Nurse Came To School Sick?

[Unregistered]

I was anon earlier, so I'll follow suit.

I work at a center that serves Early Head Start on one side and Head Start on another. Altogther, a fairly large center. We have one nurse. She's great; knowledgeable, personable, approachable, and dependable. I understand HOW she got the job. What she lacks? Common sense.

Yesterday she went home early because she wasn't feeling well. I could tell when she came and made her daily rounds in the morning that she was "off" but by noon it was obvious she was going down fast. About 2 she sent a memo that she was sick with a fever and going home. Our policy, the policy SHE SIGNS OFF ON, says you must be fever-free for 24 hours before returning. I know because last week I had what turns out to be a migraine, they sent me home at 11 AM on Tuesday, when I came in on Wednesday they made me come back with an urgent care note.

This AM? She beat me in. I mentioned she still looked sick and probably should go home (jokingly) and she told me about some time-sensitive work that needed to be done and she may leave after that. She looks like walking death.

Now I see the cook giving her soup, staff giving her cough drops, the center director running to the store to get her cold medicine, and her supervisor (at another building) telling her that she's masking her fever but won't make her go home.
What kind of mess?!

How is it possible the nurse can come back, obviously sick, but then pitch a fit if the doctor sends a kid back without a note that expressly says "free of communicable diseases" or fever-free for 24 hours? Isn't that a double standard?

This is a just a rant, but you can tell the staff members who are well-liked and those who aren't.

[daycarediva]

I see this a little differently than you do.

She isn't a small child who is going to wipe snot all over the toys, cough into the air or forget to wash their hands.

She also has adult responsibilities, and I KNOW that even as a FCC provider, I CANNOT call in every time I am sick. I DO mask my symptoms to get through the day, and let my parents know that I am not feeling well. Most sincerely appreciate that I am reliable.

I DO cover my mouth, wash my hands, and use tissues instead of the furniture (or my sleeves). I have never had a child get sick because *I* was sick, but I HAVE had children get sick because another child was.

[countrymom]

that stinks because it seems like its a double standard. regardless if she is an adult, if she is sick she can make others sick, if not children she can make the other adults sick and then in turn you will be out.

[Margarete]

When I worked at a small center they specifically made a point of asking us not to call in sick. If we were sick they would make accommodations so that we would not be in direct contact with the kids, and a lighter load on some of the duties, and they will try to get a substitute in as soon as possible if needed. Because legally they CAN NOT be out of ratio with the kids, and this was top priority.

[Play Care]

I see this a little differently than you do.

She isn't a small child who is going to wipe snot all over the toys, cough into the air or forget to wash their hands.

She also has adult responsibilities, and I KNOW that even as a FCC provider, I CANNOT call in every time I am sick. I DO mask my symptoms to get through the day, and let my parents know that I am not feeling well. Most sincerely appreciate that I am reliable.

I DO cover my mouth, wash my hands, and use tissues instead of the furniture (or my sleeves). I have never had a child get sick because *I* was sick, but I HAVE had children get sick because another child was.

Not only that, at most centers (and really, most jobs) sick time is in name only. I'm sure she didn't want to come to work today. But I bet she also had to.

[Jack Sprat]

Last year at the school I worked at it was poo pooed if you called in sick. I had sick days called in to say I was running a temp and wouldn't be in. The principal made some rather crappy remarks about being gone and lack of subs. So I went in. When the school nurse arrived at the school she saw my puss pockets on throat, checked my temp and sent me on my way. Meanwhile the principal looked on with disgust.


What I am saying is I get what your saying...but not always are the powers that be understanding of adults getting sick. I do think though if she has a fever she should go home.

[Unregistered]

It's the end of the day and I'm preparing to go home; I just have to put in my meal counts. I see same nurse donned in a mask and gloves with a can of Lysol spray and bleach/water solution. She's disinfecting her office because it will be the location of a screening tomorrow. I told her if she feels the need to disinfect before people come in her office, then she probably should've never came to work. I don't think I've made any new friends today.

[Hunni Bee]

When I worked at a small center they specifically made a point of asking us not to call in sick. If we were sick they would make accommodations so that we would not be in direct contact with the kids, and a lighter load on some of the duties, and they will try to get a substitute in as soon as possible if needed. Because legally they CAN NOT be out of ratio with the kids, and this was top priority.

That's how my job is. Especially if you come in the early morning. I have gone in feeling like hell, especially when I was pregnant. They were excellent about getting a sub and letting m go home/to the doctor. They just needed me to cover the morning.