Did I handle this wrong?

[Talljt05]

I am an LVN and a first year school nurse. The other day a student was brought to me by the coach assistant around 3pm (school lets out at 3:20). The assistant stated that the child (4th grd) fell during pe and hit thier face on the concrete.

The student walked to my office fine, was not crying and showed no s/s of concussion. The student had an abrasion to the top of the left eye and to the left forearm. I cleaned up the abrasions and spoke to the student during the process and then we walked together to the kitchen to get ice. I then asked the student if they knew the number to Mom and Dad and they said "no but sister does". I replied by saying that's ok let's leave sister in class and pull your file from the computer.

We walk back to my office and look up the students info, and call Mom. No answer so I leave a message detailing the abrasions and care that was given. Student then heads back to pe and maybe 5-10 mins bell rings school is let out. Well the next day I am approached by the mother who yelled at me in the office about how she didn't appreciate the care that was given to her child and that when she to the child to the hospital they were appalled at his condition and my actions.

The child was given a ct-scan and nothing was found he was sent home with a bump to the head. The mother stated she demanded that action be taken against me because I didn't do my job. When the child's file was pulled up it showed the number I called to get ahold of her and she stated that the number showed was disconnected and that I should have pulled her other child out of class to get ahold of her.

Apparently the time from when the student left my office and the 40min it took her to pick the student up the left side of the face had swelled. Even though I explained that swelling will occur with any injury she cut me off and (still yelling) stated that I should have asked the child what happened to him (though I don't see how the story would have been different than the adult's story that brought in the student) she continued stating that she hoped that I didn't have children and if I did that she hoped they weren't treated this way at home.

This all took place in the counselors office and the counselor sat there with her head down the whole entire time and when the principle showed up I was excused from the office and sent back to work.

Principle has yet to talk to me about the incident but I feel that my nursing judgement is shaken. That whole day I seconded guessed myself and found myself calling parents for EVERY child that came through the door. I don't have many nursing friends so I don't have someone to re-evaluate the situation except the teachers that know what happened and they say that if I followed protocol (which I did) then its the parents fault for keeping current info with school. Any thoughts? Thanks

[Talljt05]

Ok folks...update. I will be going in to speak with principal regarding what will happen next...th mom came in to the school today asking the front office secretary what my title was, was I licensed or registered, and where I went to school. She was oly told that I was an LVN and any other info would have to go through the principal. So she goes in to speaak with principal (dont know what was said) but end result was that she may or may not be coming in to make a formal complaint to the school board. Bottom line I'm scared. To me it seems she wants me fired. I will let y'all know what happens tomorrow.

[100kids, BSN, RN]

Hope the metting with the principal goes well. Just clearly explain everything the way you did here and I don't see any reason why you could be faulted. You herad of an incident, assessed and treated and left a message for the parents. And to top it off you assessed correctly and there was nothing wrong that needed medical treatment. This mom is going overboard. Stay calm and don't doubt yourself!

[Talljt05]

The meeting went well with principal went well, the principal did mention that the parent said she has either already or wil be reporting me to the board of nursing for neglect. Principal stated that she is shocked because she hasn't had any complaints about be since I've started and doesn't understand why the vendetta to have me punished.

[Artistyc1]

I can "feel your pain". I am in one of these situations myself. This is a complaint that often comes up from many school nurses. There will be a parent that is possibly unstable themselves, that will go as far as they possibly can to punish anyone that they perceive as having "offended them" in some way. In my building, it is often the parents that are not particularly stellar themselves that are hardest on our staff.

What excuse does she have for not providing a working phone number for you to call in an emergency? Or at least an alternate number where messages can be left? Or does she not have to answer for her responsibility in this?

GASP. Shame on me, MY BAD. Mentioning the term "parental responsibility". I forget that is verboten.

Though there is nothing that can really be done to you, license wise, unless there was something left out of this story. I know how it hurts me when this sort of thing occurs, both personally and professionally. Just keep your head up, and avoid this person whenever possible. When any contact with her is necessary, make sure that you have a witness to all conversations. I went one further; I purchased a digital voice recorder. I will then tell the person "I would like to tape this, just to protect you as well as myself" before turning it on. There are only a few parents that drive me to this. They tend to behave themselves, as they do not want anything that they will have to answer for later to be recorded. You had better believe that NEVER in my wildest imagination did I expect that I would have to come to this. But, as I need to work, I don't have any other answers.