UGH dumb people

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Peds ED, Peds Stem Cell Transplant, Peds.

Sorry, I just want to vent. The other day at my daughters school, her best friend had a seizure, I went to help (It is a small private school, where more freedom is allowed to parents). The school nurse who is a RN was with the girl, a friend of mine was holding the girl up almost carrying her, and forcing her to walk while she was actively seizing. I saw that and said Lay her down. She needs to be on the floor before hurts herself or you. The RN at the school had no clue what to do and was arguing that she needed to stand up and walk while she was convulsing, because her brother said sooo:smackingf.

I know this lady has PALS, but I don't think she has a clue.

Has anyone else ever heard that you should have an actively seizing kid to stand up and force them to walk? I personally think that would be very unsafe.

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I've never heard of such a thing. And I've had a (admittedly short) stint in peds ED.

Was the girl having a grand mal seizure? How old was the brother? And what did the school nurse say to justify her (in)action?

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Specializes in Peds ED, Peds Stem Cell Transplant, Peds.
I've never heard of such a thing. And I've had a (admittedly short) stint in peds ED.

Was the girl having a grand mal seizure? How old was the brother? And what did the school nurse say to justify her (in)action?

It was a clonic tonic seizure that was going on for at least 5 minutes. The brother a senior in HS, but a dip, the school nurses justified herself by saying "Her brother deals with this all the time (which I know is true) and he said to have her get up and walk around" She was actually jerking and twitching with her eyes rolling in the back of her head when I found her. Oh BTW interesting thing, her other brother who is a sophmore in the school saw her standing up and immediately demanded that she should lie down before she hurts herself.

My gripe is the RN didn't have enough sense to figure that out herself, yes she is a school RN, but also a peds nurse to at a local hospital.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

At headstart I had a little boy who was reported to have "seizures" and they told me to let him squat as that was what his mom told them to do.

It didn't sound right to me but after seeing him have a "seizure" I realized he had tetralogy of fallot not epilepsy. He'd been there 2 years and no one had questioned it. One of my prouder moments was when my dx was confirmed and he had his repair. He was a fragile child and now a fragile adult...but with a college degree no less.

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i always thought safety was the first concern w/one having a seizure?

i wasn't aware that they were even capable of walking...

not that i'd ever recommend ambulation.

i wonder what the rationale is?

leslie

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Specializes in Peds ED, Peds Stem Cell Transplant, Peds.
At headstart I had a little boy who was reported to have "seizures" and they told me to let him squat as that was what his mom told them to do.

It didn't sound right to me but after seeing him have a "seizure" I realized he had tetralogy of fallot not epilepsy. He'd been there 2 years and no one had questioned it. One of my prouder moments was when my dx was confirmed and he had his repair. He was a fragile child and now a fragile adult...but with a college degree no less.

Kewl, for you.

But this girl has no cardiac history, I know for a fact, her mom and I are good friends

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Specializes in ER.

I've been certified in pediatrics and ER nursing, and NEVER heard of standing someone for a seizure. Can't think off the top of my head of standing someone for any illness at all, in fact.

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How the heck could she even get the kid to "walk"? Seems like it would be more of a drag.

Good Lord.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I've seen people having partial seizures walk and even run, but that sure doesn't sound like what you are describing. Nobody makes them do it, it's just a part of the seizure.

Nothing short of meds will stop a seizure in progress.

I have a hard time believing that any nurse would not know that the first rule for seizures is to prevent the patient from injuring himself/herself. I would suggest that the child's mom get some informational literature to give to the nurse, and to offer to inservice the school staff on what to do with the child. If I were the mom, I would feel very uneasy about leaving the child under the "care" of that school nurse.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

Since it was your daughter's best friend who was seizing, do you know her Mother? It might be a good idea to find out if the Mother has any clue whatsoever what is going on. Perhaps there is a bad family situation going on with one brother saying one thing and another brother saying another. Was the Mother even called on the phone?

The child is probably small enough at this point where she can be fairly safely held up and dragged but as she gets older this isn't going to work and she is going to get hurt. It sounds like that whole family needs some education and probably the best one to approach the Mom would be the school nurse...unfortunately, she doesn't know much about epilepsy!

I don't know what to tell you, but I guess I would try to do something to help. It may fall on deaf ears, but at least you know that you tried.

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I work with people everyday who have epilepsy.

If they are having a true seizure, they are not capable of walking.

They must be assisted to lie down, in a safe area, move any furniture away, protect their head if possible, with a towel or coat, preferably on their side, and STAY with them, until it is over and they are cmpletely awake and alert and able to either get up on their own or able to go somewhere and lie down and sleep for awhile.

I even have a dog that is diagnosed with epilepsy, and I do the same for him as I would a person.

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Specializes in DOU.

My daughter has epilesy. There is no way she could walk while having a seizure.

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