Would you call social services for a child OD'ing?

Nurses General Nursing

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If a 14 y/o came to the ER because of overdosing on pills and they turn out to be medically stable, does that still need to be reported to child welfare? The kid was referred to a mental health hospital, went their by wheelchair ambulance and then was referred to out pt treatment. Should I have to call child welfare because they actually came to the ER because of an OD?

Specializes in Pedi.
Not to give legal advice, but nurses are mandated reporters. Would discuss with your NM get SW involved, but it is a responsibility of licensing to report.

Mandated reporters of child (and elder) abuse/neglect. A fourteen year old ODing is not necessarily evidence of either. A 14 year old could come from a perfectly intact and loving family and still be depressed and/or have drug problems. In my 5 years at a pediatric hospital, I never once filed a report with the state... it was understood that that was the role of Social Work and the Child Protection medical team. I was involved in many cases that were reported to the state but it was never the bedside nurse who made the report. I have also been involved in several cases of teenagers ODing or harming themselves and those cases were never reported to the state either.... unless, of course, the patient disclosed in the course of her hospitalization that she cuts herself because Uncle Timmy has been molesting her since she was 5. Social Work and Psychiatry were always consulted in these cases but the state was not.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
Not to give legal advice, but nurses are mandated reporters. Would discuss with your NM get SW involved, but it is a responsibility of licensing to report.

Mandated reporters of suspected abuse, yes.

But overdoses are not necessarily the result of abuse.

If my 16-year old decides to get high and gets in over her head ... there is no abuse to report.

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Specializes in L&D.

I didn't read all the responses, but I wouldnt! As someone who worked for CPS before nursing school, I don't think it would fit our criteria at all for a report. Unless it was blatantly obvious that the parent's poured the pills into the kid's hand, I wouldn't think it would justify a report be made.

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And in most cases, perhaps it would lead to nothing. However, would give an opportunity for parents with support in the help they need to attempt to change a teenagers behavior, and the kid the help they need. I have seen it become a case of support that otherwise would not be readily or easily obtainable with parents and kids on their own.(which is quite sad, actually) I would always pass it by NM, and SW being involved. But sometimes one has to so something within one's practice that is not necessarily comfortable. And if my kid was ODing or out of control, or participating in activities that are harmful and could be fatal, as a parent one can feel quite helpless. And CPS can certainly assist in getting a parent support for a kid who is perhaps out of control. Even if it is a "chins" (child in need of services) situation. Because 9 times out of 10 when a plan is put into place by SW and the kid decides that they are not into following the plan, then guess what? The kid ups the ante. And parents have very limited control--what are they to do? They can't "make" them do anything. And consequences? Limited. By getting an agency involved, there can be some sense of control. A lot of parents would say "i would get out a can of whoop ***" or "I would kick the kid outta the house" or " I would....." but those are not feasible choices. Reporting has got to not have the reputation of doom and gloom.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

People here are under the impression that CPS is an automatic removal of the child from the home. In truth, they assess first.

If nothing is going on, then they report that nothing is going on. However, caregivers are mandated to report to CPS for evaluation, though I have to refresh myself on the regulations again.

Social Work would be the best first step since they are more knowledgeable. They'll either tell you not to worry about it, report it, or tell you what to do next.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
People here are under the impression that CPS is an automatic removal of the child from the home. In truth, they assess first.

If nothing is going on, then they report that nothing is going on. However, caregivers are mandated to report to CPS for evaluation, though I have to refresh myself on the regulations again.

Social Work would be the best first step since they are more knowledgeable. They'll either tell you not to worry about it, report it, or tell you what to do next.

The post that I responded to suggested CPS involvement via "mandated reporting" for a minor who happens to have "OD'd". This completely mischaracterizes the intent and purpose of "mandated reporting".

(Not to mention that the hypothetical "overdose" in the OP is such a broad term as to be meaningless in evaluating a particular situation, which is why I usually avoid these "hypothetical / ethical situation" threads ... but I seem to have gotten sucked into this one :cautious: )

A nurse treating a patient (of any age, for that matter) may wish to use available consulting resources such as a social worker or mental health professionals as part of the patient's treatment, in coordination with the patient's provider. That is not at all the same as "reporting" to CPS or other state or local agency which has the legal authority to take various actions in an attempt to secure the child's safety, which is the purpose of "reporting".

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The post that I responded to suggested CPS involvement via "mandated reporting" for a minor who happens to have "OD'd". This completely mischaracterizes the intent and purpose of "mandated reporting".

(Not to mention that the hypothetical "overdose" in the OP is such a broad term as to be meaningless in evaluating a particular situation, which is why I usually avoid these "hypothetical / ethical situation" threads ... but I seem to have gotten sucked into this one :cautious: )

A nurse treating a patient (of any age, for that matter) may wish to use available consulting resources such as a social worker or mental health professionals as part of the patient's treatment, in coordination with the patient's provider. That is not at all the same as "reporting" to CPS or other state or local agency which has the legal authority to take various actions in an attempt to secure the child's safety, which is the purpose of "reporting".

And I respectfully agree to disagree. If a child is in a place where behaviors are harmful, out of control or potentially fatal, then the parents need all the support they can get. And CPS is a good venue to which these things can be put into play. To see some stunned parents over what their child is participating in, and the depth of their behavioral issues, and all they want is help. At least with a CPS report, they can have some sense of control over a child who is out of control.

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

I would definitely consult SW. Consulting SW doesn't mean that you think this child should be taken from the home or anything else. Sometimes their is just something more to assess in the home. At the end of the day, it's a patient safety issue.

I work in pediatrics.... and any time something makes my spidey senses tingle, I consult SW to come in and check it out. ;)

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