Why?

I get this alot. Kids will say they have a headache/stomachache/ailment of the day and that there mom said to "try school" and call if they can't make it. Well I can promise you, none of them will make it.

Then you get on the phone with the parent and they say, Oh yeah I told him/her that. They've been sick all week, with yatta yatta yatta. I will be there in a little bit to get them. (First period of the day).

For folks whose kids are always out and for those who work in a job where, if you don't work, you don't get paid, it is a challenge. I have even been questioned by a supervisor at a shop as to the severity of an illness or injury. I of course respond with I cannot possibly share protected health information, but if you could please have so and so call me ASAP I would appreciate it.

Why do parents send their kids to school with the statement "call me and I will come get you if you don't feel well"? At that point, just call out from your job and keep your child at home. I realize that it is probably said in frustration as the last sentence in an argument to get them to school, but come on, you are telling them to cut the day short. This has become an almost daily issue when at least one kid comes in with this info, stated in an expectant tone as if the parent is like a firefighter waiting for the call to spring into action.

I know!!! I want to tell these parents "If you are going to tell your kid that you will pick them up if they are not feeling well, please wait in the parking lot to save us both time."

I agree, it may be a last ditch effort to get the kid out of the car. Or I think the parent thinks it is more legit if their boss sees them get a call from the school nurse to leave work.

I have caught myself almost saying to my kids "Go to the nurse if you don't feel good" but my kids are also not going to abuse it. We've been lucky this year-- no one has missed a day due to illness! Just a few missed hours for doctor appointments

Or I think the parent thinks it is more legit if their boss sees them get a call from the school nurse to leave work.

That has crossed my mind, too. I had a father last year that loved it as much as his kid to get that call. No problem was too small to pull his kid out of class.

So true. Just... so true.

depending on my mood and the kid i'll sometimes counter with "I am sure that your parent didn't tell you that with the intent that you'd come to school and beeline to my office. Go and attempt class." You'd be amazed how often I don't see those kids again.

I usually have the kids give it a little more time in school to see how they feel. Especially if they are in my clinic waiting on me.

This is very frustrating but sometimes it's kinda fun. I enjoy making the call when the kid gets out of the car in the morning, walks directly to my clinic, and says, "My mom told me to call if - fill in the blank." I get all kinds of responses of surprise but in all cases like this I make it a point to tell the parent, "I would not have called you but little Johnny said you told him to have me call you if he wasn't feeling well at school so that's what I'm doing."

That's very similar to what I say. "Little Johnny came to my office just now. There's no fever and no vomiting but he said that you requested I call if he was not feeling well" My tone clearly indicating that there is no reason for Little Johnny to go home.

All. the. time. I'm mean, and make them go to class and get a pass before I will see them. Most of the time, they don't return.