When teachers go behind your back...

[KKEGS]

And call a parent to pick up a "sick" child after you, as the school health professional, have determined that they do not need to be picked up. What do I do?!? I hate confrontation and this is the first instance of a teacher going behind my back. The father of this student came to pick up his daughter and I knew nothing about it. I felt like a complete idiot.

[Amethya]

I got this problem 2 days ago, but it wasn't the teacher. It was the student and it was all because she had cramps and she bled a little through her clothes.

She borrowed her friend's cellphone and called from the bathroom. Mom came all frantic and scared something happened to her. They asked me if I called her in and told them no, I haven't gotten her all day. I spent the next 5 minutes tracking the kid down because it was testing week and she was in a different room than usual. Found her and talked to her about doing that. If there's a "girl problem" to not hesitate to come see me. I will not make fun of her or anything, I rather have her in my office with that problem, than the poor thing stuck in the restroom. She understood and said she will do that next time and I took her to her mom and she went home.

[Kind-hearted]

I am from a small community, where so often ( too often? ) teachers & parents are chums. They text & email back & forth all day long, then I'll get a call from teacher something like this:

Ok, Johnny's mom is on her way to get him because he's been so tired all day long, so I'll send him to you first, so you can give it your OK.

Often as not I'll WANT to say: No need, if the decision to send him home was already made without me in the loop. Why send him now?

OR - Oh, is he acting sick? Does he need a nursing assessment for any reason?? Any symptoms that I should know about?? Because if he collapses in her car & never received medical care at school, I wonder who would be liable?? ????

Ticks me off, too - and is bad for the kids:(

[grammy1]

I am from a small community, where so often ( too often? ) teachers & parents are chums. They text & email back & forth all day long, then I'll get a call from teacher something like this:

Ok, Johnny's mom is on her way to get him because he's been so tired all day long, so I'll send him to you first, so you can give it your OK.

Often as not I'll WANT to say: No need, if the decision to send him home was already made without me in the loop. Why send him now?

OR - Oh, is he acting sick? Does he need a nursing assessment for any reason?? Any symptoms that I should know about?? Because if he collapses in her car & never received medical care at school, I wonder who would be liable?? ????

Ticks me off, too - and is bad for the kids:(

That would infuriate me!

[abc123RN]

I have one teacher that tries this at least weekly. If the parents come to the clinic looking for their kid and they haven't been in, I simply tell them the teacher didn't send them so I wasn't made aware their child was sick. Then if they ask I will do an assessment before they leave with the child. I have talked with this teacher several times but her and the aide in the classroom have the attitude that they know best. So my question is, can I be held responsible if something happens and I haven't seen the student?

[CaffeinePOQ4HPRN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Always put people in their place (when justly deserved) and assert yourself! Do NOT ever feel bad or guilty about it (or other people's stupidity)... otherwise, you're potentially setting a precedence for certain behaviors to be acceptable, or that perhaps you don't mind being treated with less respect than you deserve. It doesn't have to be "in your face" there are polite, professional ways to put people in their place and set boundaries... without coming across are rude, reckless. Never be afraid to stand up for yourself. Sometimes people will subtly push your boundaries (just to see) how far they can go, and how much they can get away with.

Health assessments are not within a teachers "scope" and there's no way this teacher forgot or didn't know this. I am highly suspicious.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

I swear in all the public schools I attended from the many moves I did as a kid I do not ever remember a school nurse. In middle school there were counselors and we saw them for some issues (and sanitary napkins). I remember using the secretary's phone to ask to be picked up at some point but ...gah.

I'm amazed at what y'all do and glad you are there.

My kids prior to being homeschooled did have a nurse at their elementary school. She was really decent and I always returned the borrowed clothes and even donated some at the end of the year.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

I swear in all the public schools I attended from the many moves I did as a kid I do not ever remember a school nurse. In middle school there were counselors and we saw them for some issues (and sanitary napkins). I remember using the secretary's phone to ask to be picked up at some point but ...gah.

I'm amazed at what y'all do and glad you are there.

My kids prior to being homeschooled did have a nurse at their elementary school. She was really decent and I always returned the borrowed clothes and even donated some at the end of the year.

I have been thinking about it and still no nurse in elementary school with three visits that would have needed one. 3rd grade, running a race in a covered rec area (kind of like a car port but as big as a basketball court) and I reached the finish line, running into one of the steel berms holding up the ceiling. Huge huge bruise on my hip/buttocks. Got ice from a coach.

4th grade, clapping in an assembly, felt a shooting pain from my wrist to my neck and in an hour my ear was touching my shoulder. I couldn't lift it, too much pain. My friend thought I'd broken my neck. Even at 10 years old I knew that was stupid. Went to main office, told to call home. Dad picked me up took me to the doctor and I went home with advice for heat and I guess motrin? (This was 30+ years ago I don't remember exactly). 5th grade, the janitor pulled out a very wiggly and oozing blood tooth.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

sorry, thought of another one:

In 8th grade I felt so horrible that I had to miss a math test. If you know me, that is a big deal. I was the biggest eager to please, goody-two-shoes, high achiever. My teacher had me lay my head on the desk. Midway through the test I thought I would be sick and she sent me to the bathroom. Nothing happened. No nurse to go to. The following week I had menarche.