School Nurses

[Wolferz]

And all you'll have is a spare rod...
and kids who never learn right from wrong.

Just don't beat them bloody... or dead.

[AngusJS]

My school nurse story:

I slipped in 2nd period gym class, and broke my elbow. I went to the nurse. The nurse didn't believe that I broke my elbow. I went through the entire rest of the day in school, holding my arm level with my free hand.

I ended up staying in the hospital 3 days for surgery. I consequently have only about 80% of the full range of motion in that arm. The surgeon said it probably wasn't the best thing in the world to have my arm left untreated for the entire school day.

Best part was, the school's insurance refused to pay my hospital expenses. That finally changed when my parents threatened to sue. They probably should have sued anyway, as the school was clearly negligent. I fell in a hallway leading from the swimming pool. There was standing water on the floor, and unlike around public swimming pools where the concrete floor's rough texture provides traction, the smooth, large-tiled floor in the hallway provided absolutely none. My classmates would happily get running starts so they could slide on the water. I walked, and I was the one who fell.

By the time I graduated 4 years later, no changes had been made. No railing, no new floor, no mats, nothing.

But hey, the nurse apologized to me after I returned to school from the hospital. So that's something.

[Red October1984]

Our school nurse doesn't even work the full week. She's there two days a week. A secretary usually fills in. The only things they are allowed to do is give off-brand tylenol and ice packs. And, of course, you better not get injured or sick after 2:30PM because they won't help you unless you're seriously really injured.

It's pathetic. I carry around my own pills (if need be) and I carry around my own first aid bag inside my gym bag. Gauze and athletic tape will do better than the stupid smiley face band-aid they can give me. If I get a big gash or bloody injury (hasn't happened at school thus far) I know to go straight to the athletic equipment room because smiley face isn't enough.

At least they'll send you home if you do anything more than sniffle...because the best way to deal with a sick kid is to not deal with a sick kid. Nurse even drove me home once since both parents were out working.

Makes you wonder why it takes schooling to become a nurse in the first place if you're just gonna waste all those skills on something like this... (Nothing against nurses, my mom is a nurse...) but school nurses IMHO are absolutely useless. Teach kids who are old enough how to deal with things. First Aid, CPR, how to use an EpiPen, how to read labels on the back of a tylenol.... By the time you're in 7th-8th grade you don't need somebody holding your hand and wiping your bottom.

As far as young kids go, sure. I can see why you could make an argument...but maybe teachers should take more of an active role in that. A teacher in Kindergarten is like a third parent. Why not train and authorize the teachers to do the job of the school "nurse"?

It's all a big insurance thing...but why is it helpful to have a skill-disabled nurse on staff just to call parents.

[fireftr18]

Most don't see what a school nurse truly does. Working in sports medicine at a school, I have the opportunity to work with the school nurse, and see what she actually does. The nurse is actually there in case there is a true emergency. The nurse is responsible for working with students and parents to help injured students with their needs. Work with students with a physical disability and their parents. Supervise students who need to take medicine during the school day. Record keeping for students who carry emergency medications, or have some long term problem. And now, working with me for helping with students who have concussions return to school. Responsible for emergency plans. Tummy aches and boo-boos are taken care of by the nurse because it's convenient. In my school district, parents are supposed to be notified for everything.

[Stealhead]

I agree with fireftr18 they do a lot that you don't see in most cases so far as I am aware they are usually RNs. I know for certain one very important thing that they do is store the medications for the kids that need them and the student can go at a pricrbed to take said meds.

Also they should be able to identify when a student has a serious injury or contagious illness. As I recall in grade school and middle there was a nurse in high school there was a full time nurse and a second nurse whose primary job was teaching the class that students interest ed in healthcare could take to get a jump on college.

On the occasion that I barfed rice crispies all over my friend she was not so helpful. There it was the custodian with the barf absorb kitty litter stuff and the announcement for barf clean up on the intercom that really builds character.


I can recall several occasions where the school nurse did help two where students having seziures the second was a pregnant girls water breaking in class. The later was most incredible as she was in the desk next to mine I've never been so amazed by the beauty of..... No actually I never vacated a seat so quickly in my life it was disgusting girl looked like the diseased type if you cath my meaning.


There surely is a real liability reason as well say a student dose get a serious injury or becomes ill then the nurse can ID this situation. Of course my mother taught for many years and in that time came to know many adminstrations (double secret probation information) school boards nearly always settle out of court.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

I agree with fireftr18 they do a lot that you don't see

so give the kid a chewable tums. its not difficult.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

so give the kid a chewable tums. its not difficult.

How do you know that kid isnt deathly allergic to tums? Unless the parents told you you wouldn't. Perhaps the one you encountered was a bit lazy or overly cautious that dose not mean that every school nurse is useless.

I think also first time they a kid they'll be extra cautious they don't know if the parent will freak out because they did something or didn't. Surely you know that some parents a frakaziods and think their kid has to live in a bubble and eat rice cakes. Until they see how the parent reacts I can understand there caution. You merely posted it here the poloar opposite would have made a massive deal of it and had Vegan muffin baking fit. Imagine what it must be like to deal with bubble boys parents. Probably have to drink goats milk and eat Vegan approved pancakes while in a drum circle to shut the parent up.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

How do you know that kid isnt deathly allergic to tums? Unless the parents told you you wouldn't.

See my earlier post about putting a man on the moon but not being able to keep a file on "kids who are approved to receive over the counter medication from the school nurse"

bam - open the file

Kids name appears on the list

"approved for Tylenol, Advil, Pepto Bismol and Dayquil"

parents signature, parents printed name, phone numbers to call for quick verification and verbal authorization.

well that settles it, bada bing bada boom done, swallow this and go back to class

if the name isnt on the list, then call the parent, drag them away from work, have them venture out all over town to buy a bottle of childrens plug-o-poopy, drive it to the school, sit in the office for 10 minutes waiting for the kid to show up, give the pill to the kid, drive back to work or whatever you were doing.

im sure there are some amazing, mother theresa-esque, absolute world changing, sappy-tear-jerking-movie-made-about-their-life worthy school nurses out there.

but for every 1 of them... there are 10,000 who are there as a technicality that wouldn't know how to treat a skinned knee.

[Betonov]

Our schools don't have nurses.
PT teachers have a 70 hour first aid course behind them and someone's always ready to drive a student to the clinic if it's bad but not an emergency.

[ikalugin]

The medical aid at Russian school was quite good (I broke my arm and got the pain killers), but the medical aid at British school I went to was exceptional. Maybe because it was a boarding school.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by ikalugin

The medical aid at Russian school was quite good (I broke my arm and got the pain killers), but the medical aid at British school I went to was exceptional. Maybe because it was a boarding school.

Plus the fact it was British

[fireftr18]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

How do you know that kid isnt deathly allergic to tums? Unless the parents told you you wouldn't. Perhaps the one you encountered was a bit lazy or overly cautious that dose not mean that every school nurse is useless.

I think also first time they a kid they'll be extra cautious they don't know if the parent will freak out because they did something or didn't. Surely you know that some parents a frakaziods and think their kid has to live in a bubble and eat rice cakes. Until they see how the parent reacts I can understand there caution. You merely posted it here the poloar opposite would have made a massive deal of it and had Vegan muffin baking fit. Imagine what it must be like to deal with bubble boys parents. Probably have to drink goats milk and eat Vegan approved pancakes while in a drum circle to shut the parent up.

Actually, the bubble kids are easy, just time consuming. The parents usually listen and follow advice. On my end, the most difficult thing is they take the kids to the family doctor for every little ache. Then the doctor says rest a week then you'll be okay. Evan the little aches that they can go back and play. It's the parents that think all kid's injuries are minor that are a problem. They don't listen to advice. In denial that the arm that's dangling in mid-shaft is broken and will argue about it. They tend to not do what is needed to get the kid healthy.

[Eichhörnchen]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

On the occasion that I barfed rice crispies all over my friend she was not so helpful.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by fireftr18

Actually, the bubble kids are easy, just time consuming. The parents usually listen and follow advice. On my end, the most difficult thing is they take the kids to the family doctor for every little ache. Then the doctor says rest a week then you'll be okay. Evan the little aches that they can go back and play. It's the parents that think all kid's injuries are minor that are a problem. They don't listen to advice. In denial that the arm that's dangling in mid-shaft is broken and will argue about it. They tend to not do what is needed to get the kid healthy.

QFT, well said fireftr18.