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Original poster

The nit nurse: should we fight for her return ?

51 replies

frecklyspeckly · 06/04/2008 21:31

Do you think if they brought her back it would reduce the nit problem within schools or don't you think it matters? It seems like everyone is fed up with kids being allowed to attend school who are never treated and re-infect everyone else. When did she disappear anyhow? just curious as I work in a pharmacy and we sold such a lot of treatments this week. So many despairing families who cannot afford to keep buying the stuff. i felt like starting a petition or contacting my MP I did!!

OP posts:
TrinityTheProgressingRhino · 06/04/2008 21:34

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

I'll come on protests and hold heavy placards!!!!

southeastastra · 06/04/2008 21:34

yes

brimfull · 06/04/2008 21:35

yes but she's have to visit a lot wouldn't she

I don't remember getting checked more than once or twice a yr when I was at school ,and tbh that wouldn't help that much

constancereader · 06/04/2008 21:36

It would work if there was one in every school. But there never would be.

It is awful though - during one particularly nitty term I found them every week in my own hair.

Original poster
frecklyspeckly · 06/04/2008 21:51

Ooh I can still remember ours. She always had her own hair in a tight bun [occupational necessity] with really pretty beads on it and I loved the pencil she used to run through our hair; so relaxing!! like a head massage!! you would know if she had found some on a poor kid, they wouldnt return to the class, their mum would have to come and get them - no big deal, it was the early eighties, seemed like everyones mum stayed at home then except mine and lived in the same road as the school!! happy days

OP posts:
Madlentileater · 06/04/2008 21:56

Ah well, I can shed some light here as my Mum was a nit nurse, this would be in the mid 70s. The reason it stopped was because it would take far too long to do a thorough job on every child. I imagine there would also be issues about how to give advice/treatment without child being spotlighted. So current thought (or at least when she retired 15 yrs ago!!) is that parents have to see checking for nits as normal part of parenting, and trained nurses are better used fo other tasks. Now i think about it, I don't remember myself or friends ever getting nits, whereas all dcs have had them atsome point, so I woncer if thers's some environmental factor? central heating?

Original poster
frecklyspeckly · 06/04/2008 21:59

I think that the government should sort out for each child to be checked at least once a term. How to pay for it they shall have to sort out. I have decided to contact my MP to clarify why school inspections are no longer carried out. I should say average family pays at least 12.00 per child per infestation. This is too much and avoidable.

OP posts:
Servalan · 06/04/2008 21:59

Or even giving teachers the freedom to approach a child's parents when they spot they have head lice (rather than just sending out a generic letter to everyone that parents of said child will ignore) would be a start.

Original poster
frecklyspeckly · 06/04/2008 22:03

sorry Madlentileater I cross posted with you!
But thank you for shedding light on this interesting conundrum... I truly believe it is down to reinfestation being caused by children whose parents do not inspect them or care if the child has them and these children are the ones who would most benefit from the pencil treatment!!

OP posts:
SpacePuppy · 06/04/2008 22:06

why a nurse can't class teachers check? or their ta's?

Original poster
frecklyspeckly · 06/04/2008 22:07

Servalan one nursery teacher I know has stuck her head above the parapet and warned a mum she must deal with her daughters headlice... but I appreciate this is not normally the done thing!

OP posts:
Servalan · 06/04/2008 22:16

I don't know if this is the case in all schools but -

I trained to be a teacher a while back. When I was on teaching practice there was a little girl in my class absolutely crawling with head lice. I used to watch them marching up and down across her parting

My mentor told me that I couldn't approach her parents directly about it (something about "human rights" apparently ). All I was allowed to do was send a general letter home to everyone saying that a parent of someone in the class had told us that their child had head lice and it would be a good idea for all parents to check and treat accordingly.

Original poster
frecklyspeckly · 06/04/2008 22:28

Well Servalan I intend to ask why this is the case and if I do start a petition calling for the situation to be reviewed I shall post a link on the health section.

Poor little girl, if it is that severe as well as feeling itchy a case that bad can make the sufferer feel rather ill.

Imagine if a child came in covered in scabies; that is infectious, so surely the school could demand the child is removed from the class on health and safety grounds.

Why is this not the case with headlice then ?

OP posts:
Madlentileater · 06/04/2008 22:36

I don't think teachers or TAs would welcome the task!

anynamewilldo · 06/04/2008 22:52

I would love for the nit nurse to come back into the school. I am fed up with treating the dc's and the one that is infecting everyone just carries on as normal. Why cant the child be sent home with a bottle of nit shampoo/cream/moose whatever... I would gladly offer to pay for it.

MrsMuddle · 06/04/2008 22:53

I don't know if this is true, but I heard that you can get the nit treatment free from pharmacists. But to get it, you have to take proof - ie, a nit or an egg.

I'm in Scotland BTW, but does anyone know if this is true?

MegSophandEmma · 06/04/2008 22:53

Am there with you!!! Where do I sign??

TrinityTheProgressingRhino · 07/04/2008 08:19

yes mrs muddle that is true
I'm in scotland too

nappyaddict · 07/04/2008 08:23

can't you get it from the doctors on prescription? i'm sure my mum did when i was little.

FrannyandZooey · 07/04/2008 08:32

Nobody should be buying the chemicals though - they are ineffective and harmful

regular combing (every 3 days for at least 2 weeks) with a good nit comb is the only way to be sure you are rid of them

you can get the comb on prescription and once you have one, further treatment is free

Squiffy · 07/04/2008 10:37

ah now I know my prep school fees are worth it.... was halued before matron last month to see my DS's nits and firmly escorted from premises with said louse-infected child and the cheery instruction to return him only after treatment, thank you very much

Haven't been so embarassed for years - spent whole episode looking down at feet, mumbling 'sorry, miss'

Human rights obviously haven't made it to the private sector!!

tiredemma · 07/04/2008 10:44

Having spent six weeks with a school nurse, I cant see how they would ever find the time to check all of the children's hair. It would be impossible.

southeastastra · 07/04/2008 10:56

lol squiffy, at least they told you straight.

we just have to realise that checking and combing is our responsibility, there just seems to be a small majority that couldn't care less.

yorkshirepudding · 07/04/2008 11:01

Message withdrawn

SparklyGothKat · 07/04/2008 11:02

YES