Earlier this week a student was in the office for bad behavior (I share an office with main office), I stepped out to find a student for their meds and I came back to realize the kid had gotten into my fridge and stole my orange. I was grumpy pants but got over it pretty quickly. Just upset the student was allowed into my office and gotten into the fridge and nobody said anything to him.
Today, I got a lunch from the cafteria and a student has to stay inside for recess. I step out in to the hallway and saw this student go into my office and take some food off my tray! Caught her red handed as she stuffed the food into her mouth.
Poor kids, you probably work with public schools just let them have your food. Don't be stingy with the children. After work go get yourself a nice chicken salad or something like that. I hate to hear people fighting over food especially in this country. SMH
I have absolutely no problem giving these kids food, i have plenty of times in the past but for these kids to come and take whatever they want is not acceptable! I talked with them and explained if they were hungry they could have talked with me before stealing. Both kids have free lunches and we do snacks midday too. I am not a stingy person by any means. haha. The fact is they stole and that is not right.
If it is an issue about the child having access to food the social worker should be involved. There was a teacher who had a student begging her for food and social worker called mom asking if there was an issue with food in the house. She told the social worker, "he's on a Daniel Fast and it is up to him and Jesus if he gets to eat". Mom has a fridge full of food and refuses to feed him. A Daniel Fast is basically a vegan diet...
Specializes in Med-Surg, OB, ICU, Public Health Nursing.
I have absolutely no problem giving these kids food, i have plenty of times in the past but for these kids to come and take whatever they want is not acceptable! I talked with them and explained if they were hungry they could have talked with me before stealing. Both kids have free lunches and we do snacks midday too. I am not a stingy person by any means. haha. The fact is they stole and that is not right.
I am not a school nurse but a PHN. This is just a question. If a kid really was hungry, how would they know it is ok to ask for food? Would they be embarrassed, afraid or ashamed?
I am not defending the stealing children. I saw an interesting documentary on NY School nurse who figured out that a large percentage of kids who present after lunch with a headache are in fact hungry (these were middle and high school kids).
Coming from a big family I learned how to defend my food.
Now if I were you I would call the little squirt into your office during lunch and lick your food in from of them. Pretend like it's normal. I'm sure they will never touch your food again.
The only cons I could see with this is that they will spread rumors about you all around the school but hey, you got your food
I am not a school nurse but a PHN. This is just a question. If a kid really was hungry, how would they know it is ok to ask for food? Would they be embarrassed, afraid or ashamed?
I am not defending the stealing children. I saw an interesting documentary on NY School nurse who figured out that a large percentage of kids who present after lunch with a headache are in fact hungry (these were middle and high school kids).
Oh, you are not wrong about the headaches. Still...
Getting school lunches to all children is something that now happens in the Boston Public Schools. Every kid gets free lunch to eliminate the stigma and so that no child has to ask for food if they need it; they know they will get it.
Here's where the "still" comes in. Kids are still sometimes picky eaters. We provide lunch at my school, yet many, many kids tell me "I threw it out because I didn't like it." Lunch is a balanced meal, healthy, but many kids did not like it or are not used to eating that way at home. I have made many "pacts" with 7th graders (!) to try (try being more than just one bite) new foods before they can tell me they did not eat lunch.
I have also several high school kids that come from homes where food is in good supply tell me that they simply do not want to eat food of any kind at school (no wonder you have that headache, kiddo!).
And yep, on the flip side, my school does also send several kids home with a a nondescript backpack at the end of the week with food items in it. Because even though we can give them breakfast and lunch at school, sadly, we can't be at their house. We can just try.
And I still think we should not be encouraging stealing. Again, teach a child to have a voice - in a respectful way. It is not easy and I learn more about what a challenge that can be every day.
[Whoah, that was long and way more serious than I thought it would be!]
I agree with Jen! I work in a middle school where a good percentage of students get free breakfast and lunch. However, they are limited in their selections to ensure that they receive a balanced meal. I have picky eaters that would rather go hungry than eat what they are offered. Of course this becomes my problem when they come to me with stomach ache, headache or just general malaise because they have not eaten anything since the night before. With a limited clinic budget, food for students comes out of my pocket. Last year I did Nutrigrain bars but when word got around this became too costly. This year I have flavored oatmeal. Many kids are not too hip to the change and refuse the offer for oatmeal.
Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
I am not a school nurse but a PHN. This is just a question. If a kid really was hungry, how would they know it is ok to ask for food? Would they be embarrassed, afraid or ashamed?
I am not defending the stealing children. I saw an interesting documentary on NY School nurse who figured out that a large percentage of kids who present after lunch with a headache are in fact hungry (these were middle and high school kids).
This is a great question, and one worth exploring further. Yes, kids do get headaches, we know, on occasion that is due to not enough food intake. For whatever reason. While they are at school, there is plenty of food.
We all love kids, and want the best for them. Or, we wouldn't be School Nurses. But, part of our job, as part of the whole purpose of education. Is to not only educate them, but to give them skills to help them to succeed in life. Stealing, is obviously not a good skill. We are always looking "teachable moments". School nurses become really good at seizing these moments. W
We also build safe, trusting relationships with our kids, so if they are hungry, or if they are being mistreated, or their favorite cat/dog/hamster, etc. died, or if it is just one of those tough days that life stinks. They can come to us, look us in the eye and tell us what is on there minds. And, we will look them in the eye and listen and help in whatever way we can.
Someone needs to leave out some laxative chocolate...Kidding.
OMG sorry, I'm creepin and I have to share....
.... when we were teenagers, my brother and I couldn't' find a mushroom he had that was choc. covered.
we thought maybe our dad had found it and ate it because he was always looking for sweet stuff.
so, we proceeded to watch him while he was playing video games to see if we noticed anything funny. "How ya feelin', Dad"? OMG I still laugh to think about it.
Lunch is a balanced meal, healthy, but many kids did not like it or are not used to eating that way at home. I have made many "pacts" with 7th graders (!) to try (try being more than just one bite) new foods before they can tell me they did not eat lunch. 
littleINlpn
33 Posts
I have absolutely no problem giving these kids food, i have plenty of times in the past but for these kids to come and take whatever they want is not acceptable! I talked with them and explained if they were hungry they could have talked with me before stealing. Both kids have free lunches and we do snacks midday too. I am not a stingy person by any means. haha. The fact is they stole and that is not right.