Why do we call it common sense when in fact it's not so common??

[Nurse_Ziba]

Sigh.....

So i just spoke with the other school nurse and endorsed everything he needs for the grade 2 field trip. Here is our conversation:

Me: Here's the copy of the field trip health forms, contact numbers, allergy forms, and summarized health problems per class. I know you're aware of the student who is highly allergic to peanuts (student's name here), he will attend the field trip. Just to give you a recap, his medicine is available in his bag and here's his stock medicine from clinic. Please return it once you get back.

Other Nurse: Yes I remember him. When do I give the epi-pen?

Me: Assess him first. Not all known allergen causes an anaphylactic reaction. There's a list of allergens the Individual health care plan that I gave you. The only known allergen that would cause an anaphylactic reaction is the peanuts. If he ingested peanuts and the first sign of reaction is apparent please inject him with the epi-pen and take him to the nearest hospital.

Other Nurse: Do I need to call first the parent?

Me: No. Attend to the student first, then call the parent. By the way did you pack a stetoscope in the first aid kit?

Other Nurse: No

Me: So how will you assess the student for diffuculty of breathing? Specifically to check for wheezing?

Other Nurse: He's grade 2. That makes him about 8 years old, he can tell me if he's having diffuculty of breathing.

Me: He is still a kid. Kids at that age still have a hard time verbalizing their concerns. (This particular student once entered the clinic stating that he feels weird. After doing my assessment drill, I found out that he didn't have enough sleep and he was just tired. And yes this happened last semester).

Other Nurse: (He was smirking) It's ok I'll just watch how he breaths. (And then he walked out)

Me:

Arrrrggg... I wanted to smack him in the head. Apparently common sense is not common! What makes me annoyed the most is the fact that he's a nurse with almost 13 years of nursing practice. While mine is just 3 years!

[mycsm]

I would seriously consider NOT sending him on a field trip with this child. This could come back and bite you on the butt. "She never informed me, etc" A nurse with that many nurse experience and he's is asking those questions....RED FLAG RED FLAG!!

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Wow. Just...wow.

Yep, common sense is nowhere near as common as it oughta be.

[bsyrn, ASN, RN]

ummmm very very scary.......

[SchoolNurseBSN]

Forget common sense! This is a nurse who needs to have some "professional sense."

[Nurse_Ziba]

I would seriously consider NOT sending him on a field trip with this child. This could come back and bite you on the butt. "She never informed me, etc" A nurse with that many nurse experience and he's is asking those questions....RED FLAG RED FLAG!!

Unfortunately I'm not in the position to assign who will accompany the students during field trips. We have a head nurse and she's just as doofus as he is. I'm certain that it wouldn't back fire because I'm not incharge of assigning nurses plus everything is in black and white whenever I endorse. Frankly the head nurse is not expecting me to endorse at all. She even made fun of me for doing so. sigh.. can someone please knock some sense in their heads?

[Heidi the nurse, BSN, RN]

Document, document, document :)