Pissed Beyond Words

Offspring called me at school at 3:00pm yesterday. I was in the middle of dismissal, which is always a hectic time, so I had no real time to talk. The main point was that she didn't feel well. I made arrangements to pick up some medicine and juice on the way home from school.

When I get home from school, Offspring was piled up in my bed, asleep over her math homework. I gently woke her, and she informs me that she had gone to the nurse that morning because she felt hot and nauseous. I asked her what the nurse did for her. The answer was a maddening "nothing." I asked what she meant by nothing, and she tells me that the nurse let her rest on a cot in her office, and that was the extent of the care she got. I laid my hand on her to check her temperature, and she was burning hot through her clothing. I took her temperature, and it was 101.8. Offspring says that the nurse never took her temperature; never called either of us, her parents; and never sent an infirmary slip home that she'd been seen in the nurse's office. It is probably an understatement that I was hopping mad.

I dosed Offspring with Motrin and Tylenol, and she felt so worn down that she even went to bed early. This morning, she seemed to be acting all right according to JF, so he medicated her and sent her on to school. I called her school's office, intent on talking to the principal, only to find that she was off-site for the day. I asked to speak to one of the assistant principals, but neither of them was available. I told the secretary that I was very unhappy with the situation, and she gave me the nurse's name and extension.

When I called the nurse and identified myself, she got immediately defensive. She said that Offspring reported to her office because she felt "flushed and nauseous." She asked Offspring if she wanted to lie down for a while and rest. Offspring did, and ended up sleeping for an hour. At no point in there did the nurse think to put her hand on Offspring's forehead to see if she was warm or not. A normally energetic 11-year-old who'd rather skip lunch to *nap*? Does this seem right to you? In any case, I asked why she never had her temp taken -- the nurse's response was that she "didn't look like she had a fever." Well, my thought on that is that "flushed" generally means "hot", and "hot" means fever. Wouldn't you think that you would at least TOUCH the child to see if she's hot, especially if she comes to you saying that she feels flushed?

I straightened her out about several things, and asked her to pull Offspring out of class and check her temperature. She said she would, and would call me back. Five minutes later, the phone rings, and she tells me that Offspring has a 101.4 temp, and I have to come get her. I stopped by the store on the way there, and picked up some Motrin and Tylenol for the nurse to keep with a standing order to dose her as needed.

While on the drive to pick up Offspring, I phone the doctor's, hoping I can get her squeezed in for an appointment. They agree to see her at 3:00 today. Once in the office, she has a fever of ***103.7*** and they whisk her right into an exam room. I've NEVER been seen that fast by the doctor before. The doctor takes a swab of her throat, suspecting possible Strep Throat (and triggering O's extremely sensitive gag reflex in the process...) and orders a shot of steroids to help the swelling of the throat go down. We also get a prescription for Amoxicillin, to help combat the fever. She's also given a school excuse, and told to stay home until Monday.

You can bet your bottom dollar that by the time I'm done with that nurse tomorrow, she will neither be able to sit properly after having her ass chewed, nor will she ever see my child without taking her temperature and advising me every step of the way.