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.

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.

:cheeky:

I do have a funny thing that happened last week...Had a mom pop in to warn me she had been in the classroom helping and her daughter was whining about a sore throat. "Call me if she comes down..." (She rolled her eyes.)

So of course, when daughter came down, I called mom and sang ala Adelle..."HElllO, IT'S ME..."

Up Vote Up Vote ×

FULL MOON TOMORROW TOO???? Saints preserve us!!!!:barefoot:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics/Developmental Pediatrics/Research/psych.
FULL MOON TOMORROW TOO???? Saints preserve us!!!!:barefoot:

To clarify, the full moon in February will be Tuesday night/Wednesday.

Looking ahead, the full moon in March will be the 24-25.

I work in psych and utilize a lunar calendar for one of my non-nursing jobs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, HIV, Peds (last 30 Yrs<;o).

One of the only truthful "get out of jail free" statements I've had from a parent:

Me: "Sweetie Pie said that if she didn't feel well, you said you would come and pick her up".

Mom: "Yes, I said that, but I didn't mean it".

Me: *therapeutic silence*.

Mom: (heavy sigh). "I'll be there in a few minutes".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nurse.

I tell the student - I am not finding anything to send you home for, I will call your parent after you return to class. After 30 minutes I will call parent - I saw your cupcake 30 minutes ago, could not find anything wrong and they have not returned since - (sugary sweet) - But I will certainly call if they return again.

I also have parents call randomly - Have you seen my cupcake today? Cupcake was not feeling well this morning. Thank God it's a miracle your cupcake was able to self soothe once they saw their friends at school. :singing:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
Any kid I see in the first hour after the bell, unless projectile vomiting in the hall, spurting bright red blood, looks like a smurf or has a bone that is visible, will return to class and come back after lunch. Unless any of the above is observed.

This. YESSS. This. I now have a new mantra!! :) Thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As a parent, I have only called ahead once to the school. It was to the teacher, not the nurse. It was a... sensitive situation that went like this

Me: Hi Mrs. X. This is Cutie Pie's mom.

Teacher: Hi! Cutie Pie is the best!

Me: Don't I know it! I'm sorry our first phone call is about this but... Cutie Pie was a little backed up last night and I gave her, what turns out to be, too many prunes. She was in the bathroom 4 times before leaving the house this morning. If she is asking to go, please let her go right away and if it's really bothersome, I will come get her.

Teacher: Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!! Absolutely.

She turned out to be fine, no more urgent bathroom visits that day. But we swear by prunes in our house!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Monday morning, kid shows up 20 minutes before school starts with tummy ache. Yes, he had it at home and yesterday. Did parents do anything about it? No!! No fever, no vomiting, blah, blah, blah, I encourage student to try at least 1 class. He comes back after 1st period with his phone and showing me a text that dad wants a call from me sending him home. Well, I call and explain the rules of exclusion and dad mad at me that I have not given him medicine or allowed him to rest. WHAAAATTTT? So, I let him rest x 30 minutes and of course the kid is still whining. So, I call dad back and he just picked up a few minutes ago. Give me a break....... It is ok for you to do nothing for your kid but now you are mad at me for not giving meds I do not even have!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Monday morning, kid shows up 20 minutes before school starts with tummy ache. Yes, he had it at home and yesterday. Did parents do anything about it? No!! No fever, no vomiting, blah, blah, blah, I encourage student to try at least 1 class. He comes back after 1st period with his phone and showing me a text that dad wants a call from me sending him home. Well, I call and explain the rules of exclusion and dad mad at me that I have not given him medicine or allowed him to rest. WHAAAATTTT? So, I let him rest x 30 minutes and of course the kid is still whining. So, I call dad back and he just picked up a few minutes ago. Give me a break....... It is ok for you to do nothing for your kid but now you are mad at me for not giving meds I do not even have!!

Slacker.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I always call this the "get out of jail free" card. Makes me crazy bc sweet baby child is without a doubt coming to the clinic immediately.

I call it the same thing!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Is it a full moon? It has to be because the office has been so buy. So many kids complaining of not feeling well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

I have one on here as I type this. Came in 14 minutes after school started, nausea and belly ache. He is here all the time. I said "the day just started! What did mom say when you told her you had a belly ache?" He replied "she's going to try and get my dad to come pick me up."

Just keep the kid home if that's the plan! The problem is, mom and dad immediately forget the promise they made to Sweet Pea as soon as he/she is on the bus. The little one is going to hold onto that statement for dear life and cling to it all day long. Which means mean old nurse Tomato is going to be the one dealing with it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion