It was one of those days I wanted to pull my hair out.
1. Student came in wheezing. Health history states, "no known health issues." Took 2 hours to track down dad who is a pediatric neurosurgeon! Oh yes, she has asthma. I guess I should call in RX for new inhaler. You think?
2. I stayed late to do some CPR check-offs. Came back to get my purse to leave. Student sitting there, said she had been there 20 minutes. Was sent 15 minutes after my quitting time from drama rehearsal. Clinic was dark with door closed. Hello!!!!
3. Parent came rushing up, pulled her precious out of class because he texted saying his wound (he got stitches 2 days ago) was severely infected. Mom practically pushed another student out of the way to show me his nicely healing area. Ughhhh, ever heard of the phone???? Or getting out of your big denial and admitting your kid will text you anything to get out of class???
4. No, your kid sitting in the clinic giggling and playing with my scale is not a sign of distress and that is why I sent her back to class. Please have coffee with the mom from number 3 and stop hovering over your middle schooler.
5. Throw in a couple of " my mom told me to come to school and if I wasn't better, blah, blah.." And " a piece of paper hit my arm 2 days ago, my teacher says I need ice."
Unfortunately, I know how to fix flip-flops with a rubber band. We ARE the Mcgyver's of the nursing profession.
A few weeks ago, they called me (at lunch of course) because a student had her finger "stuck" in a metal hole under her desk. I grabbed my vaseline and ran. Now, I could clearly see a space around the finger. Her finger was at a hooked angle. I just told her to unhook and pull out. Voila, out it came! Sure glad I did not miss "fingers stuck in holes lecture" in nursing school. Ididmiss the eyeglass repair class though!
The teacher felt stupid, and he should! When I called front office back in regards to outcome. The secretary said " i did not know who to call so I called you."
I told my supervisor that we need to be sent to Forensics classes, because I am not the Super Guru of Name That Bruise. I missed the class in nursing school that told me what had to be done to form every shape of bruise known to man. I have watched just as much CSI as you.....your guess is as good as mine.
I understand completely! I had a student come to the clinic yesterday because the heel of her shoe was broken:no: I did fix it with duct tape so she wouldn't fall and sprain an ankle...
Ok, I have to admit... I sometimes abused my school nurse...lol.
I was legitimately diagnosed with migraines at the age of 6, and for a while, they did happen pretty frequently. Both my parents worked full time and couldn't afford to race home if I got a migraine. Nurse and my mom had an understanding that I could go to the nurse's office and 'sleep it off'.
By high school, sometimes if I was just really tired, or really bored, I'd just say I had a migraine and go sleep the day away. Teachers didn't really care cuz I still graduated magna cum laude. So...retroactive apology to my school nurse? :-)
Ah, I inwardly sigh when a student enters my office and says "I wasn't feeling well and mom/dad sent me to school and told me to call if I wasn't feeling better."
Er...guess I am one of those annoying parents.
Honestly, it is usually because of a showdown between me and a probable faker, and that is what settles the dispute.
In all of my parenting years I only had a child end up coming back home once, and he was legitimately ill.
The rest of the time they forgot all about their "illness" once they got to school.
The rest of the time they forgot all about their "illness" once they got to school.
I think it partly depends on what the student understands about calling "later." If I have a student come first thing in the morning with "mom said to call if I wasn't feeling better" I always tell them "you haven't even tried yet, you need to try for an hour." That's generally when they get into the swing of class and forget about calling home.
If it's noon or something, then I know either the student actually tried and isn't feeling better, or possibly just knows that mom gets off work at that time, but that's when I call home. At least they got some school that day.
SchoolNurseTXstyle
566 Posts
Unfortunately, I know how to fix flip-flops with a rubber band. We ARE the Mcgyver's of the nursing profession.
A few weeks ago, they called me (at lunch of course) because a student had her finger "stuck" in a metal hole under her desk. I grabbed my vaseline and ran. Now, I could clearly see a space around the finger. Her finger was at a hooked angle. I just told her to unhook and pull out. Voila, out it came! Sure glad I did not miss "fingers stuck in holes lecture" in nursing school. Ididmiss the eyeglass repair class though!
The teacher felt stupid, and he should! When I called front office back in regards to outcome. The secretary said " i did not know who to call so I called you."