Sometimes working in a school and being pregnant just stinks

Today in between two of my classes the principal calls into my room. He says I just wanted to let you know that you have a student coming into your room right now that has shingles. We have spoken to the school doctor and he says its fine for you to be in there with him. I said with all do respect I would like to speak to my doctor. He says ok it will take a few minutes to get coverage for your class. I said well I will be in the hallway. I was not worried about the kid per say but more about touching the desk or papers that he may have touched. I said can you tell me which kid, he said no HIPPA laws. I said you can tell me when a kid has Alopecia but you can't tell me when a kid has a contagious illness. He said exactly. I said I will be in the hall.

So after being on hold with my doctor the nurse comes on and say you should be ok. NOT HAPPY. I go back down to my classroom. The building rep says do not go in there. I said fine with me. I go down to talk to the school nurse. In our conversation she is talking about the fact that the child will have to go to study hall also since he can't play gym. I said, um could you check what period gym is since I am a study hall teacher. Well wouldn't you know, it's the same period that I am the study hall teacher

So stop this long story from getting longer I will not be in those two classes and I will be cleaning all of my tables before I teach the next period.

VENT OVER

Re: Sometimes working in a school and being pregnant just stinks

i love how the school doctor and your nurse said you "should" be okay - since WHEN is that good enough???

sorry you have to deal with this use lots of lysol wipes

Re: Sometimes working in a school and being pregnant just stinks

Why is he allowed in school with shingles? Are you kidding me?

Re: Sometimes working in a school and being pregnant just stinks

Ughhh I feel your frustration....we had a really bad type of staph infection in our school and they said to me you "should" be fine...mind you this was 2 days before they decided to hire a professional company to come and disinfect the entire building!!!

Re: Sometimes working in a school and being pregnant just stinks

Re: Sometimes working in a school and being pregnant just stinks

He had a note from his doctor saying he could be there since it was covered by two layers of clothing and a bandage.

The nurse said the mother made it sound like the wound was scabbing over. Meaning that he was sitting in my class the whole time he was really contagious.

The mother sent him in this morning and didn't even bring in the note or inform the schools until 3rd period.



Oh and momi is a nurse

Re: Sometimes working in a school and being pregnant just stinks

Oh do I ever hear you! I wouldnt step foot in the room.

As I posted on the teacher board weeks ago, a child's desk has 400 times the amount of germs than does a toilet seat. Kids get dirty and many have poor hygiene. I have students who bite their nails and spit them in the air, ones who pick scabs and others who sneeze and cough into the air. I walk around like a person with OCD - Purell and Clorox wipes. I am easily (and now ESPECIALLY) skeeved by what they do. We do not teach ADL skills anymore. The parents have to assume responsibility, keep the kids home when they are sick and maybe just MAYBE throw them in the bathtub once or twice a week. Since becoming PG, I want to walk around in a bubble.

Message edited 2/14/2008 10:46:59 PM.

Re: Sometimes working in a school and being pregnant just stinks

Re: Sometimes working in a school and being pregnant just stinks

My mother had shingles a few weeks ago, and before we knew what it was she had me look at it. Luckily, I have the antibodies to chicken pox and the area wasn't weeping at the time. I think the doctor told me that if it was going to be a threat to me we would know in about 7-10 days from the date of exposure. Once it starts scabbing and stops weeping you should be ok if it is well covered.

I'm sorry to hear you are going through this! I work in a school as well and understand! I love my students but they are total germ factories!