I work in a Middle School and get multiple requests for ice daily for a myriad of reasons. They seem to view ice as the cure all for bumps, bruises, aches, twisted limbs, jammed fingers, smashed fingers, stiff necks, insect bites, allergy eyes, canker sores, pimples, headaches, etc.......Some teachers even directly instruct the student to "go to the nurse to get ice". For the most part, after an assessment, I generally comply, regardless if I think they really need it or not (some kids are so "soft" these days), because it gets them back to class and everyone is happy. I do deny a few, especially when the request is totally out of left field and/or visits become habitual and I want to nip it in the bud. I think some kids request ice packs just to get attention.
I do recognize that melting bags of ice can be a safety hazard. And yesterday a student told me that some kids are putting holes in their ice bags and sipping on the water. I've had no complaints from teachers, but I'd like to revisit my ice policy. I once worked with a school nurse who had a motto - "No Redness, No Swelling, No Ice". I know of other school nurses who do not let ice out of the clinic, which cuts down on the number of teachers who send their kids for ice. What are your thoughts on providing ice packs?
I also give out ice freely unless they start coming multiple times a day everyday.
I fill a small cooler with ice every morning from the cafeteria and use small zip lock baggies. I usually wrap the bag in a paper towel so there isn't too much direct contact with the skin.
I have an icemaker in the cafeteria which is across the hall.
I fill up my beer cooler every morning and make little Ziploc ice baggies when asked. I don't put limits on ice packs. I'd rather give you an ice pack than medicate you anytime.
Ice packs for all!! And, yes, you do have to come to me for an ice pack. I don't do house calls.
I have the little 5x7 ice packs from School Health. I order a lot of boxes so I'm pretty liberal with them. In the beginning of the school year, I sent out a "when to see the nurse" guide. My boss (not a nurse) frantically sent an email back telling me I need to make it clear that emergencies should always be sent to me (because the little test box defining emergencies at the top of the guide was not enough).
So I basically have teachers that "cannot tell if it's an emergency since they aren't a nurse" sending everything to me. I have 1 teacher that sends me 4-5 kid a day. Every little bump gets sent to me. It's easier to give an ice pack than to argue because that teacher will throw me under the bus if a parent complains. The unfortunate result is that I've gotten to the point of simply handing her students the obligatory ice pack as soon as they walk in.
I do get kids who come down showing me bruises from yesterday. I don't give them ice packs and document why. I had a kid come in yesterday after her finger got hurt. How? It was bumped with the lid of a marker. She was upset that I didn't give her an ice pack.
Each box of reusable ice packs contain 24 packs. I loose almost an entire box each month. Until administration will back me up, I give out ice packs. Even the most ridiculous of parent complaints gets thoroughly investigated and my documentation has been requested on many occasions to ensure that I "did everything I could."
I used to give out ice packs freely until word got around and I had every Tom, Dick and Hairy coming for an ice pack for any and everything they could think of. Now, if there is no redness, swelling or bruising noted to a FRESH injury, they don't get ice; or if the injury is more than 24 hours old, they don't get ice. That may sound harsh, but I just don't have time for it. To me, it's not a matter of just handing out an ice pack, I have to stop and document that insignificant, no ice needed complaint as well. I work with junior high students now, but used to work with elementary aged students and was much more lenient in handing out ice packs to the babies. They have to learn at some point that there isn't always a "cure" for every little ache and/or pain they have.
I too am very stingy with ice. I don't have an ice maker and I am tired of doing incident reports on "injuries" that are exaggerated because someone wants ice. If there is no swelling, redness, bruising....NO ice. If it happened yesterday, NO ice. If you need more than 1 pack of ice, you are probably going home!
If they do not have to have a legitimate reason for ice, why don't we just put an ice pack machine in the hall that leads in from recess, and save nurse visits for legitimate purposes?
shsnurse
37 Posts
Work at a high school with 1600 students.......
I also give out ice freely unless they start coming multiple times a day everyday.
I fill a small cooler with ice every morning from the cafeteria and use small zip lock baggies. I usually wrap the bag in a paper towel so there isn't too much direct contact with the skin.
I call the kids ice addicts lol!