Why? Why? Why?

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Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

For the love of all that is good and holy, can somebody please tell me why the school nurse is the person to go to for clothing issues?

Examples:

typical potty accidents (don't really know why that is a nursing issue, but ok)

a kinder student who likes to pee on the floor when he's mad - I get called to the classroom to help change him (why is this a nursing issue?)

a student who's jacket zipper is stuck and can't get out of the jacket (I cut the kid out of it - why is this a nursing issue?)

a student's who's shoes are FALLING apart - the soles are almost completely separated from the shoe (taped the shoes with medical tape and called mom).

Seriously, I have teachers who will call/text/email parents because the kid has "a really high fever" (temp was 99.0) or because the kid has "a bad rash" (known eczema), but can't contact parents for shoes or clothing issues?????

SMH....

16 more school days till break!

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Yep! I hear ya! I will never understand why the nurse's office is the go-to spot for any of those issues. No first aid or assessment is needed but for some reason, it falls under the umbrella of the nurse's responsibility.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, school nursing.

I agree completely. When teachers send students to me because they are out of dress code, ripped their pants, fell in the mud at recess, etc, I send them straight through to the front office to call their parents. I don't have a huge supply of clothing to fit every student, and I sure don't want my bathroom full of mud when I have to go in there to cath a student or change a brief.

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Had a kid come in to "get my legs and shoes washed up" because they were covered in mud. Not happening. There is the sink, here are the paper towels, have fun. I now have 0 articles of boy clothes in sizes 5-8 because of the frequency of "I need new pants" no one returns them, no one thinks to send in a change of clothes for their snowflake. I just call home now, it's more fun that way:up:

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

It's not as fun playing up emergencies like a faux fever as it is saying your child needs a change of clothes.

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So frustrating. Last year was my first year- and I have 500+ Kgers and 1st graders. I was allowing them to send me every single thing- because I had noone to train me at all- so I let myself be taken advantage of. After discussion with the other nurses at various schools- I no longer allow students to be sent to me/ my bathroom if they have their change of clothes in their backpack (which they are supposed to have at all times) and they can self-toilet. Obviously there are exceptions (child is having pain with urination/ a child has diarrhea.) But the standard is that they change themselves in their classroom bathroom. I do not have the supplies to provide for everyone. So, in the event they don't a change of clothes- I am more than happy to call the parent and have them drive up to bring some. : -) They remember this way.

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It is not that I even mind helping with "non-nursing" stuff, it just seems like they always need something like that when I am crazy busy with "nursing stuff." I have 28 daily medication, procedures on my schedule before anyone else even walks in my door.

Sorry, not just anyone on campus can draw up insulin but any adult can help clean off muddy shoes!!!

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28 daily meds? Wow!

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Today: 1 shoe emergency, 3 needing a change of clothes (one actually needed due to poop, other 2 it was spilled water). Of course 2 teachers seemed to think the wet pants trumped the T1D that showed up without her pump in place and no call from the parent to let me know there had been a problem and doctor said to go back to insulin pen (BG 500) and another kid puking in the trashcan. What a freaking day!!

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Specializes in School Nurse.

No way should a teacher be calling parents for their definition of a sick kid. That needs to end ASAP. We don't go into their class to call parents that their child isn't learning the ABC's. Leave nursing to nursing and teaching to teaching.

I hate the not appropriate things as well. I put my lost tooth envelopes in the teacher booboo bags and that has cut down a little traffic.

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first time commenting on here but have been following for a couple of months... and first year of school nurse.

I am in an elementary school with around 500 students and I have found so much good advice and back up to what I am wading through in my year of firsts.

In reply to why students are sent up to the nurse's office for every little thing, yesterday I had one. I had a kid sent because she had a gummy candy stuck in her hair. I am so glad I have years of schooling and experience so I could save her from such a "scary situation". The teachers at my school send EVERYTHING to me. Once I get some rapport with the teachers I hope to work out some of these silly nurse visit trips.

Any advice for newbies is appreciated.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

I feel ya! I have 32 med visits a day. Some are repeats - 3 T1Ds (2 - 3 x per day plus any "lows"), 1 CF (3 x per day), a couple ADHDs that are 2 x per day.

15 school days (21 calendar days) till break!!!!

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