Why?

Published

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.

Specializes in School nurse.

I'll call and leave it up to the parents most times; however, if they leave before lunch it's a full day unexcused. More than 4 of those a year and the letters start going home from the office.

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.
Obviously you're there to look pretty.

And hold down the chair.

And i'm doing an awesome job if I do say so myself :cheeky:

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Middle school starts at 8:45 and kids are dropped by 8 most days and are waiting for me. When they start in with "I'm not feel...." I say go call your parents, school doesn't start for another half hour. #annoying

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If they text parents and parents come prior to me seeing a student it is a parent request absence. Of course this is my first year. I have parents say, I am pulling them out regardless. I just say I don't have a reason to send them. Most of these people have tons of absences or they wouldn't be inquiring anyhow....

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Specializes in retired LTC.
Ah, snowflakes raising snowflakes... someone save me a spot in the hand basket cause it's all going to fall to hell.
... snowflakes raising snowflakes ... I like that.

Is it anything like a blizzard?

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They do it because they want the kid out of their hair and into yours.

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Interestingly enough, I had parent bring in two kids late. I was doing something in the reception area, and I overhead Dad say to kid ""if you don't feel good just come up to the nurse and I'll come get you". I turned around to look at the student; they were late because they were sick at home. The receptionist said to Dad "well, you better plan on a phone call, then". I told him he should probably take her home because there's a stomach bug going around". He just turned around and walked out the door. Just betcha he's one of those parents whose phone is either "not accepting messages" or they just never call back after leaving a message.

:rolleyes:

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They do it because they want the kid out of their hair and into yours.

yes, I sometimes feel like we're just a free babysitting service!

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This one kills me. Right off the bus. "My mom said to try school but have you call if I don't feel good."

I usually say "well, riding the bus really isn't trying school, is it?" Off they go to class after temp check. 99% of the time, they are back within 1/2 hour. And I do call the parent, who often balks at picking the child up.

Kids know they can pick from the following to get out of class:

1. Say you feel like you have to barf

2. Complain of a very sore throat

3. Put head down on desk/act exhausted.

DREADING tomorrow. We just had a week off and most have filled that time with very little R&R and a lot of activity. And togetherness. And head lice...And rotavirus....And............

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I'm with you, Snowy. Monday after a week off plus a full moon… not looking forward to tomorrow morning at all!

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I'm with you, Snowy. Monday after a week off plus a full moon… not looking forward to tomorrow morning at all!

I kind of am. I have been home sick all week. Lot of other family stuff. I'm looking forward to going back.

I'll be singing a different tune by 10am, but for now, I want the routine, and I want the busy work.

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It depends on the parent. One of my lice kids came down with a note from the teacher that I was supposed to call if Princess wasn't feeling well. Of course I called. Since I obviously gave the kid lice a few weeks ago, I'm not about to get in trouble for not calling mommy over a belly ache.

I'll send plenty of other kids back. Unless I'm in the mood to be annoying. "Hello Mrs. Smith! It's the school nurse! Princess is here telling me her stomach hurts. She seems fine - no temp, she's chatting and smiling. But she insists that you needed to be called."

I did have a parent write me a note in a sealed envelope once that explained she was fairly certain her son was okay. However, if he truly was ill and came down, it's easier for her to leave work if I call vs if she calls out in the morning. I appreciated the honesty - I can work with that. Before I became a nurse, I worked a corporate job with a boss that was not very understanding of kids getting sick. Her son never came down though.

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