. Non contagious and has been treated for about 3 weeks by an MD. I asked for a note from the doc, but I don't think that I'll get one.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I'd thank her for bringing the student down and tell her she can return to her classroom and i'll assess it and take care of it. I'd use those exact words. And I'd do all you listed, talk to the student depending on student age on what was going on with the lesion on his head, call home to get more history and ask for a doctors note. Heck, I may even call the student's doctor if I was feeling plucky and thought the doctor may fax me something.

If the teacher gets pushy, then that's when i'd push back, in the nicest of ways. I'd have to gently remind her that I do not come busting into her classroom and tell her how to teach, she needs to let you do a proper assessment and do the job you were trained to do. Just bear in mind that that verbiage is sure to set her off, but it's the one that starts yelling that loses the argument.

[100kids, BSN, RN]

For those type of situations I always thank the staff member for bringing them to me for assessment and tell them I will take care of it as I kind of move them towards the door of my office. Kill them with kindness my most useful tool.

[fetch, BSN, RN]

There's one lady who works at our district office and comes to the school to observe PreK teachers - she LOVES to bring someone down and tell me "I think he needs to go home!" as soon as she ushers the child through the door! Drives me BANANAS.

[Nurse ABC]

That's a shame you were/are treated like that. Lack of respect and it's not fair at all. We don't excude for ringworm. I once had a teacher that acted like that and the principal would back the teacher and not me! So frustrating! I got out of that school as soon as I could. I've learned to not argue. I will call the parent and say "Mr/Mrs. X wanted me to call because they are concerned about..." and see what the parent says. When the parent asks what I think I tell them. Then when the parents says well I've already taken them to the dr or I'm going to wait and see type of thing you can tell Mr./Mrs. X that is what is happening and that you're in agreement with the parent and if they have any further issues they need to call the parent. That usually takes care of it. Besides, we're nurses-we don't diagnose-only doctors!

[Stitchy's mom]

Trying to tell her that I was doing an assessment wasn't working. I tried to explain that several times, but it just didn't work. I don't understand why people think that they are experts in everything. I don't tell them how to teach. Why do they think that they can tell me how to nurse?

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Oh my gosh . . . one of the many frustrations of working as a medical person in an educational environment.

Teachers think "ringworm" or "lice" and fall apart. (Does that teacher still think ringworm (a fungus) is a worm by the way? )

I think heading them off at the pass with a "thank you" and a closing of the door as you usher them politely out is a good way to handle it. Arguing with them that you have to do your assessment makes them get defensive and they'll push back harder. Kill them with kindness because unfortunately you probably won't be able to change their mindset.

[Cackalacky]

I like what Nurse ABC says. We're nurses and do not diagnose; only a doctor can do that. I usually thank the person bringing the student to my office for bringing the concern to my attention. When they insist they need to go home, I remind them that no one at the school can make a diagnosis, including me, and a student can't just be excluded. I let them know that an assessment will be made and parents will be called and I will take action from there. I had a similar situation happen after a student announced to the class she has pin worms. I am so very lucky that the principals have supported me, so far, when teachers/aids try to push the matter.

Why do teachers have so much time to stand in your office or take you to the principal??? Don't they usually complain we're taking up too much of their time when we have screenings?

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

i find that some teachers just like to complain... i listen to the litany of complaints spouted off by one of the teachers every morning - too hot in the class, too cold, her kids are too noisy, too low performing, parents too troublesome, etc... I've just learned to keep my mouth shut, wear short sleeves under my lab coat in my hot office and listen to their kvetching and take it all with a very big grain of salt.