Don’t Sprain Yourself Trying To Be Helpful
Florida, High School, Jerk, Nurses, USA | Healthy | February 1, 2022
I am about fifteen and in high school, and cell phones aren’t really a thing yet. Yesterday, I sprained my ankle. It’s very painful and swollen, but an x-ray shows no breaks. I have a chemistry test, but it’s second period, so I figure I can limp around until then. My mom tells me to go to the office when I finish the test and call her, and she’ll come get me. She says she’ll call if she doesn’t hear from me by a certain time. I finish my test, which takes longer than I thought, and my teacher dismisses me to the office. I hobble in. The nurse is at the front desk.
Nurse: “Did you hurt yourself?”
Me: “I sprained my ankle yesterday. I came in to take my chem test, but I need to go home. It really hurts. Can I call my mom?”
Nurse: “Oh, a Tylenol will fix you right up. I’ve got some in my office. What’s your name?”
Me: “[My Full Name]. My mom said I could call her after the test and she’d come get me.”
Nurse: “No, no. All you need is Tylenol. Can’t have you missing class.”
Me: “Look, it’s really swollen and it hurts and—”
Nurse: “I know what you’re trying to do. You’re not going to skip.”
Me: “What?! I’m not skipping! It really hurts! I need to ice it!”
The phone rings.
Nurse: “Don’t even think about leaving. Sit down.”
I sit and pop my foot up on a chair. The nurse answers the phone.
Nurse: “[School].” *Pauses* “You need to pick your daughter up early?” *Pauses* “Sure, what’s your name?” *Pauses* “And her name?” *Pauses* “Oh.”
She glares daggers at me.
Nurse: “She’s in the office now.” *Pauses* “Due to the number of students skipping, we had to be sure before we called.” *Pauses* “Yes, she says she’s in pain.” *Pauses* “Yes, she says it’s swollen.” *Pauses* “Uh-huh.” *Pauses* “Okay.” *Pauses* “You’ll need to come in with ID.” *Pauses* “Thank you.”
She hangs up.
Nurse: “Don’t move. Your mom is on her way.”
Less than ten minutes later, my mom comes running in. My ankle has ballooned up at this point. There are now other office staff around. She waves her ID at the nurse and signs me out. Then, she helps me out of the chair and I hang on to her for balance.
Mom: *Loudly* “Don’t accuse a kid of trying to skip when she’s very clearly hurting. All you had to do was look at her foot to see she wasn’t faking.”
Nurse: “I’m sorry—”
Mom: “Nope. We are leaving.”
She took me home, where I iced and elevated my foot for the rest of the day. I didn’t see that nurse again!
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